MSP MURDO Fraser heads to Europe this weekend to take part in a poignant ceremony remembering Scottish soldiers who died in the first world war.

The deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives will visit Flanders to attend the unveiling of a memorial dedicated to Scottish soldiers who fought and died during the conflict.

The unveiling of the Scottish Memorial will take place in Zonnebeke on the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele.

The Battle of Passchendaele—also known as the Third Battle of Ypres—saw the greatest loss of life of any battle in the first world war with almost half a million British, Commonwealth and German troops killed, wounded or missing.

Until now there has been no memorial in Flanders dedicated to Scotland’s fallen. The local communities of Passchendaele, Wytschaete and Messines—who still remember the important role Scottish soldiers played in the Battle of Passchendaele—wanted to show their continuing gratitude for our soldiers’ sacrifice.

To this end, they raised funds to dedicate a war memorial—in the form of a granite Celtic Cross—to Scots who fought in the battleand all Scots who fought during the Great War.

The Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP led a Parliamentary debate earlier this year calling for Scottish Executive support for the memorial, as a result of which the Executive pledged a £5000 contribution towards the commemorations.

“I would like to give my thanks to the people of Flanders for their actions to commemorate and remember Scotland’s fallen,” said Mr Fraser before leaving.

“It is right that we will finally have this war memorial for our Scottish soldiers.”