Glasgow salutes start of Armed Forces Week with George Square ceremony

The event, which took place at George Square today, was attended by military officials and council chiefs.

Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren stated the importance of Armed Forces Day – to be held on Saturday – from both a societal point of view and a personal one.

Representative of the navy, army, RAF and merchant navy along with Lord Provost Jacquline Maclaren watched as the flag for Armed Forces Day was raised at Glasgow City Chambers monday at the start of the week.

She said: “It’s important to remember that there are people out on the frontline doing a great job every day of the week, keeping the country safe.”

She then went on to detail her own recently discovered link with the Armed Forces.

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She said: “Very recently I discovered my great-grandfather had died at the [Battle of the Somme] and he’s part of the roll of honour in Glasgow.”

Cllr McLaren and her cousin have since discovered that two great-grandfathers and a grandfather were all military men.

She added: “I feel quite connected to it now.

“We’re still doing the research, but I’m looking forward to finding out about, first of all, my great-grandfather that died at the Somme, but there’s another great-grandfather and a grandfather who was in Palestine during the Second World War.

“It will be interesting to find out about their histories and their lives.”

Throughout Armed Forces Week, the Lord Lieutenant and Glasgow representatives will visit a number of Armed Forces and veteran organisations.

Glasgow City Council will then host a civic reception on Saturday.

During the flag-raising ceremony Royal Navy commander Mike Howarth said: “The last time I did Armed Forces Day - I was trying to remember if it was 2018 or 2019 - but the last large one in Glasgow I was a senior representative and marched all the way up to the square with the family here.

“It was wonderful, so this is the first one I’ve done since then.”

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He also spoke about what this day means to those within the Armed Forces.

He said: “It’s extremely important for the Armed Forces because it’s an outward representation of what we do, and sort of a public recognition for what the Armed Forces are doing on a daily basis.

“I’m really proud to support this today and great to have the weather as well.”

Colonel Millsop, commanding officer of the 205 Field Hospital, also spoke of the importance of commemorating the Armed Forces.

He stated: “It’s a privilege that the city recognises the contribution that the Armed Forces have made to society and the fact that we recruit from society, whether it’s the army, navy or the air force.

“We come from society, we underpin society’s democratic values and that is of course what we reflect on from the Second World War and all other conflicts in which we fight to bring some sort of stability and underpin our democratic process.”