In this latest update on the website we must start with the sad news of the death of one of the 51st Highland Division and Ross Bequest Trustees. The following obituary is taken from 'The Red Hackle' by kind permission of Lieutenant Colonel R Riddell.
MAJOR G H PILCHER MC died on the 27th of March 2009 aged 92. He was one of a special band of Territorial Officers who served the Regiment with such distinction and courage during the 2nd World War.
Graham was born in Dundee on the 15th of June 1916 and went to Prep school in Fife before going to Clifton College in Bristol. He was a talented sportsman who particularly enjoyed his cricket. Sport was a part of bis life that he was able to enjoy into his old age. He celebrated his 80th birthday by playing tennis with his grand children and his 90th with a round of golf!
In 1935, after leaving school, he joined Jute Industries Ltd. He was the fourth generation of his family on his mother's side to work in the industry and his father was director of the company.
Graham like so many of his generation joined the Territorial Army and after attending his commissioning course at Sandhurst joined the 4th/5th Battalion The Black Watch, his father's old battalion.
At the outbreak of war he was mobilized with the 4th Battalion and went to France. He was wounded and evacuated in June 1940 before the catastrophe at St Valéry and then after recuperating, rejoined the 4th Battalion in Gibraltar.
On 14th June 1944 he joined the 5th Battalion just after the Battle of Breville, arriving at a time when experienced officers were at a premium. He took command of C Company and was soon involved in the abortive Divisional attack on Collombelles. Hard fighting followed and by the end of October the battalion were close to Hertogenbosch. It was near here that his courageous action led to the award of a Military Cross. During an advance, he and his Company came under heavy mortar and machine gun fire and found themselves pinned down, with snipers trying to pick them off. Realizing that quick action was essential, he ran across open ground despite the intense fire and led an assault on the German positions 200 yards away. Two machine gun posts were wiped out. His citation noted that "his conduct and courage were an outstanding example to all rank under his command". He was awarded his MC by Field Marshal Montgomery on 15 December 1944.
In February and March more fierce fighting took place during the Reichswald offensive and the battle of Goch but on 16 April 1945 he was badly wounded by shellfire near Dotlingen. His injuries were so severe that he did not return to the war.
Graham married Rosamunde in 1946 and returned to the textile business, managing the Camperdown, Bow Bridge, Maxwelltown, Coldrum and Manhattan factories. He gave up production duties in 1954 to concentrate on cloth sales. Jute Industries was renamed Sidlaw Industries in the early 1970s and he was latterly Chairman of the hardware division before retiring in 1979. He also served as Chairman of the British Jute Trade Federal Council.
Graham was very involved with the 51st Highland Division Veterans Association and as Chairman in October 2006 he unveiled a bronze statue of a piper at Bruar in Perthshire to commemorate the actions and sacrifice of that famous formation.
He was also a devout and committed Christian and was greatly involved in the Diocese of Brechin as well as in his local church.
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A fine soldier, Graham was an enthusiastic supporter of the web site and provided encouragement and praise for it in equal measure. A true gentleman, his support and enthusiastic presence will be much missed.
Turing to the website development the Trustees have agreed to advance the work, originally planned for next year, on "The Prisoner of War Experience" and the subject is introduced under that heading. I will be very pleased to receive (through Thornton's Solicitors or via our new email address - youcanhelp@51hd.co.uk) any first hand accounts and photographs to support this section.
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The section on Piping and Drumming has also been started. Over the coming year it is hoped to add considerably to this section. I am indented to Pipe Major Alistair Duthie whose considerable knowledge of piping history is proving invaluable.
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There are also additional items including An Account of the Rhine Crossing from the perspective of a Buffalo driver and a new section under units on the formation of 51st (H) Reconnaissance Regiment.
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The Highland Division Tapestry has also been added to the Memorials.
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I would also like to draw attention to a new book '"Escape from Saint Valéry-en-Caux", The adventures of Captain B C Bradford' details of which will be found in the Credits Section.
Charles Grant
Website Historian.