GALLERY: Aberdeen gathers at Castlegate for VE Day 2025
Residents of Aberdeen gathered at Castlegate to commemorate VE Day, marking 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe.
The event, led by Major Grenville Irvine-Fortescue MBE, DL, featured prayers, readings, and a wreath-laying ceremony. Rev Stephen A. Blakey delivered a moving tribute, including a prayer adapted from The Gordon Highlanders' last Padre.
Wreaths were laid by representatives, including Aberdeen's Lord Lieutenant Councillor Dr David Cameron, The Gordon Highlanders Association, Royal British Legion, The Burgesses of Guild, and battalion representatives from across the North-East.
Piper Robin Barr performed 'The Lament' before a two-minute silence at 11.00am, followed by 'Reveille' and the Regimental March 'Cock o'the North.'
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Daily Record
2 days ago
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Raploch war memorial plans take next step as long-running project moves closer
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Metro
3 days ago
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Bomb-filled 'doomsday wreck' comes closer to collapse with no-fly zone in place
The masts of the wreck reach ominously above the water (Picture: Pen News) A shipwreck in the Thames full of World War II explosives is coming closer to collapsing, a new report reveals. The SS Richard Montgomery – nicknamed the 'doomsday wreck' – sank in the Thames Estuary near Sheerness in Kent and Southend-on-Sea in Essex in 1944. The ship's masts are still visible above the waterline despite plans to remove them to avoid triggering an explosion of the 1,400tonnes of explosives on board. It's feared an explosion could trigger a tsunami in the Thames, hurling a '1,000ft wide column of water, mud, metal and munitions almost 10,000ft into the air – risking wildlife and the lives of many people'. Waves up to 16ft high could engulf coastal Essex and the Isle of Sheppey. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. And an ominous new report suggests that potential outcome is drawing closer, with several changes detected in the year since the wreck was last surveyed a year ago. The SS Richard Montgomery before it sank in 1944 (Picture: Pen News) A no-fly zone has been put in place above the wreck by the Department for Transport (DfT), which bans civilian and non-emergency aviation from flying overhead – but the department insists the wreck is still 'stable'. The survey warns the front half of the ship – which broke in two when it sank – is slowly tipping over, moving about 19in (50cm) eastward in two years. More decay was observed in the second cargo hold, where the upper port side has cracked, and the lower starboard side has become 'significantly buckled'. This has caused part of the deck above to start collapsing into the hold, with the hatch supports in this area dropping by up to 6in (17cm) in a year. The report suggests the front part of the wreck is 'splitting in two', with the back section also in trouble. The ship sank in the Thames Estuary (Picture: Metro Graphics) It explains: 'Like the forward section, the rear section is hogging and potentially breaking in two about halfway along its length. 'This area was left unsupported when the ship broke in two back in 1944. 'Consequently, it has been badly affected by wave and current action and is steadily collapsing and falling into the gap between the two halves of the vessel. 'The degree to which the bow and stern may be being undercut as the supporting sediment is eroded away is a potential concern.' Daniel Cowan is leader of Southend council, which is just five miles north of the wreck and therefore at risk if the doomsday wreck explodes. He said: 'According to the experts, the wreck of the Montgomery remains stable, so I understand that the no-fly zone that's been put in is a precautionary measure. 'But we are seeking further clarity around the long-term plans for the wreck. 'What we'd like more than anything is clarity, to understand what the long-term plans are.' New scans suggest the front part of the wreck is splitting in two (Picture: MCA via Pen News) The DfT said the no-fly zone had been put in place on expert advice, and will remain until further notice. A spokesperson said: 'Our priority will always be to ensure the safety of the public and to reduce any risk posed by the SS Richard Montgomery. 'The condition of the wreck remains stable, and experts are continuing to monitor the site. 'As part of their ongoing monitoring, they have updated advice on how authorities can further minimise risk. 'They have recommended that pilots and operators do not fly in a limited area around and above the site as specified by the Civil Aviation Authority.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. Arrow MORE: In pictures: How the D-Day landings unfolded on June 6, 1944 Arrow MORE: Two men charged with murder after boy, four, killed in pick-up truck crash in Dartford Arrow MORE: Second World War bombs discovery in Cologne forces 20,000 people to evacuate their homes
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
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Abandoned wartime village frozen in time where empty terrace houses rot
The whole village of Tyneham in Dorset was evacuated during the World War II, but today the abandoned village still remains and visitors can explore its deserted street and the memories left behind Tucked away on the Dorset coast lies a village where time stopped in 1943 and never restarted. Tyneham in Dorset was evacuated during World War II in December 1943, when the War Office took over the land to make space for Army training. Around 225 people were told to pack up and leave their homes within days. The residents believed it would only be temporary and they would return one day. Residents left a note on the church door reading - "Please treat the church and houses with care; we have given up our homes where many of us lived for generations to help win the war to keep men free. We shall return one day and thank you for treating the village kindly.' Despite the war ending in 1945, the residents were never allowed to reclaim their homes, and Tyneham remained under Army control - and it still is. The village became part of a British Army training site, used to test tanks and weapons. To this day, it's owned by the Ministry of Defence and forms part of the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Gunnery School. However Tyneham isn't the only local village absorbed into a Army training ground; Worbarrow Bay and Lulworth ranges are grounds that remain active to this day. The land is still used for the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Gunnery School, a live fire training school - which is why the area is only open to the public on selected weekends and bank holidays. When they allow visitors to explore what remains of the village, it's like stepping back in time. Although many of the buildings have crumbled, there are still preserved fragments of Tyneham's past. The old schoolhouse and church have been carefully restored and today holds exhibitions about the people who once lived there with photos and letters. A row of terraced cottages, known as The Row, still stands near the church. Some buildings have crumbled, but others remain hauntingly still - like they're waiting for their owners to come home. There's also a restored farm area with picnic benches, surrounded by broken walls and fading signs of village life. Tyneham is often called 'Dorset's lost village', and it's easy to see why. It's quiet, eerie, and frozen in the past - a snapshot of a community that vanished almost overnight. Tyneham is more than a village lost to war. It's a time capsule - a stark reminder of the sacrifices of war and what's left behind when history moves on without you. For those planning a visit, it's best to check the opening times online. The village, nearby Worbarrow Bay and the Lulworth Ranges are all part of a live military zone. The exact dates are listed on the Government website. If you're after a day out that's a little different and don't mind a few goosebumps - Tyneham offers a rare glimpse into wartime Britain, frozen in time. Although visitors often say it gives them goosebumps, especially when reading notes left behind by children or seeing the school's original blackboard.
