Proud relatives paid their respects to a Highland WWI hero on Saturday, at a poignant ceremony marking the century since his death.
Lance corporal Hugh Montgomery, who served with the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry, was buried at Nairn Cemetery with military honours on October 29, 1916. He was 26.
His family maintained that he died from the effects of a gas attack.
The Maryhill-born former ship’s steward landed in Marseille on December 1, 1914. He was 69 days at the front with the British Expeditionary Force before he was injured and sent home.
In September 1916 he was declared unfit for further action and died on October 27 from “inflammation of the kidneys.”
Born at Cameron Barracks in 1889, the son of a Cameron Highlander, he joined the Army as a regular soldier for seven years in 1908 at the age of 18. He also served in India, Egypt and South Africa.
Leading Saturday’s memorial service, hosted by the Nairn branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland, St Ninian’s minister Rev Tommy Bryson recalled how life expectancy in the trenches was just three days.
Relatives, who have visited Lce Cpl Montgomery’s grave before, travelled from Stranraer and Larbert.
His grandniece Marion Biggam, 66, who has other relatives buried at the cemetery, said: “It was moving and it was nice to take part.”
Mr Montgomery’s grandnephew Ian Fawley, 70, said: “It’s great to get all the history about your family and just to be here, knowing you’re part of what they had done. It really makes you feel good.”
Lt Col Bob Towns, president of the Nairn branch of the legion, said: “It’s been an honour to do this.”
Nairn RBL Scotland has organised a host of such services during the centenary period. Saturday’s was the first attended by relatives.
Cpl Montgomery had wed Catherine (nee Grant) just nine months before he died. She died from TB at the age of 31 and is buried with him.