A BAND of brothers who served together in the military reunited for a final touching tribute to a former colleague.
Largs man Ian Riley joined fellow former 1st Battalion Scots Guard soldiers Frank Gillan and John Benson to remember Iain McDonald.
Ian served with the trio in the regiment during the early 1970s forming a lifelong friendship that united the men into their retirement.
Iain, inset, was badly wounded in Belfast in 1971 and left to join the Merchant Navy, working beside his father who was also serving there.
The friends reunited on Wednesday to carry out one final set of orders - a dying wish left by Iain after he passed away last August.
Ian explained: "Three old soldiers gathered to honour one of our comrade's last wishes.
"He wanted his ashes to be scattered in the sea to mark his time in the Merchant Navy and because of Covid-19, this was the first chance that we had the chance to fulfil that last request.
"Our dear friend passed away in August last year and his wife Gale asked me to do this for him. She is afraid of the sea and could not do it herself.
"We all lost contact over the years, but I eventually traced the guys through Facebook. We arranged to meet up in Largs a few years ago after 40 years apart and it was a day that I'll always remember.
"Again because of Covid restrictions I was the sole guard of honour at Iain's cremation, which was very sad as he was such a popular guy. We were very close when we served together and I am still regarded as a member of his family.
"Gale and daughters Kirsty and Kelly wanted his Scots Guards brothers to perform this small ceremony in his memory.
"We had initially intended scattering the ashes at Largs Pier but there was some work being done there so we instead went to the RNLI slip.
"We were lucky with the weather and it was a beautiful sunny day. We all headed to the Paddle Steamer afterwards to share our memories of Iain.
"It was a lovely way to pay our final respects."
Photographed, left to right, at the original group meeting are Jock Cowie, Ian Riley, Frank and Iain McDonald. Pictured in The Paddle Steamer following the memorial event were Ian Riley, Frank and John Benson.
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May 31, 2021 at 04:34PM
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'Band of brothers' reunited to fulfil dying wish of former army colleague - Largs and Millport Weekly News
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