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The Herald Scotland
29-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Tributes to athlete and Black Watch officer who served in the Troubles
Died: April 9, 2025 Lt/Col Andrew Ogilvy-Wedderburn, who has died aged 72, had a distinguished career with the Black Watch, was an Olympic bobsledder, a marksman and an all-round athlete. He was a formidable officer, respected and admired by both fellow officers and the men he commanded. He served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, was present at the hand-over of Hong Kong and was in charge of the British Contingent of the Tripartite Guard of Honour during President Reagan's visit to Berlin in 1987. Andrew John Alexander Ogilvy-Wedderburn was born in Fareham, Hampshire. His father, Sir John, the 6th baronet, served in the Royal Navy and his mother was Elizabeth Katharine Cox. He succeeded to the baronetcy in 1977 on the death of his father. The baronetcy is an ancient title which was created in 1704, but forfeited in 1746 when Sir John Wedderburn was accused of high treason for supporting Charles Edward Stuart and executed in London. It was restored in 1803 for Sir David Wedderburn, a noted Scottish Tory politician. Ogilvy-Wedderburn was brought up at naval bases where his father served principally in Malta and Helensburgh; then in 1960 the family moved to Perthshire. He attended Gordonstoun and, after Mons Officer Cadet Training Unit, he joined the Black Watch in 1971 on a Short Service Commission. He became a Regular in 1975 and saw service in Northen Ireland during some of the most fraught years of the Troubles. But his service and devotion to The Black Watch (the Royal Highland Regiment) saw no bounds. His career involved such important commissions as adjutant, company commander, chief of staff and ultimately commanding officer of 1st Battalion. He upheld the history and traditions of the regiment with real pride. He served in Derry during the protracted and bloodiest of the Troubles and was officer in charge of the British Contingent of the Tripartite Guard of Honour during President Reagan's visit to Berlin in 1987. The ceremony was the highly sensitive and diplomatic visit by the President: he concluded his speech dramatically, 'Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall.' In 1995 Ogilvy-Wedderburn received the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service. Read more Jim Prime, widely admired keyboard lynchpin of Deacon Blue | The Herald Sea captain who oversaw dramatic launches and rescues dies | The Herald Tributes to senior figure in fire service whose great love was piping | The Herald Lt/Col Tim Coles spoke warmly of his time in The Black Watch with Ogilvy-Wedderburn. 'I served with Andrew throughout our time in 'The Watch' which for me was since 1974 when we were platoon commanders. In Ireland we saw service mainly in West Belfast and County Downe. 'We had to be watchful everywhere and we were always on our guard. Andrew always looked out for other people and helped wherever and whenever he could. The Jocks and brother officers adored and admired him.' In 1993 Ogilvy-Wedderburn (Ogg Webb, as he was affectionately known in the Battalion and Oggy by fellow officers) was received at Clarence House by the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Colonel-in-Chief, The Black Watch, upon becoming Commanding Officer of the Regiment. But Ogilvy-Wedderburn also pursued a remarkable career in sports. His excelled in bobsleigh trials and races at the highest level. His passion for the sport dated from the early Seventies when he travelled in an old van to compete in bobsleigh competitions in the Alps. He was in the team that won the British Bobsleigh Championship in 1976-77 and competed at the Winter Olympics at Innsbruck in 1976 and at Lake Placid, New York State, in 1980 when he crewed as brakeman. In his youth he had played rugby for Panmure and he was also a remarkable shot. Ogilvy-Wedderburn lead the 1st Battalion Black Watch Sniper Team which won the School of Infantry Shield at Bisley and won the Army Sniper Shield in 1979. In retirement he became a passionate gardener and a devoted environmentalist campaigning to preserve the wildlife of his beloved Perthshire. Lt/Col Tim Coles told The Herald, 'After retiring from active service, he was appointed director of the Scottish Army Benevolent Fund and later commander of recruiting in Scotland. Throughout his career he was absolutely loyal, disciplined and vigilant about procedures. Andrew was one hell of a man.' His duties on behalf of the Scottish Army Benevolent Fund were considerable and he devoted his energies to raising funds with his accustomed zeal. He travelled widely in Scotland but was particularly proud to accept a cheque from the local Ballumbie Primary School, Dundee for their efforts to raise funds for Help for Heroes. L/Col Sir Andrew Ogilvy-Wedderburn married first, in 1984, Gillian Adderley; the marriage was dissolved in 2014. He married, secondly, Fiona (Fi) Beaton, who survives him with a daughter and two sons from his first marriage. Another son died in infancy. His son Peter (born 1987) succeeds in the baronetcy. Alasdair Steven At The Herald, we carry obituaries of notable people from the worlds of business, politics, arts and sport but sometimes we miss people who have led extraordinary lives. That's where you come in. If you know someone who deserves an obituary, please consider telling us about their lives. Contact
Scottish Sun
20-06-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
‘He used to scream in the night' – Scottish WW2 veterans return to scene of one of worst military tragedies
NORMANDY RETURN 'He used to scream in the night' – Scottish WW2 veterans return to scene of one of worst military tragedies Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VETERANS returned to the scene of one of Scotland's worst military tragedies this week - 85 years after 10,000 men were either killed or captured in WW2. The Black Watch paid an emotional visit to St Valery-en-Caux in Normandy to commemorate the ill-fated defence of the region by the 51st Highland Division. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The Black Watch Commemorative Visit to Normandy in France. Credit: ©Perthshire Picture Agency. NO SYNDICATION. REMAINS WITH PERTHSHIRE PICTURE AGENCY 4 Lt Col Bill Bradford of The Black Watch whilst serving as a Captain. Credit: © Perthshire Picture Agency. NO SYNDICATION. REMAINS WITH PERTHSHIRE PICTURE AGENCY 4 Private Cameron Walker who was hidden by the Hubert family for four years - pictured with his mother after returning. Credit: © Perthshire Picture Agency. NO SYNDICATION. REMAINS WITH PERTHSHIRE PICTURE AGENCY 4 Infantry of 51st Highland Division are carried into battle aboard Sherman tanks. Credit: Alamy It was an equally sombre event for grateful locals who remembered the men that gave their lives for strangers and saved their ancestors. Retired Brigadier Alastair Aitken, Chairman of The Black Watch Association, said: 'People talk about the Auld Alliance but what they are thinking of is a few beers at Murrayfield with some French rugby supporters. 'But actually, here in Normandy is the real Auld Alliance because here we had Scottish soldiers who died not just in France, but for France, and that is unique in recent British history. 'This is a story of Scotland's best who fought bravely for France as they died for Scotland. They would have fought to the last man and the last round. That has created a unique bond with the communities of Normandy. We won't find it anywhere else in France. 'This is not even a Scottish story – it is a Highlands story – and The Black Watch is part of that. 'It is all about the people. And it is their individual stories that keep their names alive. These are the stories that inspire current and future generations.' Mayor of St Valery-en-Caux, Jean-Francois Ouvry, added: 'I once watched an old soldier stand at the 51st Highland Division monument on the clifftop above St Valery as a tear trickled down his cheek and I realised I also had a tear in my eye. 'Perhaps future generations will not be so aware of our mutual history but hopefully St Valery will never forget. 'The monument stands strong; the graves are tended and the soldiers of Scotland rest here forever. They are in our hearts and we will take care of them.' The heroic soldiers remained behind, under French command, in a last gasp attempt to halt the German advance. But the onslaught proved too strong and 51st Highland Divisional commander Major General Victor Fortune reluctantly followed orders to call a ceasefire and surrender when all hope of naval evacuation had gone. Mistakes were made but we fought with honour – hero Scots soldiers remembered 20 years after Iraq Troops were vastly outnumbered and rapidly running out of ammunition, food and fresh clothing, as well as having no aerial or heavy artillery support. French families played their own in part in trying to save those left behind - taking in stricken Scots and shielding them from the Germans. Private Cameron Walker, a blacksmith's son from Forteviot in Perthshire, remained hidden with a family for four years – helping on the farm and hiding in a specially-made niche between the chimneys whenever enemy soldiers made their frequent searches. His host Hamilton Hubert later 'adopted' Cameron as an extra son and the last surviving daughter – 80-year-old Ghislaine Pegard – told of the love the family had for the young Scotsman. She said: 'I never met him – I wasn't born. But my parents talked about Cameron often. I feel very proud of them and what they did. 'Cameron was a part of the family and The Black Watch became part of our family too. My grandchildren now know of what my parents went through to keep Cameron safe and they will tell their children and grandchildren.' Meanwhile, retired Black Watch Colonel Ronnie Bradford, 67, from Aberdeenshire, is still in awe of the legends told about his famous father - Captain Bill Bradford He was taken prisoner following the surrender of British and French commanders but managed to escape on six separate occasions. The hero spent 367 days trying to reach safety. He walked more than 620 miles, cycled over 500 miles, travelled 2,216 miles by train, 469 miles by ship and around 700 miles by small boat to reach British soil. Ronnie said: 'He never spoke of those times but I know they scarred him deeply. He used to scream in the night. 'It was only after my brother stopped Dad burning his diaries just before he died that his story came to light. 'He was a kind and tolerant father. I just wish we'd known his war story before so that I could have talked to him about it. 'I've been thinking of him and all the other soldiers who fought here in Normandy and to walk where they walked and see where his friends and comrades fell is a really emotional journey.' King Charles passed on his wishes to those who made the trip to pay their respects. And general Fortune's grandson, actor Jack Fortune, from Galloway, believes people could learn a lot from the soldier's commitment to his men. He proudly said: 'While in prison in Poland after capture at St Valery, he suffered a stroke and refused to be repatriated, saying he would stay with his men of the 51st Highland Division until the end.'
