By Gary Cooper

SOLDIERS SALUTED a war hero yesterday after making a journey to a community memorial to Kirriemuir’s Victoria Cross winners.

Scots Guards bowed their heads in silent tribute to one of their own exactly 64 years to the day that Captain The Lord Lyell was preparing to lead his men into a battle that was to cost him his life.

Lance Sergeant Mark Scott and Guardsman David Duff took time out of a week-long Scots Guards recruitment drive in Angus to visit the commemorative stone recounting the deeds of Lord Lyell, the regiment’s most recent recipient of the top gallantry award, at Cumberland Close in Kirriemuir.

His name is engraved alongside those of Corporal Richard Burton, of the 1st Battalion the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who won his commendation during the second world war, and Private Charles Melvin, awarded his during the first world war while serving with the 2nd Battalion The Black Watch.

Lord Lyell’s actions in north Africa during the second world war are very much a talking point and an inspiration for those charged with maintaining the regiment’s traditions.

Lance Sergeant Scott, from Brechin, said, “Scots Guards are extremely proud of our long and distinguished history, especially battle honours and Victoria Cross winners...

“People like Lord Lyell will always be remembered by us and it’s great that Kirriemuir has created this memorial to show that the community has not forgotten. We owe Lord Lyell and people like him such a great debt.”

Lord Lyell is one of 11 Victoria Cross holders in the regiment’s ranks, his citation telling how he commanded his company with great gallantry, ability and cheerfulness during a series of bloody encounters in Tunisia in 1943.

It began on April 22, when he shepherded his troops through intense mortar fire to repel a German counter-attack.

He led them again under heavy fire through the battalion’s first objective the following day, capturing and consolidating a high point and holding it during shelling.

“During this period, through his energy and cheerfulness, he not only kept up the fighting spirit of his company, but also managed through radio telephony, which he worked himself from an exposed position, to bring most effective artillery fire to bear on enemy tanks, vehicles and infantry positions,” the citation continues.

On April 27 his company was involved in an attack on Djebel Bou Aoukaz, when it was held up by heavy fire from an enemy post consisting of an 88mm gun and a heavy machine gun, which had to be destroyed if the advance was to proceed.

Lord Lyell collected the only available men not pinned down by fire—a sergeant, a lance corporal and two guardsmen—and led them to attack it. He lobbed a grenade into the machine gun pit, killing the crew, at which point his sergeant lost his life and both guardsmen were wounded.

With covering fire from the lance corporal, Lord Lyell ran to the 88mm gun emplacement, and was in among the crew with his bayonet before they had time to fire more than one shot.

He was overwhelmed and killed, but not before he claimed a number of the enemy.

Through his sacrifice, the heavy machine gun and 88mm gun were silenced.

More than six decades on, his counterparts are preparing for active service in Iraq.

The 1st Battalion Scots Guards Battle Group returned safely from that country in 2005 and a company of soldiers is also working up to a trip to Afghanistan this year.