First Minister John Swinney will attend the unveiling ceremony of a war memorial dedicated to three French sailors who perished near a coastal town in 1917. The monument, commemorating the 31 crew members lost at sea due to a torpedo attack, will mark the culmination of a decade of fundraising efforts by the Girvan and District Great War Project. The ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, October 12, will also be attended by 20 family members of the sailors, representatives from French organisations, and local dignitaries, as well as schoolchildren from Girvan Academy, Girvan Primary School, and Sacred Heart Primary School.
The French navy will participate in the service, with the Crew of PSP Famant laying wreaths at sea in remembrance of the sunken French Merchant Steamer Longwy, which was attacked by a German U-Boat in 1917, resulting in the loss of all crew members. The bodies of three sailors were recovered near Girvan, with Captain Joseph Huet later repatriated to France while Adolphe Harre and Samuel Brajeul were laid to rest in Girvan. The Girvan and District Great War Project has successfully raised £12,000 for a permanent memorial at the Doune Cemetery, honouring all 31 sailors with their names and occupations.
Dr Claire Armstrong OBE, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal British Legion Scotland, expressed pride in supporting the project and highlighted the importance of commemorating the sailors’ sacrifice. The dedication ceremony will be conducted by National Chaplain Dr The Rev Karen Campbell to honour the crew of the French Merchant Steamer Longwy. The efforts of the Girvan and District Great War Project have culminated in the installation of a memorial that pays tribute to the fallen sailors and ensures their memory lives on.
The unveiling of the war memorial will serve as a poignant moment for the community, marking a significant event in their history and strengthening the ties between Scotland and France through shared remembrance and respect for those who lost their lives at sea.