Commemoration event remembers army regiment
Lovat Scouts commemoration event. Norfolk Piper Dave Harper and Royal British Legion Flag Bearers. Picture: John Smith - Credit: Archant
A First World War army regiment has been fondly remembered at a poignant commemoration event held in West Norfolk.
The Lovat Scouts at Hunstanton. Picture: The Barber family - Credit: Archant
The memorial concert was held to remember the 500 young men from the Lovat Scouts - a Scottish Highland Yeomanry regiment - who spent the summer of 1915 in the area.
Made up of Scottish estate workers from the Highlands and Islands, the soldiers introduced their culture to the towns and villages in which they stayed, including Hunstanton.
They wore traditional Highland outfits and performed concerts with bagpipes - leaving a lasting impression on residents.
To prepare for their believed posting to the Western Front, the Lovat Scouts constructed 14 acres of trenches on Docking Common.
The Lovat Scouts memorial which has been dedicated at Dreamy Hollow near Docking. Picture: Nigel Day - Credit: Archant
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They were instead posted to Gallipoli, where many of them died.
Some of the trenches remain at the Dreamy Hollow Campsite, Docking, which was the venue for Sunday's concert and where the memorial to the Lovat Scouts stands.
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Organised by Nigel Day, the owner of Dreamy Hollow, John Smith and Tony Armstrong, the event included the dedication of the memorial by the Bishop of Lynn The Rt Revd Jonathan Meyrick.
The Lord Lieutenant of Moray, Grenville Johnston, who was the last commander of the Lovat Scouts, travelled down from Inverness for the occasion.
The Lovat Scouts commemoration event. Saluting is Grenville Johnston, the Lord Lieutenant of Moray and standing beside him are Jacob and John Millin. Picture: John Smith - Credit: Archant
Mr Smith said: 'The Lord Lieutenant of Moray expressed his surprise and he never thought he would come down to Norfolk to honour the Lovat Scouts. So he was very pleasantly surprised.
'There were many regiments during the First World War which came to Hunstanton but not many of them were written up with as much enthusiasm as the Lovat Scouts.'
Other special guests included John and Jacob Millin, the son and grandson of piper Bill Millin, who served with the Lovat Scouts during the Second World War.
He was the piper for Lord Shimi Lovat, who led the Commandos ashore on Sword Beach during D-Day.
Lovat Scouts commemoration event. Picture: John Smith - Credit: Archant
The pair played Lord Lovat's Lament on the bagpipes above the trenches the Lovat Scouts dug, as the procession made their way to the memorial.
Donations from the event totalled £260 which will go to the RBL Hunstanton Branch Poppy Appeal.
The Lovat Scouts at Hunstanton. Picture: J Smith - Credit: Archant
Lovat Scouts commoration event, The son and grandson of Lovat Scout piper Bill Millin, John and Jacob, playing one of Bill Millin's favourite tunes. Picture: John Smith - Credit: Archant
