Badenoch and Strathspey will remember their heroes of St Valery

It was a World War II battle that led to 10,000 mainly Scottish soldiers being captured.

The incredible bravery of the 51st Highland Division heroes who stayed on the continent after the Dunkirk evacuations and were eventually captured at St Valéry-en-Caux, has largely been forgotten.

Tomorrow, thanks to three leading Scottish armed forces charities and the strath’s own Shinty Memories Scotland, young and old will learn the incredible story 80 years on.

Scottish Government minister for children and young people Maree Todd has launched a new learning resources as part of the commemorations.

She said: “Barely a town, village or hamlet in the Highlands was unaffected by the events at St Valéry in June 1940, yet many today are unaware of its significance.

“These new resources are an excellent addition to Poppyscotland’s already extensive learning programme. At a time when parents and carers are doing an incredible job to keep our young people learning at home, the St Valéry materials are an excellent additional resource, and offer fascinating insight into the events at St Valéry.”

As well as daily lesson plans, other significant learning events include an interactive Facebook Live lesson tomorrow at 11am and two special broadcasts of critically acclaimed play The Beaches of St Valéry tonight at 8pm, and tomorrow at 3pm. At 10am tomorrow, pipers all over the world will take to their doorsteps to play Heroes of St Valéry.

“Heroes of St Valéry” was composed by Pipe Major Donald MacLean, who survived a harrowing forced march from France to Poland with little food or shelter and was held as a POW for the rest of the war.

The prisoners taken at St Valéry included two notable men from the strath.

Sandy Russell joined the Lovat Scouts in October 1938 and, at the Newtonmore Drill Hall in March the following year, the Camerons.

His worst nightmares were waiting for him in France and Belgium, with St Valéry merely the end of the beginning.

The former Highland Regional Council convener was later to recall: “In the middle of the night I heard a noise like an express train passing overhead and when an explosion followed, realised it was shelling. This continued for about one-and-a-half hours then stopped and we went back to sleep as everybody was dog tired.

“The next morning some of us went down to the latrine we had erected, but it was gone, having suffered a direct hit from the shelling. Considering it was only about 40 yards from our billet I was glad I was not caught short during the night.”

Much more of what Mr Russell and others experienced can be found in Saul David’s, Sacrifice of the Highland Division. France 1940.

After St Valéry, Mr Russell spent five years as a POW before becoming a distinguished politician, hugely respected in sporting and public life throughout Scotland.

Gregor MacBain, of Kincraig, was another of the POWs. He and others spotted the opportunity to combine one of their tasks, cutting wood, with a leisure activity which would have some benefit, and be meaningful to the men.

Shinty teams were formed, camans and balls made – often from unravelled jumpers – and tales of home were told.

Fifty years later, Mr MacBain met with Roddy MacPherson of Glenelg, a fellow prisoner, to look back on their days at Stalag IXC and the pastimes which kept the men’s spirits alive.

n Find out more on the events leading to the surrender at St Valéry on June 12 at https://51hd.co.uk/history/valery_1940. Go to www.facebook.com/Poppyscotland to hear The Beaches of St Valéry play.

For Badenoch author Merryn Glover's thoughts and preview of her St Valery-related novel click here

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