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Scottish Sun
a day ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
‘He used to scream in the night' – Scottish WW2 veterans return to scene of one of worst military tragedies
NORMANDY RETURN 'He used to scream in the night' – Scottish WW2 veterans return to scene of one of worst military tragedies Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VETERANS returned to the scene of one of Scotland's worst military tragedies this week - 85 years after 10,000 men were either killed or captured in WW2. The Black Watch paid an emotional visit to St Valery-en-Caux in Normandy to commemorate the ill-fated defence of the region by the 51st Highland Division. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The Black Watch Commemorative Visit to Normandy in France. Credit: ©Perthshire Picture Agency. NO SYNDICATION. REMAINS WITH PERTHSHIRE PICTURE AGENCY 4 Lt Col Bill Bradford of The Black Watch whilst serving as a Captain. Credit: © Perthshire Picture Agency. NO SYNDICATION. REMAINS WITH PERTHSHIRE PICTURE AGENCY 4 Private Cameron Walker who was hidden by the Hubert family for four years - pictured with his mother after returning. Credit: © Perthshire Picture Agency. NO SYNDICATION. REMAINS WITH PERTHSHIRE PICTURE AGENCY 4 Infantry of 51st Highland Division are carried into battle aboard Sherman tanks. Credit: Alamy It was an equally sombre event for grateful locals who remembered the men that gave their lives for strangers and saved their ancestors. Retired Brigadier Alastair Aitken, Chairman of The Black Watch Association, said: 'People talk about the Auld Alliance but what they are thinking of is a few beers at Murrayfield with some French rugby supporters. 'But actually, here in Normandy is the real Auld Alliance because here we had Scottish soldiers who died not just in France, but for France, and that is unique in recent British history. 'This is a story of Scotland's best who fought bravely for France as they died for Scotland. They would have fought to the last man and the last round. That has created a unique bond with the communities of Normandy. We won't find it anywhere else in France. 'This is not even a Scottish story – it is a Highlands story – and The Black Watch is part of that. 'It is all about the people. And it is their individual stories that keep their names alive. These are the stories that inspire current and future generations.' Mayor of St Valery-en-Caux, Jean-Francois Ouvry, added: 'I once watched an old soldier stand at the 51st Highland Division monument on the clifftop above St Valery as a tear trickled down his cheek and I realised I also had a tear in my eye. 'Perhaps future generations will not be so aware of our mutual history but hopefully St Valery will never forget. 'The monument stands strong; the graves are tended and the soldiers of Scotland rest here forever. They are in our hearts and we will take care of them.' The heroic soldiers remained behind, under French command, in a last gasp attempt to halt the German advance. But the onslaught proved too strong and 51st Highland Divisional commander Major General Victor Fortune reluctantly followed orders to call a ceasefire and surrender when all hope of naval evacuation had gone. Mistakes were made but we fought with honour – hero Scots soldiers remembered 20 years after Iraq Troops were vastly outnumbered and rapidly running out of ammunition, food and fresh clothing, as well as having no aerial or heavy artillery support. French families played their own in part in trying to save those left behind - taking in stricken Scots and shielding them from the Germans. Private Cameron Walker, a blacksmith's son from Forteviot in Perthshire, remained hidden with a family for four years – helping on the farm and hiding in a specially-made niche between the chimneys whenever enemy soldiers made their frequent searches. His host Hamilton Hubert later 'adopted' Cameron as an extra son and the last surviving daughter – 80-year-old Ghislaine Pegard – told of the love the family had for the young Scotsman. She said: 'I never met him – I wasn't born. But my parents talked about Cameron often. I feel very proud of them and what they did. 'Cameron was a part of the family and The Black Watch became part of our family too. My grandchildren now know of what my parents went through to keep Cameron safe and they will tell their children and grandchildren.' Meanwhile, retired Black Watch Colonel Ronnie Bradford, 67, from Aberdeenshire, is still in awe of the legends told about his famous father - Captain Bill Bradford He was taken prisoner following the surrender of British and French commanders but managed to escape on six separate occasions. The hero spent 367 days trying to reach safety. He walked more than 620 miles, cycled over 500 miles, travelled 2,216 miles by train, 469 miles by ship and around 700 miles by small boat to reach British soil. Ronnie said: 'He never spoke of those times but I know they scarred him deeply. He used to scream in the night. 'It was only after my brother stopped Dad burning his diaries just before he died that his story came to light. 'He was a kind and tolerant father. I just wish we'd known his war story before so that I could have talked to him about it. 'I've been thinking of him and all the other soldiers who fought here in Normandy and to walk where they walked and see where his friends and comrades fell is a really emotional journey.' King Charles passed on his wishes to those who made the trip to pay their respects. And general Fortune's grandson, actor Jack Fortune, from Galloway, believes people could learn a lot from the soldier's commitment to his men. He proudly said: 'While in prison in Poland after capture at St Valery, he suffered a stroke and refused to be repatriated, saying he would stay with his men of the 51st Highland Division until the end.'
Scottish Sun
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Fears Prince Harry will leak MORE about Royals in new book after veiled threat, expert warns
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PRINCE Harry could be plotting a second book after his court appearance, an expert has warned. The Duke of Sussex, 40, was in London for his legal appeal to keep his 24-hour security, which was removed after Megxit. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 An expert has warned Prince Harry could be plotting a second book Credit: Getty 5 Prince Harry smiles and waves as he leaves the Royal Courts of Justice Credit: AP 5 Royal Correspondent for GB News Cameron Walker discussed Harry's comments In February 2020, Ravec decided that his level of protection should be decided on a case-by-case basis when he visits the UK. Part of the two-day hearing was in private and the Duke gave an interview to The Telegraph shortly. He stated that his "worst fears" had been confirmed by what he heard in the secret session. Harry added: "People would be shocked by what's being held back." Royal Correspondent for GB News Cameron Walker appeared on The Sun's Royal Exclusive Show to discuss Harry's comments. Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson asked: "Can we raise this idea that possibly Harry could be plotting a second book or a podcast?" Walker replied: "Yeah, well, the reason that some of those details are not read out in court was because it was a national part of national security issues. "That's why. But perhaps it was a bit of a veiled threat from Harry. "I think there will be people asking the question that if he loses this case, is he going to throw his toys out the pram and publish or speak to a publication about some of that private stuff that we heard in court?" He continued: "And as you say, Matt, he says it would shock people. So that would be one in one sense. Prince Andrew joins Charles & Camilla at church for Easter Sunday in rare public outing… but Kate & Wills not attending "Is that going to be enough material for a book? "He also said in the promotional interviews following the publication of Spare, his bombshell autobiography, that he had enough material for a second memoir. "So is this going to come to fruition? I think palace sources, you know, the palace are going to be slightly concerned about that one. "I think they are probably hoping just going back to whether he's going to write a book or not, that Harry and Meghan's Californian dream is going to work out. How the Royal drama gripped UK and beyond JAN 8, 2020: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announce they are to "step back as senior members" of the Royal Family and divide their time between the UK and North America. JAN 18: Buckingham Palace announces an agreement has been reached for Harry "to step back from royal duties, including official military appointments". JAN 20: The Palace announces Harry and Meghan will no longer use their HRH titles and will not receive public funds for royal duties. The couple say they intend to repay £2.4million of taxpayer money for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home. MAR 3: Harry and the Queen meet for a four-hour conversation about Megxit. MAR 9: Meghan and Harry attend the Commonwealth Day service – alongside William and Kate –their final royal event before giving up royal duties. MAR 27: The couple move to Los Angeles after a brief stay in Canada. JUNE: They buy an £11million mansion in Montecito, California. SEPT: Netflix announces a huge $100million deal with the couple. NOV: In an article in the New York Times, Meghan reveals she suffered a miscarriage four months earlier. MAR 7, 2021: The couple give a US TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which the Duchess reveals her suicidal thoughts and accuses a member of the Royal Family of racism. MAR 8: The Palace responds, saying the race issues raised are "concerning" and "while some recollections may vary" the matters will be "taken very seriously". APR 17: Harry attends the funeral of his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh. JUNE 4: Daughter Lilibet is born in a hospital in Santa Barbara, California. JULY 1: Harry and William unite to unveil a statue of Diana at Kensington Palace. JUNE 2022: The brothers come together for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, and again two months later for her funeral. The state occasion is Meghan's final visit to the UK. DEC: Netflix series Harry & Meghan airs. The Duke says in one episode it had been "terrifying" to have his brother "scream and shout" at him about their future. JAN 8, 2023: Harry is interviewed by ITV to publicise his controversial book Spare – published two days later – claiming it was "Meghan versus Kate". APR: Harry has a "heart-to-heart" talk with dad Charles before agreeing to attend the King's Coronation in London. MAY 6: Arriving alone for the ceremony, he sits two rows behind his brother and leaves soon after the service. JUNE: Harry becomes the first senior royal in more than 130 years to give evidence in court, when he appears at the High Court for his case against Mirror Group Newspapers. JULY: Streaming giant Spotify announces it is parting ways with the Suss-exes' Archewell Audio brand, above, in a "mutual decision". SEPT: Harry rejects an offer to spend the anniversary of the Queen's death with his father at Balmoral. FEB 2024: Harry flies to the UK to be with his father. They meet for half an hour before Harry flies home. He does not meet William. MAR: Meghan launches lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard, which posts just nine times on Instagram. APR: A judge brands Harry's legal appeal for taxpayer-funded security following his move abroad "frankly hopeless". MAY: Harry pays a brief visit to London for an event held two miles from where Charles was staying. They do not meet. JAN 1, 2025: Meghan relaunches her Instagram account with a video shot by Harry on a beach near their US home. MAR: Meghan releases her Netflix show With Love, Meghan and launches As Ever APR: Harry flies back to the UK for his security battle appeal and appears at London High Court - but fails to meet with his father. "Because if it doesn't, the only thing they've got to fall back on is selling more royal secrets. And I think that is a genuine concern." Prince Harry has hinted previously that he has more to say about how he felt he has been treated by his family. When Spare was released in 2023, Harry bragged in an interview: "It could have been two books, put it that way. "And the hard bit was taking things out." 5 Harry and Meghan lost their security after Megxit Credit: Getty
The Guardian
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Plaything – how Black Mirror took on its scariest ever subject: a 1990s PC games magazine
Out of all the episodes in the excellent seventh season of Black Mirror, it's Plaything that sticks out to me and I suspect to anyone else who played video games in the 1990s. It's the story of socially awkward freelance games journalist, Cameron Walker, who steals the code to a new virtual pet sim named Thronglets from the developer he's meant to be interviewing. When he gets the game home, he realises the cute, intelligent little critters he's caring for on the screen have a darker ambition than simply to perform for his amusement – cue nightmarish exploration of AI and our complicity in its rise. The episode is interesting to me because … well, I was a socially awkward games journalist in the mid-1990s. But more importantly, so was Charlie Brooker. He began his writing career penning satirical features and blistering reviews for PC Zone magazine, one of the two permanently warring PC mags of the era (I shared an office with the other, PC Gamer). In Plaything, it's PC Zone that Cameron Walker writes for, and there are several scenes taking place in its office, which in the programme is depicted as a reasonably grownup office space with tidy computer workstations and huge windows. I do not think the production design team got this vision from Brooker. 'Zone had far less of the corporate workplace feel than the episode showed, and much more of a kids in the basement, youth club-cum-nightclub vibe to it,' says Paul Presley, who worked on PC Zone at the time. 'It was a handful of messy, cluttered desks stuck in a windowless basement office round the back of Oxford Street (later Tottenham Court Road). We'd have killed for floor-to-ceiling windows! Editorial, art and production were all on top of each other, music blasting from the office stereo, usually furnished by the neighbouring Metal Hammer magazine. Desks were personal spaces, overflowing with paper, mags, trinkets, swag and tons and tons of CDs.' In the sake of journalistic thoroughness, I also contacted another PC Zone alumnus Richie Shoemaker for his recollections. 'Although there were windows along one side, they were below street level and smeared with London grime,' he says. 'The sills were piled high with dusty magazines, broken joysticks and likely-empty game boxes. It was perpetual night for the best part of eight years down there.' The episode was more accurate on the games themselves – the first scene in the office shows Cam playing Doom, when the editor comes over, shows him the front cover of the latest issue of the mag with System Shock on the cover, then asks Cameron if he's finished his review of Bullfrog's classic adventure game Magic Carpet. '[Plaything] is good on the timelines,' says Shoemaker. 'Playing Doom in the office was of course standard – although when I joined the team Quake was the lunchtime and afterwork deathmatch of choice. The Magic Carpet review did appear in the issue after System Shock (which was actually Charlie's first cover review), but it got 96%, not 93% and was written by launch editor Paul Lakin – who went on to work at the Foreign Office.' He also reckons the episode's grizzled old editor might have been inspired by then deputy editor, Chris Anderson, who according to Shoemaker was 'quite a vampiric character who seemed to exist on a diet of cigarettes and Ultima Online.' Most fascinating to me though is the inspirational origin of the Thronglets virtual pet game. Most reviewers have been referencing Tamagotchi, the keychain pet toy that took the world by storm int the late 90s. Brooker himself has referenced it in an interview. However, a much more likely candidate was the 1996 title Creatures, in which players cared for generations of cuddly-looking critters. Although it looked like a cutesy pet game it was in fact a highly sophisticated artificial life experiment, created by the distinctly sci-fi-sounding CyberLife Technology. Players needed to try to establish breeding populations of the creatures – called norns – but your control over them was limited as they were coded with advanced neural networks and had functioning internal bodily systems regulating their behaviours and physical abilities. CyberLife made a big deal of the complexity and experimental nature of the game: the box came with a warning sticker stating 'Digital DNA Enclosed' and the blurb on the back cautioned players that they would be unleashing the world's first artificial life-science experiment – which is exactly what Plaything is about. Creatures creator Steve Grand bears similarities to the Plaything (and Bandersnatch) coder Colin Ritman. He was a programmer who got tired of conventional games and wanted to try something extremely new. He went on to write a book about Creatures and its development, Creation: Life and How to Make It, and later became an internationally renowned roboticist, famously developing a robot orangutan. Surely the most Black Mirror career trajectory ever. In 2011, he started work on a spiritual follow-up to Creatures named Grandroids, which like Thronglets was about developing a race of intelligent AI aliens – Grand launched a Kickstarter for it in 2016. The project has yet to surface although Grand has a new website for it under the name Phantasia. All very intriguing. This is one of the things I love about Black Mirror, and indeed the use of technology and video games in conventional drama: this is an arcane world full of eccentric people no one outside the industry has heard of, yet the toys they make have massive ramifications. Personally, I wanted to see a lot more of the PC Zone as imagined by the programme, but I understand that the sinister Thronglets were the real focus. Maybe one day there will be a full Silicon Valley-style drama series about the games industry in the 1990s – it was a hell of a time. For now, it's interesting to see the world both Brooker and I inhabited being used as the venue for dystopian fiction – even if they really did get it completely wrong about those windows.
