With national commemorations and celebrations, the first annual conference since 2019, and local events all taking place, it can be hard to keep track of all the latest. Among the most important national dates this summer have been Armed Forces Day and the Falklands 40^th anniversary commemorations. In addition to the national events, there were many local happenings too. Here is how several branches marked the occasions. 

Armed Forces Day 

Iain Maddox, Area Secretary for Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders joined East Lothian Council at the raising of the Armed Forces standard in Haddington to mark the start of Armed Forces Week. The photo below shows, from left to right, CEO Monica Patterson, Tom Logan of the Royal Scots Association, Vice Lord-Lieutenant Patrick Gammell, Iain Maddox, and Provost John McMillan, with the East Lothian banner. 

Tain branch also took part in the national event with a fundraiser, supported by local cadets. 

Falklands 40^th anniversary 

Commemorations to mark 40 years since the end of the Falklands War were held across the UK in June. Many branches held their own events. 

On 11 June, the Newton Stewart branch led a Remembrance parade to mark the anniversary. The parade was organised in conjunction with the Cree Valley Community Council (CVCC). 

The Rev Edward Lyons led prayers and recited the Falklands hymn and prayer. This was followed by a short personal account of the war by branch Vice Chairman Stephon Bishop, and a tribute to all those lost in the conflict. Supporting the event were members of the Stranraer branch and the King’s Own Scottish Borderers Association (KOSB). Standards from the Newton Stewart branch and the KOSB were lowered to the sound of a bugler playing the last post. 

A piper accompanied the laying of wreaths by Stephon Bishop on behalf of Royal British Legion Scotland, and by CVCC Chair Ben Palmer. The CVCC laid on refreshments after the parade in the McMillan Hall. 

Meanwhile, Davie Paton, in his capacity as chairman of Carnoustie Legion and vice chairman of Royal British Legion Scotland, welcomed attendees to the memorial site located within the military training range of Barry Buddon that lies between Monifieth and Carnoustie. 

Although the memorial is dedicated to the Royal Marines who gave their lives in the liberation of the Falklands, Davie said that, for him, it was there to remember all 255 British service personnel and the three Falkland islanders who had died in the conflict and it was – as far as he knew - the only Falkland Islands specific memorial in the country. 

As well as welcoming service personnel from 45 Commando based at Condor in Arbroath, he also welcomed two sisters of Corporal Robert Allan Burns from Dundee. Cpl Burns had joined the Army and served with the Royal Signals before transferring to the SAS and was killed in a RN Sea King helicopter crash in the Falklands on 19 May 1982. Also among the guests was Susan Dunham of Carnoustie, the widow of a Commando who served with both 42 and 45 Commandos and who was killed in one if the last actions of the Falklands fighting.