Repatriation of HighLander S McLaren 4 Batt RRS

Please see www.rmarepatnetwork.org for updates and also for photographs etc relating to the repatriation mentioned below.

On behalf of the Royal Marines Association

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REPATRIATION REPORT

Tuesday, 12^th July, 2011

From operations in Afghanistan, the repatriation of:

Highlander Scott McLaren (20), The Highlanders, 4^th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Highlander McLaren was killed after going missing from Check Point Salaang, Nahr-e Saraj (South) District, Helmand Province, on 4^th July, 2011.

Service veterans and members of the public turned out in the following “stations of vigil” to pay their respects to the fallen as the cortege made its way on the 47 mile route from the point of arrival at RAF Lyneham to the John Radcliffe Hospital at Oxford. .

Wootton Bassett - Town Centre (1558)

This report from Duncan Wostenholm, RMA

Councillor Paul Heaphy (Town Mayor) and a 12 man repatriation party of Highlanders in uniform joined family and friends to see Scott McLaren brought home through Wootton Bassett. Locals and veterans were joined by 67 members of the Royal British Legion Motorcycle Branch.

22 Standards were paraded:

Royal British Legion - Abertillery, Hungerford, Merthyr Tydfil, Devizes, Purton, Dursley & Cam, Swindon, Rothbury & District, Henlow Beds and Woburn.

Associations - The Royal Scots Regiment, Aden Veterans, Canal Zone Veterans, Royal Navy (Pershore), The Rifles, The Parachute Regiment (Swindon, The Royal Observer Corps, RAF (Corsham), Korean Veterans (Swindon), The Royal Regiment of Wales (Newport), The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Windsor) and the Wiltshire Guards Association.

Gable Cross Police Station - On the A420 just east of the junction with the A419 (11620)

This report from Pat Bristow RMA

There were three Association Standards on parade: Royal Marines, Swindon and Reading and The Royal Engineers, Swindon. We saw eleven veterans, plus a serving female Sergeant of The Adjutant General’s Corps. We were joined by over 30 civilians, a Fireman and 45 police officers from the adjacent HQ, led by Inspector Alan Carr.

At the Road Bridge - B4000 over the A420 between Shrivenham and Highworth (1627)

Report by Derrick Jeans, RAFA

On the B4000 bridge over the A420, District Councillor Elaine Ware and 11 other gathered to pay their respects as the cortege passed by at walking pace. Oncoming traffic slowed right down.

United Kingdom Defence Academy - at the Watchfield Roundabout on the A420, adjacent to the UKDA. (1632)

Report by Patrick Hopper, RMA

There were 10 Royal Marines veterans, joined by our usual veterans from the army (RE, RA and R. Berks), plus some of the lady wives. Other veterans included Air Commodore Marcus Witherow RAF Regt and his wife Mary and Major Peter Hasting RM and his wife Diana. The Standard of RMA Poole & District was paraded. About 15 members of the public also attended. We were also delighted to see young Lance Corporal Ryan Dominy of the Holbeach Detachment of the Lincolnshire Army Cadet Force, in uniform, along with his Mum and “Granpy“.

Uniformed officers from the Academy included:

Royal Regiment of Scotland: Majors Jonathan Kelmanson, Jules Kilpatrick, Duncan McKinnon, Doug Watson, and Steve Gamory

Royal Marines: Majors Nick George, Andy Prichard, Doug Pennefather, Al Carns, Innes Catton, Baz Lewis and Will Norcott.

The salute to the cortege was ordered by WO1 Tony West, Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.

Folly Hill Lay-by - east of Faringdon on the A420, just north of the A417 junction (1640)

This report by Joy Blake

About 70 people attended the repatriation meeting at Folly Hill lay-by for the soldier returned from Afghanistan, Highlander Scott McLaren.

The cortege passed us by at 4.40pm and we had eight Standards, together with the Union flag paraded. There were many veterans wearing medals and berets, together with the Faringdon Town Mayor, Mr Mike Wise, the Chairman of the Vale of The White Horse, District Councillor Mrs Alison Thomson and Mrs Wendy Simpson of the Wantage Neighbourhood Support Group. Many people who came were from outlying towns and villages as well as townspeople from Faringdon. Several people joined us when they parked their cars opposite the lay-by, just prior to the cortege coming by.

The Standards paraded were: the Union flag, Royal British Legion Faringdon, Beedon, Highworth, Shrivenham, Wantage, Oxfordshire Womens’ Association, RAFA Brize Norton & Carterton and the Royal Navy Veterans from Wantage.

John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford - near Anthony Padua Parish Church, Headley Way.

This report from John Walker, RDG

We here at the Final Turn stood bold and true to honour Highlander Scott McLaren.

There were 12 Royal British Legion Standards on parade: Bicester, Bodicote, Bloxham, Chalgrove, Headlington, Henley, Kidlington, Kidlington Womens’ Section, Marston, Wheatley, Bicester and Launton.

Association Standards included: The Coldstream Guards, Canal Zoners (Oxon), Guards Division (Newbury), The Parachute Regiment (Oxon), RAF Police, Royal Navy & Royal Marines (Oxon), The Royal Tank Regiment (Oxon), The St George Society and The Banner of The Royal Dragoon Guards.

There were 52 veterans in berets and medals and 40 others from all three services. Also there were The Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Ian P. Inshaw and Colonel BAC Duncan MBE (Retd) representing The Royal Tank Regiment Association (Oxon), Mary and John from the church (thanks to John for half-masting the Union flag early that morning), and the Thames Valley police who were out in force, doing their normal duties and parading with us under the command of Chief Inspector Ceila Agger. Also, as on many parades was Graham Choldcroft, BCU Chaplain (Oxfordshire).

The Oxford public at The Final Turn were out in force, at least 200, with many more at the bottom of the hill and leading up to us. Union flags and the flag of Ulster were also carried. The weather was kind and sunny at 17⁰C.

The Parade Marshal was G. Whelan (former Para) and his 2i/c was J. Lewendon (former RA). The cortege passed us by at 1705hrs.

Their courage and sacrifice will not be forgotten

Report compiled by PH (The Duty Scribe)

On behalf of the Royal Marines Association

.............................................................................................................Arborfield Old Boys' Association