Wigtownshire's war
Piper Colin Modrate at the bandstand
ON land, sea and air, people from Wigtownshire played their part in delivering victory over Hitler's Nazi regime
Seventy five years on from the signing of the German surrender which ended the fighting in Europe, Britain is commemorating the enormous sacrifices we and our allies made to confront and defeat the tyranny of an evil despot.
Covid-19 lockdown means the commemorations have had to be scaled back, but Stranraer Community Council was determined not to late the significant moment pass unmarked.
They arranged for piper Colin Modrate to play his pipes at the bandstand in Stair Park to salute 'the greatest generation.'
As well as soldiers, sailors and airmen many of whom did not return and who are commemorated on war memorials across the county Wigtownshire played a key role in the war.
Wig Bay was a key base for RAF Coastal Command and flying boats from Loch Ryan were pivotal in the fight against the U-Boat menace while its communications outposts were key to getting the shipping lanes open.
Air operations took place from Castle Kennedy, Wigtown, and West Freugh airfields.
Cairnryan was transformed into Military Port No.2 and thousands of Canadian and American troops as well as millions of tons of vital supplies poured through its piers and the railway system that linked it to the Transit Camp on the edge of Stranraer.
Garlieston was where the top-secret Mulberry harbours were tested. They would prove essential after D-Day when the work of liberating Europe gathered pace.
Today you can still find many traces of Wigtownshire's war and there are still many alive today who we can number among that 'greatest generation.'
https://www.solwaymilitarytrail.co.uk
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Published: 08 May 2020, 12:55