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PICTURES: Wick man pays tribute to uncle who was killed on D-Day





Bruce Tait with the poppy cross featuring the name of the uncle he never knew, John Bruce Tait. Picture: Alan Hendry
Bruce Tait with the poppy cross featuring the name of the uncle he never knew, John Bruce Tait. Picture: Alan Hendry

A Wick man whose uncle was killed in action on D-Day was among those who took part in an 80th anniversary commemoration in the town this morning.

Bruce Tait was named after his father’s elder brother, John Bruce Tait, who was the second officer on a landing craft that brought tanks and soldiers ashore at Sword beach on June 6, 1944.

Mr Tait (79) joined in a commemorative event organised by the Wick, Canisbay and Latheron branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland in the garden of remembrance beside Wick Town Hall.

Relatives of servicemen from Caithness who were involved in the Normandy landings were invited to write the name of their family member on a poppy cross and place it beside a D-Day display.

Mr Tait never knew his uncle, who was a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR).

“He was a policeman with the Metropolitan Police in London and he was seconded to the RNVR during the war,” Mr Tait said.

“When he left Wick he was 22 and he was 29 when he was killed. He was second in command of LCT [landing craft tank] 980, transporting tanks and personnel onto Sword beach.

“They were just going off the beach when a shell hit the boat and he was killed outright. The boat was quite badly damaged.

“The skipper got the boat out to sea and they started making back towards Britain and they actually buried him at sea off the boat.

“I’ve got a few bits and pieces of records, and his medals.

“I’m the oldest of my generation so they named me after him, John Bruce Tait. I didn’t know him but I’m the oldest of the family left living now.

“I’m glad I came – it’s nice to remember what happened all those years ago. It’ll get fewer and fewer as the years go on.”

From left: Alex Paterson, Willie Watt, Jan McEwan and John Nugent. Picture: Alan Hendry
From left: Alex Paterson, Willie Watt, Jan McEwan and John Nugent. Picture: Alan Hendry

There was a gathering of almost 100 people for the short service at 11am.

Caithness Vice-Lieutenant Willie Watt laid a poppy wreath and minister John Nugent said a prayer. The provost of Wick, Jan McEwan, also attended.

A two-minute silence was followed by the lament Flowers of the Forest. The pipers taking part in the service were Gordon Tait and Alasdair Miller of Wick RBLS Pipe Band.

Mr Watt said: “The lead-up to the D-Day anniversary has been emotional and I think it has brought to mind the enormity of how much sacrifice there really was.

“We heard about D-Day, they made it into films and all the rest of it. But just listening to some of the veterans telling their stories, there is hardly a dry eye in the house wherever you are.

“I think it is testament to the Legion and everybody involved here today who have made sure that Wick is part of that commemoration of the successes and the sacrifices that were made to keep us where we are today.”

Legion colours were held by Lee MacNeil (right) and Angus Mackay. Picture: Alan Hendry
Legion colours were held by Lee MacNeil (right) and Angus Mackay. Picture: Alan Hendry

Mr Watt added: “All the veterans are crying out for peace in eastern Europe because they know the horrors of war and our generation has been lucky enough, because of them, not to have suffered it. We must try at every turn to prevent it happening again.”

Legion branch chairman Alex Paterson created a row of white crosses representing each of the five Normandy beaches – Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah. In front is a sign, also made by Mr Paterson, saying “D-Day 6th June 1944”.

Commemorations and events are taking place across the UK and in France to mark the 80th anniversary. D-Day saw the Allied forces mount a large-scale invasion of Nazi-occupied France that ultimately tipped the course of World War II in the Allies’ favour.

Pipers Gordon Tait (front) and Alasdair Miller leading the Legion colour party into the garden of remembrance. Picture: Alan Hendry
Pipers Gordon Tait (front) and Alasdair Miller leading the Legion colour party into the garden of remembrance. Picture: Alan Hendry
Angus Mackay, on the right, and Lee MacNeil carrying the Legion colours into the garden of remembrance. Picture: Alan Hendry
Angus Mackay, on the right, and Lee MacNeil carrying the Legion colours into the garden of remembrance. Picture: Alan Hendry
Robbie Mackintosh (foreground) and some other representatives of the Wick, Canisbay and Latheron branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland looking on at the D-Day service. Picture: Alan Hendry
Robbie Mackintosh (foreground) and some other representatives of the Wick, Canisbay and Latheron branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland looking on at the D-Day service. Picture: Alan Hendry
Bruce Tait places a poppy cross in memory of his uncle who was killed on D-Day. Picture: Alan Hendry
Bruce Tait places a poppy cross in memory of his uncle who was killed on D-Day. Picture: Alan Hendry
Provost Jan McEwan (centre) watching on with some of the Legion branch representatives. Picture: Alan Hendry
Provost Jan McEwan (centre) watching on with some of the Legion branch representatives. Picture: Alan Hendry
Members of the public had a chance to step forward and place poppy crosses in the D-Day display at the garden of remembrance beside Wick Town Hall. Picture: Alan Hendry
Members of the public had a chance to step forward and place poppy crosses in the D-Day display at the garden of remembrance beside Wick Town Hall. Picture: Alan Hendry
Ex-serviceman Denny Swanson placing a poppy cross. Picture: Alan Hendry
Ex-serviceman Denny Swanson placing a poppy cross. Picture: Alan Hendry
Poppy crosses placed in front of the D-Day display created by Legion branch chairman Alex Paterson. Picture: Alan Hendry
Poppy crosses placed in front of the D-Day display created by Legion branch chairman Alex Paterson. Picture: Alan Hendry
Some of the poppy crosses placed by members of the public at the end of the service. Picture: Alan Hendry
Some of the poppy crosses placed by members of the public at the end of the service. Picture: Alan Hendry
Caithness Vice-Lieutenant Willie Watt laid a poppy wreath. Picture: Alan Hendry
Caithness Vice-Lieutenant Willie Watt laid a poppy wreath. Picture: Alan Hendry

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