DRUMS BEATING, colours flying and bayonets fixed—as honorary Freemen of Stirling—43 (Fighter) Squadron marched through the city’s cobbled streets.

Stirling’s “own” fighter squadron proudly received the Freedom of the City at a ceremony in the Council’s municipal buildings on Saturday.

Stirling Provost Colin O’Brien conferred the freedom on the squadron—the first time the city has bestowed its highest honour, and the first time a squadron has been granted such a privilege.

The ceremony was also attended by the Vice Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Tony Bagnall, Wing Commander Phil Beach, Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram MP, Stirling MP Anne McGuire and Sylvia Jackson MSP.

The weekend of celebrations started on Friday with the unveiling of a 3 ft sandstone cairn in Raploch, near to where the squadron was first established to the west of the city.

The squadron, known as The Fighting Cocks because of their black gamecock emblem, was formed at Stirling in 1916 and was based at a field near Falleninch Farm.

The weekend celebrations included a parade by the RAF band and march through the city centre, a military show in the Kings Park, a squadron fly-through, evening receptions and a service at the Church of the Holy Rude.

On welcoming The Fighting Cocks and their families to Stirling, Provost O’Brien said, “I am delighted to bestow the city’s highest honour on Stirling’s own Fighter Squadron.

“The squadron has a long and proud association with our area, stretching over almost 90 years, and this honour speaks volumes of the high regard our community has for the squadron’s conduct, professionalism and dedication.”

The celebrations coincide with the 60th anniversary of the RAF Association this month. The 43 (Fighter) Squadron celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2006.

Wing Commander Phil Beach said, “The Freedom of the City of Stirling represents a singular honour for the Fighting Cocks and also serves to bind the Squadron Association ever more closely with the current serving members.

“I am immensely proud of the squadron’s history that began nearly 90 years ago in the shadow of Stirling Castle under the inspirational leadership of William Sholto Douglas.”

The squadron’s Sopwith Camels saw action in the first world war before the squadron moved to Germany in 1919. The squadron was reformed at Hendon, near London, in 1925 and flew Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain.

It was disbanded in 1947 but reformed in 1949, moving to Leuchars a year later. The Fighting Cocks have since seen active service in many parts of Europe and the Middle East.

Apart from the squadron’s United Kingdom defence role it has supported recent Allied air operations overseas, giving valuable air cover in Iraq and the Balkans, performing support operations in Lithuania and also providing personnel for the defence of the South Atlantic.

Stirling was granted city status in 2002. The Freedom of the Burgh was previously conferred on Her Majesty the Queen Mother and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.