Scotland’s longest-serving Second World War veteran, Perth old soldier Harry Morgan, has died.
The former Black Watch Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant died at home aged 87.
Mr Morgan’s record-breaking career in military uniform spanned an amazing 48 years from his teenage enlistment in 1942 until his retiral from the Territorial Army in 1990.
A Liverpudlian by birth, he left school at the age of 13 and worked for Ronco before becoming a messenger attendant at the Liverpool Stock Exchange in 1941.
It was there Mr Morgan experienced his first taste of war service as a fire watcher in the Civil Defence, witnessing the devastating bombing raids over the city from the roof of the Stock Exchange.
He was placed on the Territorial Army Reserve, being too young to enlist. In 1942 aged 17 years and two days he enlisted in The Black Watch and was sent to Perth for training.
After training he was transferred to the 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish (Black Watch) and then to the 5th Battalion The Black Watch, which saw him fight his way across Europe as part of Scotland’s 51st Highland Division.
Fighting as part of a rifle company through some of the fiercest battles of the war, Mr Morgan saw action at Caen, the Falais Gap, the corridor through Holland, Ardennes, Reichwald, Goch and the crossing of the Rhine.
He was awarded the War Medal (1939-45) and the France and Germany Star (1939-45).
While stationed at Queens Barracks in Perth in 1947, Mr Morgan met and married Bunty, who died in 1998. He was later to marry childhood friend Emma and moved to Gloucestershire for his final years.
The end of hostilities in Europe did not mark the end of Mr Morgan’s military career.
Immediately on being demobbed in 1948, he enlisted in the 6th/7th Battalion The Black Watch (Territorial Army) as well as securing a job as a postman in Perth a post he held until he joined the Bank of Scotland in Perth in 1971.
In 1957 Mr Morgan transferred into the Royal Army Pay Corps (TA) and in 1967 he joined HQ Company of the 1st Battalion 51st Highland Volunteers.
His funeral will take place at Perth Crematorium on Thursday at 9.30am.