Armed Forces day in Lerwick
Helping to celebrate and honour the outstanding contribution Armed Forces personnel have made to Scotland, Shetland’s Armed Forces Day will take place in Lerwick tomorrow.
Starting at 12.30pm around 100 Armed Forces personnel including TA soldiers from 105 Regiment Royal Artillery along with veterans and Cadets will form up outside the TA Centre Fort Charlotte. Led by Lerwick’s Pipe and Brass band, they will march down to the pierhead where the deputy commander of 51 (Scottish) Brigade and SIC convener Sandy Cluness will take the salute.
The soldiers will then return to the TA Centre where they will raise the official Armed Forces Day flag and for the first time in Shetland’s history, the L118 light gun will be fired from Fort Charlotte’s ramparts from soldiers from 105 Regiment. The 105 Regiment has the honour of firing Royal Salutes at castles in Edinburgh, Stirling and Belfast.
Brigadier David Allfrey, commander 51 (Scottish) Brigade is driving the Armed Forces effort in Scotland. He said: “It’s stunning to see how councils and communities across Scotland have fallen in behind the armed forces and are working tremendously hard to ensure they get a celebration they deserve. It means a great deal to us. This is the first year we’ve joined up with the veterans to celebrate Armed Forces Day and I am sure it will grow bigger each year.
“Armed Forces Day should be seen as distinct from Armistice Day on 11 November each year which is a day of reflection and remembrance of those who have fallen. The 27th June on the other hand should be a day of fun, pride and spectacle. Of course, we will also take time to think of those serving on operations abroad, and those who have been injured or have made the ultimate sacrifice in the course of their duty.”
