The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Keptie

Press & Journal , 21st August 2010 :

Plaque salute for hero piper of Dargai: Forglen tribute to North East hero who inspired troops to take Hill Position:

By John Thomson.

A permanent tribute has been unveiled to Honour a NORTH EAST War Hero who piped his regiment to victory despite severe injuries .

GORDON HIGHLANDER George FINDLATER was awarded the Victoria Cross for his courage in the Indian Mutiny campaign in the 1890's

During the battle at the Heights of Dargai in 1897 he was badly wounded in both ankles but continued playing to inspire his colleagues .

His actions were recalled yesterday when a new brass PLAQUE in his memory was unveiled at FORGLEN HALL , NEAR TURRIFF by Banff and Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford .

The hall friends group and the Royal British Legion Scotland at Turriff joined forces to produce the tribute .

Miss Whiteford said ," It is a huge honour to be asked to unveil the new plaque , and great that FORGLEN is remembering its most famous son .

"Many VCs were awarded postumously but he survived his injuries and settled back in the north east"

Descendants of Mr Findlater at the ceremony were his grandchildren Derek Addison, Jimmy Addison, and Frances Milne and great nephew Alan Stephen.

FORGLEN HALL committee chairman Norman Wilson said " The idea of a plaque has been spoken about for 10 years and we are delighted it is finally here ."

Forglen born Mr Findlater joined the Gordons in 1888 and became piper in his battalion . At the Dalgai Heights battle on India's north west frontier , he was shot three times but propped himself up and continued piping under fire.

His actions inspired the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders to scale the heights and scatter the enemy.

He recovered from his injuries in hospital at Southampton where Queen Victoria presented him with the Valour award in 1898.

Mr Findlater and his wife Nellie later settled at Cairnhill Farm , Forglen .

He died in 1942 , aged 70 and he is buried with his wife at Forglen Cemetery .

The photograph in the Press & Journal newspaper :

In tune : George Findlater's grandchildren Derek Addison, Jimmy Addison and Frances Milne with Banff and Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford in front of the Plaque to the Gordon Highlander Piper .

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patrick w anderson

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spoons · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 8:15 pm Post subject:

When I served with the Gordon Highlanders in the late '80s, Piper Findlater was still well remembered and every Officer and NCO was expected to know the story. The Sergeants Mess held a Dargai Ball every year to remember the battle.

\Paul

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

Is there an image of this memorial, please?, to determine the wording.

It seems to be too early to be on the P & J website, and although the original post suggests there is a an image there, there isn't now?

Maybe it was lost during the photobucket problems?