Captain Ian McCall and Major Charles Williamson, (both from the Strathclyde region), came to present a plaque bearing the regiment's badge to hotel proprietors Susan and Andrew Tyrie and Brian Lavers (the latter was the originator of another Findon eating-house, Darlings in The Square, and also The Vintage Years).

Tracing the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders activities has been a little complicated.  The 2nd Battalion, (who were in Malaya when war broke out), fought the Japanese down the length of Malaya, held the Causeway into Singapore and after the final battles of Singapore became Prisoners of War of the Japanese.   In 1942 the 15th Battalion, who were serving in Orkney, were told that they were to be reconstituted as the new 2nd Battalion.

The two Scots visiting Findon in 1985 were among 36 officers of the new 2nd Battalion who occupied the premises of the 16th century Findon Manor Hotel (once the rectory) as a mess when the army were encamped at Cissbury Ring before sailing for D-Day.

Tragically these two men and another officer were the only three of the group to survive the bitter combat at Normandy that brought victory for the Allies in Europe and the 2nd Battalion ended up on teh Elbe just befodre VE Day.

Back in the Spring of 1985 Captain McCall and Major Williamson also presented to the proprietors of the Findon Manor Hotel a photograph as a tribute to the memory of their comrades lost in battle.  This was of their regiment taken in the grounds of the Findon Manor Hotel in May 1944.

Continue to read more about the days of the Second World War leading to the present day in Who Was My Father, Mum?