Almost 100 years ago, a young north-east soldier, braving a barrage of machine gun fire, charged and single-handedly destroyed an “impregnable” enemy outpost.
His act of gallantry on July 31, 1917, in the thick of the Battle of Passchendaele during World War I, has passed into the stuff of Gordon Highlanders legend.
Private George Imlach McIntosh waded solo through a river, jumping from shell hole to shell hole whilst under fire, as the prelude to blowing up the German pillbox using a Mills grenade.
His actions are credited with saving the lives of many of his comrades on the frontline, and led to him being awarded the Victoria Cross by King George V.
Mr McIntosh’s bravery was the inspiration behind the Gordon Highlanders Association’s VC Commemoration, which got underway yesterday.
It was launched with a gathering at the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen, where ex-soldiers and volunteers commenced a series of events, paying tribute to Fraserburgh-born Mr McIntosh and the other 18 soldiers from the north-east regiment’s history who received the VC.
The idea for this year’s events came from a chance encounter between Mr McIntosh’s relative, Grace McIntosh, and a Gordon Highlander in 2014.
The VC Commemoration will involve events at schools in Huntly, Fraserburgh, Turriff and Aberdeen, highlighting the role of the Gordon Highlanders across the regiment’s 200-year history.
It will culminate in a memorial parade and gathering in Mr McIntosh’s hometown of Buckie on July 29.
During yesterday’s gathering, and donning the exact uniform a Gordon Highlander would have worn in the trenches, the Great War Boys re-enacted Mr McIntosh’s exploits.
Speaking at the event, regimental secretary of the Gordon Highlanders Association, Major Grenville Irvine-Fortescue, confirmed the VC events would “commemorate these extraordinarily courageous men who gave beyond the call of duty”.
He added: “We decided to do something and commemorate this special year.
“Really, the importance is not so much the medals themselves, it is more the people and extraordinary gallantry and courage they showed.
“Occasionally, an individual will have been found to have committed an action that deserves special recognition, [but] there is plenty that go unrecognised.”
He also hailed the “spirit” of the regiment and its links with the north-east community.
Learning officer at the museum and member of the Great War Boys, Lewis Gibbon, said: “We need to keep these stories alive and not just lose them in the past.”
Mr McIntosh was born on April 22 1897 in Fraserburgh, moving to Buckie aged 12.
He worked as an apprentice at a local sawmill before joining the Gordon Highlanders’ Banffshire and Donside Battalion aged 16 in 1913.
He fought in a string of battles between 1914 and the war’s end, including the Somme.
Mr McIntosh also fought in World War II as a flight sergeant in the Royal Air Force. He died in 1968 aged 71.
Widow of proud Gordon Highlander who died of cancer hands over thousands in his memory
The widow of a proud Gordon Highlander has handed thousands of pounds raised in his memory towards this year’s VC Commemoration.
Joe Jappy requested that any money collected at his funeral be handed to the Association to help mark the contribution of its war heroes.
The Buckie man served in the division for 22 years from the age of 15 and was the chairman of the Buckie Funders – which supports the Gordon Highlanders.
The Army bagpiper served in Singapore and Germany and did several tours of Northern Ireland during his service.
The father-of-five died on December 21 aged 59 following a battle with cancer.
At his funeral, which was attended by about 100 comrades from his beloved regiment, £2,900 was donated for the commemoration committee.
Yesterday his widow Alma said Mr Jappy viewed his fellow Gordon Highlanders as “his family” and received a standing ovation as she handed over the cheque.
Mrs Jappy said: “I am really proud of the amount that was raised at the service, and I am really proud to hand over that money.
“That was his life, he was in it (the Gordon Highlanders) for 22 years. They have really taken me in, the support that they have given me has been really, really good.”
Friend of Mr Jappy’s and secretary of the Buckie Funders, Mike Kelbie, said: “A lot of people use the term legend loosely. To me he was one of these.
“When Joe passed away it was a terrible, terrible blow to the Buckie Funders. Joe was a staunch Gordon Highlander. He always said he hated using the word ex-Gordon Highlander. A Gordon Highlander he was.”
Mrs Jappy has now taken on the role of chairwoman of the Buckie Funders, who are continuing to fundraise for the VC Commemoration.