ON the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the community of Buckie joined with those up and down the country to remember the moment exactly 100 years ago when the guns fell silent in World War I. A large crowd of all ages turned out on what was a sunny Sunday morning to pay
tribute to those who fell not only during the Great War and World War II, but the numerous conflicts which have claimed the lives of armed forces personnel since 1945. Prior to the main parade, a convoy of bikers headed down High Street to Cluny Square to pay their respects. They were followed by 1st Company Boys’ Brigade, and then Buckie and District Pipe Band who proudly led the main parade.
Veterans decked out in their medals were joined by representatives from the Army, the Army Cadet Force and members of the emergency services, including the Coastguard and the RNLI. Taking the salute was Grace McIntosh, the daughter of George McIntosh, Buckie’s sole holder of the highest award for gallantry in the British armed forces, the Victoria Cross. He was awarded the medal after single-handedly taking out a German
machine gun nest on July 31, 1917 near Steenbeck in Belgium. Leading the centenary Armistice Day service was the Rev Canon Jeremy Paisey, from All Saints Church in Buckie. Calling for people all over the world to be allowed to live in freedom, with justice and in peace, Rev Canon Paisey later echoed the sentiments of St Francis of Assisi, urging: “Where there is hatred, let me sow love”.