We Will Remember Them

On 3 September 1939 a RAF Westland Wallace biplane en-route from Dyce, Aberdeen to Tain, Ross-shire crashed in thick fog on the upper slopes of Bennachie in Aberdeen-shire.

The crew of two were killed instantly. The pilot was Ellard Cummings of Ottowa, Canada and the gunner Ronald Stewart from Paisley, Scotland. Both were in their early twenties and are quite probably the earliest UK/Commonwealth casualties of the Second World War.

Ronald Stewart was my grandfather's younger brother.

Today we climbed to the summit of Oxen Craig, on Bennachie, to be there for the unveiling and dedication of a cairn to the two airmen and the pilot of a subsequent crash in 1952 (Brian Lightfoot).

Thanks to the local Baillies of Bennachie, and in particular James Mackay, a great deal of research and organisation has resulted in relatives of all three airmen from all over the world climbing to the summit for today's ceremony.

The ceremony and especially the haunting pipes floating across the hills were very emotional for all concerned.

We will remember them.