November 12.

The Rev. Mrs Fraser of Auchtermuchty did not wish to take part in the

Armistice Day service and this was the last straw as far as some of her

parishioners were concerned (November 10). I know nothing of the other

reasons for the petition for her removal but she is not alone in

objecting to the continuing celebration of Armistice Day.

As a child in the 1920s I well remember the school parading with the

ex-servicemen and being led by a piper each November 11 through the

village to the war memorial. The minister led the service, names of the

fallen were read out, the piper played The Flowers o' the Forest, and a

bugler sounded the Last Post. Altogether it was a most stirring occasion

and it implanted in many a young mind that war was glamorous and how

sweet and noble it was to die for your country.

But when it came, war was not like that. Men, willingly or not, were

sent or led into battle either on their feet or in tanks or planes or

ships. They knew that some of them would be killed but man has a strong

belief in his own immortality and each thought that it would not happen

to him.

Many willingly took great risks in battle but they did so for reasons

that had nothing to do with their native land or freedom or democracy or

any of the other things for which they are said to have laid down their

lives.

Some were killed while doing their best to obey an order; some while

trying to be of help to others, some because of the inadequacy of their

superiors. I knew men who were killed but none who willingly laid down

his life that we might live.

There are good reasons for remembering those who died in war. Perhaps

even more so those who survived and still suffer their wounds. I hope a

way can be found for so doing without bands playing and parades and

festivals. And I admire Mrs Fraser for her stance on this.

John Stevenson,

Cruachan,

Villa Road,

Oban.