Prince Charles to join poignant tribute to St Valéry heroes
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PRINCE Charles will join commemorations tomorrow for the 80th anniversary of St Valéry – "the forgotten Dunkirk" – which is being marked in a national tribute for the first time.
The Duke of Rothesay will take the salute from a piper at Birkhall, in Deeside, to mark the anniversary of the Second World War battle which led to 10,000 mainly Scottish soldiers from the 51st Highland Division being captured at St Valéry-en-Caux.
The piping at Birkhall will be echoed all over the world, from as far afield as Peru and Kathmandu, with more than 450 pipers taking part. It is believed to be a record for the greatest number of pipers playing simultaneously. They will play the Heroes of St Valéry, which was composed by Donald MacLean after his capture at St Valéry and the subsequent four years he endured as a prisoner of war.
On June 12, 1940, just days after the successful mass evacuations at Dunkirk, thousands of British troops remained on continental Europe under French command – largely comprised of men from the 51st Highland Division.
They fought almost continuously for 10 days against overwhelming odds until eventually surrounded at St Valéry.
Those who were not killed in the fierce fighting, or fell to their deaths from the cliffs trying to escape, were captured and marched hundreds of miles to prisoner of war camps in Eastern Europe, where they endured appalling conditions for five long years.
The Duke of Rothesay said: "On June 12, 1940, after a gallant stand, the 51st Highland Division with supporting arms and services, including elements from English regiments, was forced to surrender to the German army at St Valéry-en-Caux, on the Normandy coast of France.
"At 10am, on this year’s 80th anniversary, pipers throughout Scotland and further afield will be on their doorsteps playing the celebrated march, the Heroes of St Valéry, in honour of the fallen and to remember a battle in which those of the division displayed the greatest courage and tenacity."
He added: "I warmly encourage all pipers, whether skilled or learning, to take part in this moving tribute to one of the UK’s most legendary fighting formations. We remember all who served and who sacrificed so much."
A series of events have been organised by the charities Poppyscotland, Legion Scotland, and RCET – Scotland’s Armed Forces Children’s Charity.
A live broadcast featuring pipers across the world will take place at 10am, followed by a virtual lesson for schoolchildren at 11am. At 3pm there will be an online screening of the play The Beaches of St Valéry. A tribute concert at 9pm will feature Runrig and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers before a twilight tribute closes out the day at 10pm.
All of the broadcasts can be viewed live from the charities’ Facebook pages and on Poppyscotland’s YouTube channel.
Brigadier Charles Grant, a retired British Army officer and historian of the 51st Highland Division website, said of the St Valéry battle: "There can hardly have been a town, village or hamlet in the Highlands and beyond which was not directly affected by the loss."
Pipers can register to take part and access the sheet music at www.poppyscotland.org.uk/st-valery.
The public is being asked to support the St Valéry tribute through a fundraising campaign which will go to the three charities. To donate £5, text PIPER to 70007.
