Remembering the Pars who fell
Sunday, 8th Jul 2018Once again this year, Dunfermline Athletic was represented at the McCrae`s Battalion Trust events in Contalmaison, France, along with Hearts, Hibs, Falkirk, Raith Rovers, and many other organisations.
The ceremonies commemorate the start of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916, when 20,000 men died, including Davie Izatt and Jimmy Morton of DAFC – their bodies were never found and their names are on the nearby Thiepval Memorial. Players from several football clubs and other sports also died beside them, McCrae’s Battalion (16th Royal Scots) being largely made up of sportsmen and athletes.
A wreath was laid at the commemorative cairn on behalf of DAFC by John Simpson, Raymond Davis and Tom Hart, and a framed DAFC pennant was presented to Patricia Leroy, the Maire of Contalmaison.
At around the same time as the events in Contalmaison, Donald Adamson represented DAFC at a special service held in St Cuthbert’s Church in Edinburgh. This was followed by the laying of a wreath at the McCrae’s plaque on the steps of the Usher Hall.
Later, a visit was made to the grave of Serjeant James Cooper in Warloy-Baillon. A cloth lapper at St Margaret`s Works in Dunfermline, Sjt Cooper served with McCrae`s Battalion and is known to have been a loyal DAFC supporter. He died from his wounds in August 2016
Dunfermline Athletic FC is proud to be a life member of McCrae’s Battalion Trust.
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