Highland Return
07 Jul 2010
Soldiers from the 4th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS) paraded with pipes and drums at their old headquarters in Aberdeen recently.
The Old Army Barracks is now the headquarters of FirstGroup. The parade marked a poignant moment for former tram driver and Gordon Highlander, Joseph McNamara, 86.
Mr McNamara served during World War Two and later went on to drive trams out of King Street - current site of FirstGroup. ‘There have been a lot of changes here, but it was good to see the young lads carrying on the regiment's traditions today,' he said as he watched proceedings.
The parade was lead by Major Barry McMaster, from Stonehaven who said, ‘4 SCOTS are very much part of the Aberdeen area, and we still recruit the majority of our soldiers from this part of Scotland, so you can imagine how the Jocks felt as they marched proudly down Union Street.'
4 SCOTS is currently based in Fallingbostel in Germany and has recently seen active service in Afghanistan and Iraq. The site of First's HQ was home to the Royal Aberdeenshire Highlanders between 1862 and 1914.
The granite building on King Street still retains its original 1862 façade and two plaques paying tribute to the building's military history can be seen on the building.
The battalion was presented with a specially designed commemorative ornament by FirstGroup's Commercial Director, Sid Barrie and Lady Audrey Lockhead, the wife of FirstGroup's Chief Executive, Sir Moir Lockhead. 4 SCOTS is an Armoured Infantry Battalion equipped with the Warrior Infantry fighting vehicles.