HE achieved the pinnacle of what all Souters strive to become in the summer of 1936.

But just nine years after he cast the Royal Burgh Flag as Standard Bearer at Selkirk Common Riding he had been shot dead on the battlefields of Europe.

Sergeant William Lowrie Lees was 33-years-old when he was killed in action on November 24, 1944 as the King's Own Scottish Borderers pushed the Nazis back through the Netherlands.

Last month 13 of his fellow Ex-Standard Bearers joined members of the Lees family to mark the 75th anniversary of his death.

They were joined at the Bergen Op Zoom War Cemetery by Selkirk piper Jimmy Bunyan, whose own grandfather had piped the Lament at Willie's funeral.

And members of a Dutch family, who had tended Willie's original grave before his body was taken to the War Cemetery, were also in attendance.

David Mitchell secretary of Selkirk Ex-Standard Bearers Association told us: "There wasn't a dry eye after the service - it was an extremely emotional.

"We took our replica Burgh Flag with us and with Jimmy piping we paraded to the cemetery, just like we do on the Nicht afore the Morn back home to the Fletcher monument.

"The last part of the parade was done in silence.

"On our way to the cemetery it was really misty but as soon as we arrived the cloud lifted and the sun shone."

Following a prayer, Willie's son Bill read out a moving tribute to his father.

Willie's grandson and great-nephew also read out excerpts from letters which had been sent to his widow, Elsie, back in Selkirk from his commanding officers and a close friend he'd served with.

The warmth and fondness they had for Willie still resonated 75 years on.

The final tribute came from Mr Mitchell on behalf of the Ex-Standard Bearers Association.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Lees family, as well as the people of Selkirk, by former Provost David Anderson, and the Ex-Standard Bearers, by Harry Russell.

Ex-Standard Bearer Alasdair Craig recited For the Fallen before two-minutes' silence was observed with Ex-Standard Bearer Graham Pitman dipping the Burgh Standard.

The silence was broken only by the piped Lament of Jimmy Bunyan.

After a short-prayer had been recited, the Ex-Standard Bearers filed past the headstone of Willie Lees as they do each Common Riding around Fletcher.

Mr Mitchell added: "As the service ended we looked up at the blue sky and there was a saltire where the planes had crossed.

"It was one of the moments that makes you take a step back.

"As everyone was preparing to leave the mist came back down over the cemetery bringing to and end what had proved to be a very powerful, emotional and moving tribute to a member of the Royal and Ancient Burgh of Selkirk Ex Standard Bearers Association."

The Ex-Standard Bearers who travelled to the Netherlands for the ceremony were Harry Russell, George Wilson, Ross Thomson, Gordon Hislop, Wilson Craig, Keith Riddell, David Mitchell, Graham Pittman, Keith Monks, Kenny Firth, David Anderson, Alasdair Craig and Michael Craig.