Am Bratach No. 199
May 2008
editor@bratach.co.uk

by Willie Morrison
Nostalgic reunion for Lovat Scouts

Three Lovat Scout veterans of World War II relived the dangers, fears and excitement of more than sixty years ago when they met again this week for lunch at Achness House Hotel, near Rosehall.

Roddy Mackay (90), from Aultgowrie, Muir of Ord, Willie Munro (90) from Lairg and Addie (Alexander) Mackenzie (84), formerly of Skerray, but now living in Inverness, later recalled some of their experiences as they sat reminiscing in Willie’s home.

The warriors of yesteryear, now all widowed, are among only around a dozen known survivors of the proud, unique Highland Territorial Army regiment which spied on and fought Germans in mountainous North Italy, and later helped to prevent a Communist takeover in Greece.

Roddy, the former head gardener at Fairburn Estate, Muir of Ord, joined the Lovat Scouts in 1936, being called up for active service two days before the start of the war, in September 1939.

“We were billeted at first in farm buildings at Kiltarlity — the worst billets we had in the whole of the war,” he said.

He and Willie, who joined the TA in 1938, were among members of the Scouts posted in 1940 to garrison the Faroe Islands, where they remained for two years, making many friends among the islanders.

Addie, a native of Kiltarlity, whose father Charles came originally from Lochinver, transferred at age 18 from the Seaforth Highlanders to the regiment in 1942, on its return to Scotland.

All three trained as mountain troops in Scotland, North Wales and finally at Jasper, in the Canadian Rockies, experiencing two long Atlantic voyages.

Addie takes up the tale from there:

On June 9, 1944 we arrived back in Scotland, and half the regiment at a time enjoyed a brief embarkation leave. Exactly one month later, we were leaving Glasgow by troopship, as part of a large convoy. Arriving in the Bay of Biscay, we were informed that we were to join the 8th Army in Italy , and landed at the port of Naples , where the city was now extensively damaged, with many ruined buildings.

Within three weeks we were in action in the Apennine Mountains , north of Florence , as part of the 4th Indian Division along with a Gurkha Regiment. Going up into the front lines was a frightening experience. We travelled in the highly mobile jeep, supplies and munitions being conveyed by pack mule.

The arid conditions meant that the enemy was able to identify our locations, as any progress made entailed the raising of dust clouds. We sustained several casualties before reaching the front line. We were employed tactically, being mainly involved in reconnaissance patrols in “no man’s land” and behind the enemy lines.

Amidst these adverse conditions my mind often dwelt on the relative contentment of my prior life, some memories of the peaceful existence in a Highland village - going to church on Sunday and the honeysuckle that lined the route. I vowed then, that if a survivor of the conflict, I would be happy to remain permanently in that place though as it happened this was not subsequently the case.

The ultimate boost to our morale came when the German troops retreated across the Po valley and VE day was declared. We advanced freely across the Alps into Austria, a very beautiful country, with streams and rivers resembling those in our native Highlands, which we fished whilst contemplating our homeward journey.

Alas this did not occur, as the regiment was flown to Greece, landing at Salonika. We were to participate in the ongoing civil war, based in the infamous Struma Valley, ironically, the area in which the Lovat Scouts had fought during the First World War.

After my return home, I discussed the area with Lovat Scouts of that earlier era, who clearly remembered the terrain.

After about four months demobilisation began. The selection process was based on age, so most who had joined in 1939 were the first to be repatriated and discharged. I learned eventually that I had been placed on the demobilisation list of July 1946, and travelled in a contingent overland through Greece, Italy, Austria , Switzerland and France with the Cameron Barracks at Inverness our final destination.

I duly notified my family of my return and two days later was playing for the Lovat (village) shinty team at the popular Glenurquhart Games. A swift transformation had taken place. I was now home at last pursuing a favourite sport and also visualising a new beginning in civilian life.

Besides keeping a fragile peace in Greece, the Lovat Scouts also frequently found themselves rounding up stragglers from German SS units who had gone to ground after VE Day.

After the war Addie trained as a nurse at the Royal Northern Infirmary, Inverness, ending a distinguished career as deputy nursing director of a large hospital in Falkirk.

He moved with his wife Ishbel to her home community of Skerray, and served for several years on Sutherland District Council, but flitted to Inverness on Ishbel’s death in 1990.

Willie, who has been widowed for seventeen years, began working life as a ploughman, and drove for some years after demob for Lairg-based Sutherland Transport & Trading Company before setting up in business on his own, doing rural rounds with a grocery van.

He later built a shop in Lairg, which his family still owns and runs.