Home   News   Article

Piped tribute to Battle of St Valéry paid outside Forres veteran's home


By Garry McCartney

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
Former soldiers including Albert Duffus and Donald Smith (right) look on as Lance Corporal Donald Stewart, Emma Lawrence and Johnathan Scott from Forres and District Pipe Band play The Heroes of St Valéry.
Former soldiers including Albert Duffus and Donald Smith (right) look on as Lance Corporal Donald Stewart, Emma Lawrence and Johnathan Scott from Forres and District Pipe Band play The Heroes of St Valéry.

FILM crews from national television were amongst those who paid their respects to a special soldier in Forres on the morning of June 12.

Around 30 people gathered outside Seaforth Highlander Donald Smith's house at MacRea Court to hear Johnathan Scott and Emma Lawrence from Forres and District Pipe Band, and Lance Corporal Donald Stewart from 7 Scots, play 'The Heroes of St Valéry' to mark the 80th anniversary of the battle of St Valéry en Caux.

Donald (99), of the 4th Battalion the 51st Highland Division, was on a Bren Gun holding the line near the French coastal town during the infamous battle that started on June 4, 1940 - the day the Dunkirk evacuation ended.

Attached to the French Army, the 51st were pushed back to St Valéry by the Germans. Eventually, on June 12, running low on ammunition and supplies, and the French Army having surrendered, the Highlanders were also forced to lay down their arms. Around 11,000 of the 51st, including Donald, spent the next five years in prisoner of war camps and more than 1000 never came home.

After the tribute outside his home, Donald said: "Anything to do with St Valéry fills me up. Today was a complete surprise. I thought it was really wonderful and I can't thank everyone enough for coming.

"I first heard The Heroes of St Valéry many years ago. I was presented with a scroll with the lyrics on while on a visit to the Cenotaph in London with my regiment. It was great to hear it played so well again."

Donald Smith was proud to remember the men he fought with at St Valéry.
Donald Smith was proud to remember the men he fought with at St Valéry.

Donald was born in Glasgow but, on the death of his mother when he was aged just three, was taken by his dad to start a new life in Leeds.

Aged 16, he joined the local Territorials and after the Munich Crisis of 1938 asked permission of his father to join the regular army.

Donald said: "My uncle Alexander had been killed in the First World War fighting with the Seaforths, so we considered them to be our family's regiment. I joined and trained at Fort George.

"When the war started a few friends and I were transferred to the 4th Battalion. We all agreed that if we managed to survive the war we'd meet up every year at the Cenotaph. I was the only one who made it back."

Donald recently featured in producer Craig McAlpine's Channel 4 documentary 'Dunkirk The Forgotten Heroes', first aired in 2018.

Donald said: "My wife Helen and I went to France with Craig three years ago to be filmed for it. Craig is like our wee adopted son now - he's never away from ours!

"I thought the documentary was wonderful - everyone did - and we heard from folk all over after it was shown. Even my doctor at Forres Health Centre thought it was fantastic and was delighted for me."

Donald met met Helen, originally from New Stevenston near Motherwell, after the war. His job for motor dealer Macrae and Dick took him north and the pair eventually moved to Forres from Lossie eight years ago.

Donald added: "We love the history here - it's a lovely little place and has loads of character."

Albert Duffus escorting his friend Don to the tribute.
Albert Duffus escorting his friend Don to the tribute.

Donald's friend Albert Duffus was a sergeant major in the Queen's Own Highlanders, serving from 1966 until 1994.

He said: "I was told about Don when he first moved here, so I invited him to come to the Cenotaph with us and I've taken him a few times now. He's a gentleman. He doesn't talk a lot about what happened during the war but answers any questions about it if asked. He never boasts - he just sees himself as a soldier who did what he had to. His wife Helen is a fantastic person too."

Albert attended the tribute at MacRea Court with Queen's Own Highlanders, Willie Ross, Davie Mackay and Kevin Bremner.

He said: "It was very well organised and very much for Donald. I escorted him out and kept an eye on him while we watched the piper. It was a great tribute to him and the others that fought in that battle.

"I would like to thank everyone who turned up to pay their respects on the 80th anniversary of St Valéry. Every battle that Scots were in should be promoted. None of us would be here now if it wasn't for those who put their lives on the line for future generations."

Forres and District Pipe band pipe sergeant Johnathan Scott also explained why it is important to mark the battle of St Valéry in Forres.

He said: "The band has roots in the Seaforth Highlanders, part of the 51st Highland Division.

"We know Donald - we played at his 99th last year and will do the same at his 100th this October. I tried not to look at him during today's performance in case I got emotional. He's a very humble man. He doesn't look for any praise and just wants everyone to remember the men that didn't come home.

"Everything went really well. We were proud to be a part of helping everyone remember what happened in France."



Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More