Residents in a Moray town will mark Remembrance Sunday a week before the rest of the country – because local army personnel are being called on deployment.
Soldiers from the Kinloss Army Barracks have been summoned to serve in Kenya, South Sudan and the Falkland Islands, so will be unable to pay their respects to the country’s fallen heroes on Sunday, November 13.
Bosses from the base, which is three miles from Forres, have instead organised a parade and ceremony in the town on Sunday, November 6.
Lt Col Jim Webster, Commanding Officer of 39 Engineer Regiment, said: “The Forres community is important to us, and we want to ensure that we provide the best parade possible.
“This has been a real challenge this year, due to the high volume of deployments we are experiencing at the moment.
“With this in mind, we took the decision to mark Remembrance Sunday on Sunday, November 6, when we will be sufficiently resourced to parade through Forres.”
The event will now coincide with a milestone military anniversary, and the town’s annual bonfire night celebrations.
The Army’s Corps of the Royal Engineers marks its 300th anniversary this year, and local personnel attached to the 39 Engineer Regiment will mark the occasion by reflecting on its past.
From noon on November 5, soldiers from the regiment will stage a series historical exhibitions.
They will also showcase their vehicles, and officers will be present to offer an insight into the work the Royal Engineers have performed over the last three centuries.
The soldiers will then remain at the park, to help Forres Rotary Club with its bonfire night fireworks display at Grant Park.
The Kinloss-based soldiers in Moray on Remembrance Sunday will join ceremonies elsewhere in the region.
