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 Presiding Officer, Rt Hon, Alex Fergusson MSP
As Presiding Officer, I am delighted to be able to co-host this Lancastria Medal Ceremony and to warmly welcome each and every one of you to the Scottish Parliament this evening. I know that a number of you have travelled from further afield…I am pleased that you have been able to do so, and that we have the opportunity of sharing this very special occasion together.
Tonight we stand in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament and remember Monday 17 June 1940…a day which marks the bombing of the Scottish built Lancastria just off the French Coast…a day which saw the loss of around 4,000 lives, the largest single loss of life for British forces in the whole of World War II…and a day which recorded the worst single disaster in British maritime history.
As I look around this room, I am conscious that some of you are amongst the estimated 2,477 who survived the Lancastria disaster, and that your memories of that traumatic event may still to this day be raw and painful. At the same time, I am also aware of the families of the victims who join with us…families who were robbed of their loved ones, and who have borne the pain of the Lancaster tragedy.
Tonight, however, we come together to mark the bravery of all aboard the Lancastria…men who fought for their country…men who acted heroically to save others…and men, who even in the face of death, clung to barrels and sang out boldly, “Roll out your barrel”. Courageous men of whom we can all be proud.
Across this parliament, there is a deep respect for those who fought in the World Wars…the sacrifice that took place for our freedom, peace and prosperity. And it is in that spirit of respect and gratitude that we hold this Medal Ceremony for the Lancastria victims and survivors today.
This is the first medal of its kind ever commissioned and instigated by the Scottish Government. It follows the campaigning efforts of the Lancastria Association of Scotland…a petition submitted to the Scottish Parliament by the Association…and a Members’ Debate led by Christine Grahame MSP, who has worked hard on this issue and is, of course, with us tonight. It is a medal which seeks to show our respect for that bravery and sacrifice, and it is right and fitting that this event is being held here in the Scots’ Parliament.
Our respect is, of course, not limited to those who have fought in the World Wars, but extends to all of our men and women who serve in the armed forces…and those who have served, the victims, veterans and their families.
That is why the Parliament is happy to support PoppyScotland and I am delighted to be its Honorary President and to host an annual Reception here in the Scottish Parliament. PoppyScotland is the sole charity to be supported by the Scottish Parliament. This year, the Parliament will also host a Reception to mark National Veterans Day, and parliamentary motions have already been lodged to show support for this important day.
And, as Presiding Officer, I am proud to represent the Parliament at ceremonial events, such as the Remembrance Day Service at St Giles Cathedral, and the Scottish-American Memorial Service at The Call in Princes Street Gardens. Here in the Parliament we have also hosted a small number of ceremonies similar to this one to present emblems to war veterans, such as in the case of the Russian Arctic Convoys. We are also delighted to have good relations with Whitefoord House and its veterans…our near neighbours.
Although I stand tonight with no personal experience of being in the armed forces, like many people, I come from a family with a strong military background…my father, for example, served for 20 years with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. This family background has increased my respect for the men and women of our forces, and the 500,000 veterans who make up the Scottish people. It is therefore my pleasure to host this Medal Ceremony tonight and I am deeply honoured, along with the First Minister, to have the opportunity to present you with your medals.
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