GALLERY: Minden Day parade honours battle heroes

Crowds gathered in Berwick as hundreds of veterans and active service personnel marched through the town for its annual Minden Day parade on Saturday.
Minden Day ceremony with the KOSB in Berwick.  Picture by Jane ColtmanMinden Day ceremony with the KOSB in Berwick.  Picture by Jane Coltman
Minden Day ceremony with the KOSB in Berwick. Picture by Jane Coltman

The King’s Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB) commemorate their regiment’s participation in the Battle of Minden in Germany in 1759 by being presented with a rose in Berwick Barracks before parading through the town.

The roses were presented by Myra Grant, whose great-uncle John Skinner was awarded a Victoria Cross while serving with the KOSB, having exhibited the ‘most conspicuous bravery and good leading’ during the Battle of Passchendaele in August 1917.

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The roses honour the actions of their predecessors, who wore wild roses they had plucked from hedgerows and headed into battle.

Also in attendance was Corporal Brian Law, whose great grandfather Pipe Sgt Daniel Laidlaw, of the KOSB, was also presented with a Victoria Cross for his bravery during the Battle of Loos in 1915. He is buried in Norham.

While the parade mustered, spectators were entertained by a display of Highland dancing by the renowned Nancy’s Dancers.

As part of the celebrations, the Berwick Barracks opened its doors for all Borderers, their family and friends.