PAST and present armed forces personnel came together to commemorate the anniversary of the First World War on Saturday.

A mass of motorcycles, military vehicles and veterans marched from Alloa Academy to Alloa Rugby Club as part of the Armed Forces Day celebrations.

The parade and subsequent gala-style family fun day with children’s rides and stalls at the rugby ground was part of a weekend of events organised by the Clackmannanshire branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland (RBLS) to remember the 100th anniversary of the start of WW1 and the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

It began on Friday evening with a big band night held in Alloa Town Hall where attendees danced to the sounds of the 1940’s through Swing Sensation including residents from Parklands Care Home and one who had been a POW in Poland during the Second World War.

Provost Tina Murphy, Clackmannanshire’s Lord Lieutenant Johnny Stewart and Veterans Minister (and local MSP) Keith Brown were among the special guests at Saturday’s parade. The oldest veteran was Willie McLaughlin (90) from Alloa.

He was just 20 years old when he served as a signalman on board one of the hundreds of vessels that transported troops and equipment to the shores of Normandy, France, on D-Day.

The landings, part of Operation Overlord, commenced on 6 June 1944 and recently Willie returned to Normandy during the 70th anniversary celebrations.

He said, “On D-Day I was 20 years old and thought nothing could touch me, I had no fear. Looking back I was lucky. When we went to the cemetery in France it was quite emotional seeing all the graves and realising just how many were killed.

“French people were coming up and shaking my hand saying ‘thank you for what you’ve done’.” On Sunday, the Clackmannanshire branch of the RBLS then remembered three soldiers from the Wee County.

James Lennox Dawson, James Dalgleish Pollock and John Crawford Buchan, received the Victoria Cross for their service on the field of battle in WW1.

Of the three only John Buchan failed to make it home, having died from his injuries. Three living relatives of John (pictured inset) made the trip to Alloa to take part in the service at the war memorial.

Robert Hunter, secretary of the RBLS branch, said the parade and gala day proved so popular with residents that the branch is considering something similar next year.