A ceremony to mark Anzac Day will be held in Aberdeen tomorrow.
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates those who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.
Observed on April 25 each year, Anzac Day was originally devised to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli Campaign, their first engagement in the Great War.
Tomorrow, as one of just 37 events across the UK, an event at St Machar’s Cathedral will be held to commemorate the occasion for people living in the north-east.
Robert Gordon College’s CCF, the Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire James Ingleby and the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeen Andrew Lawtie will be among the attendees.
Alan Fenwick, a member of the committee organising the ceremony, said it would be similar to a Remembrance Sunday event.
Mr Fenwick, originally from Newcastle in New South Wales, said: “Representatives from retired servicemen associations will take banners to the front of the church and raise them, after which the national flags of Australia, New Zealand and UK will be taken forward by members of the local Boys’ Brigade.
“After the ceremony there will also be the chance to buy badges for charity Legacy, and to try some traditional Anzac biscuits.”
More than 150 of the said biscuits, which were a popular snack for soldiers on the front line during the First World War, have been made by Pauline Dick.
The Aberdeen-based school teacher is originally from Wellington in New Zealand, and came to Aberdeen 30 years ago after marrying a Scot.
She said: “We’ve been trying to contact as many Kiwis and Aussies as possible – it’s really nice to get families all together to celebrate Anzac together.
“But anyone interested in the Anzac ceremony as a whole is welcome to come along – plenty of my Scottish friends are.
“So many people have died in conflict over the years and it is so important to bring people together to commemorate that.
“It was a really big service last year, and hopefully we will get a similar turnout tomorrow.”
The Anzac Day ceremony will take place at St Machar’s Cathedral at 7pm.