THE unveiling of a memorial stone for Wee County war hero John Crawford Buchan VC, who died 100 years ago today, is taking place in Alloa this Friday, March 23.

Provost Tina Murphy will welcome attendees to the commemorative service at the Boer War Memorial at the junction of Ludgate and Claremont at 10am on the day.

Buchan was born on Alloa’s King Street in 1892 and volunteered to join the army in the First World War.

Following basic training, he was assigned to the Royal Army Medical Corps and was commissioned with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the 7th Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

He embarked for France in September 1917 and found himself on the outskirts of Marteville on the Upper Somme on March 21 the next year.

There, he and his men faced the brunt of the Kaiserschlacht, also known as Operation Michael or the Spring Offensive.

This was a last attempt by the Kaiser to defeat the allies before the Americans arrived.

According to The London Gazette from the time, the courageous Alloa 25-year-old continued fighting with his platoon in a forward position despite picking a wound up earlier in the day.

Eventually, his command was surrounded and Buchan gathered his men to fight their way back to the supporting line.

By then the enemy moved into position around his right flank, rushing him with shouts of “surrender”.

“To hell with surrender”, he reportedly replied before shooting the foremost enemy.

They fought their way back, again taking a forward position and holding out until dusk.

Buchan fell back as ordered, but refused to go to the aid post, instead staying in place with his men.

Later they became cut off from high command and it became impossible to send orders to the 2nd Lt.

He was last seen holding out against overwhelming odds.

At the ceremony on Friday, the Provost will be followed by Clackmannanshire’s Lord-Lieutenant Lt Col (Retd) Johnny Stewart, who will deliver a speech.

The stone itself will be unveiled by John Crawford Buchan’s great nephew Michael Proudfoot.

There will also be a wreath laying ceremony, a piper and bugler, and a speech by local MSP Keith Brown, minister for veterans.

Also present will be Royal Regiment of Scotland Pony Major Mark Wilkinson with Mascot Lance Corporal Cruachan IV.

In addition, a memorial stone will also be unveiled for Crimean War hero John McDermond VC.