Final farewell to Scottish D-Day veteran Jim Glennie who died aged 100

The funeral of one of Scotland’s last remaining D-Day veterans is set to be held following his death at 100 years old.

Jim Glennie stormed Sword Beach at age 18, as part of the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, when thousands of Allied servicemen stormed five beaches in Nazi-occupied France.

One of Scotland’s last survivors of the landings, which took over 4,000 allied lives, he was presented with the British Empire Medal in last year’s King’s Honours list during his 100th birthday celebrations at the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen.

The veteran, from Turriff in Aberdeenshire, passed away this month, on July 7.

A funeral service celebrating his life will be held from 1pm on Monday, setting off from the Gordon Highlanders Museum and heading to Kaimhill Chapel.

Mr Glennie’s son, James Glennie Junior, described his father as a “hero”.

“As far as the family is concerned, he’s our hero. He’s our family hero,” he said.

“The last Gordon Highlander who landed on the beaches on D-Day, shot twice, captured, prisoner of war, lots of adventures before he got home.”

‘Great example to us all’

A private in the Gordon Highlanders, Glennie made it off the beach but was injured a week later when his unit ran into the 21st Panzer Regiment.

He was then taken prisoner and treated in a German field hospital in a ward alongside German patients, who called him “Scottie” and gave him food and cigarettes.

On his 19th birthday, Mr Glennie was transferred to Camp Stalag IV-B near Munich. He was later moved to Leipzig, where he was forced to work filling bomb craters before being liberated by American troops in April 1945.

After the war, Glennie returned home to Turriff in Aberdeenshire, where he became a welder.

King Charles described Mr Glennie as a “great example to us all” following their meeting at the regimental museum last year.

John McLeish, chief executive of the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen, where he volunteered for more than 30 years, said they were “so sad” to learn of Mr Glennie’s death.

“Jim had volunteered here at the museum for over 30 years and, among his many achievements, was awarded the British Empire Medal in The King’s Birthday Honours List 2025 for services to The Gordon Highlanders Museum.

“Only last year, Jim celebrated his 100th birthday here at St Luke’s with family, friends and colleagues.

“It was a very special day and one we will all remember with great fondness.

“Jim will be sorely missed by volunteers, veterans, visitors, staff and everyone associated with the wider Gordon Highlanders family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jim’s family today.”