A REMEMBRANCE assembly at his former school moved a Galashiels army veteran to tears on Armistice Day earlier this month Ex- Kings Own Scottish Borderer, Lance Corporal Grant Mitchell, found the pupil led service highly emotional when he returned to Galashiels Academy on Tuesday, November 11, for the first time since he left in 1987.

L/Cpl Mitchell, aged 43, of Talisman Avenue, a standard bearer for Galashiels Royal British Legion at the assembly, said: “I lost three mates in Afghanistan and find this a very emotional time of year. This is the first time I have been back to the Academy and this assembly was very moving. I am very proud and honoured to have served my country and would do it all again as I still miss the life.” L/Cpl Mitchell, who served two tours in Afghanistan and two in Iraq, joined the army aged 26 in 1997 serving for 15 years until 2012 and is now with the Galashiels reserves detachment.

He was joined at the assembly by another Legion member, and ex-Kings Own Scottish Borderer, 67-year-old Thomas Ian Wilson of Torwoodlee Road, who served for five years before leaving due to a medical condition.

Mr Wilson, who comes from a family with a long military tradition, said that he’d been to Remembrance Assembly once before but had not attended Galashiels Academy.

He said: “I went to Roxburgh School, which does not exist now, it was where they sent all the dunderheads. This year is very poignant as I have three folk from the First World War on the memorial in Galashiels and there’s another on a memorial in England.

“My Grandfather who died in the First World War was in the Sherwood Foresters. My dad was in the Green Howards in the Second World War and survived.” The Academy’s head team led the assembly in front of the whole school and other invited guests including Councillor Bill White, Braw Lads Chairman David Houston, cadets from 2180 Galashiels Squadron and its commander Frank Wielbo.

They read a series of readings about the start of World War One, prepared by Deputy Head Iain Anderson, interspersed with more than one hundred projected slides of images taken during battles of the war.

They reminded the audience that soldiers on both sides signed an unofficial truce at Christmas in 1914 and hostilities ceased for up to three days as men met in no man’s land, and, in one famous event, even staged a football match. This was never to be repeated during the rest of the four year war.

During the service a group led by standard bearers from the Royal British Legion, the Air Cadets and Army Cadets left the hall with deputy Head Boy Neil Turnbull, Deputy Head Girl Abby Wilson and Head Boy Robbie Czajka and Head Girl Kristin Boland to lay a wreath at the School’s front entrance. This ceremony was relayed by video link back the hall.

Speaking to the Border Telegraph afterwards, Cadet Alicia Davidson, 17, who is in S6, said: “Remembrance is a chance to give thanks to past and present soldiers for what they have done for the country.” Lord Lieutenant’s cadet Flight Sergeant 17-year-old Aaron Kerr added: “It is about remembering the people in the armed services who have given up their lives so that we can live as we do just now.” Following the assembly invited guests were entertained in the Cosmo Cafe, by girls taking National Five Hospitality Practical Cookery.