Moray soldiers commemorated the Battle of the Somme’s 104th anniversary by doing their own version of the gruelling journey to France made by troops.
Yesterday, nine soldiers from the 39 Engineer Regiment finished their 800-mile challenge around Kinloss to commemorate the march to France in World War One’s bloodiest war.
After finishing the challenge whilst carrying 44lbs, soldiers paid their tributes to fallen troops in a short service at the Kinloss Abbey.
On 1 July 1916, the British forces suffered 57,470 casualties, including 19,240 fatalities.
Captain Terry Twining wanted to support the Royal British Legion and pay his respects to fallen soldiers.
He said the challenge was “great” for the younger troops to remember the sacrifices made and to get their fitness levels back to military standards.
“I have been over to the Somme on July 1, 15 years in a row.
“With the pandemic I knew I couldn’t get there so we decided then we would host our own service to commemorate soldiers that had fallen.
“Especially for all the younger soldiers here it was a bit of a history piece and and remember the fallen soldiers.
“This has been a good fitness piece for them and get them back into the military way of fitness again.
“It was bit sore but the last miles I don’t think many people felt the pain as they knew it was the finish,” he said.
The challenge aimed at commemorating the battle has raised more than £2,400 for the British Royal Legion.
Mr Twining added: “It is a unreal amount and this has been a short notice challenge.
“It all just came together about 12 days ago.
“We haven’t done much publicity and just put something on Facebook page.
“It shows you how generous the public are that in this time especially with many being furloughed and money being tight they have still dug into their pockets to give a few pound.”
Click here to donate to the page – which will be open until Monday.
