A memorial garden has been unveiled to a Scottish Spitfire pilot who played a key role in the Great Escape during World War Two.
Sandy Gunn was born and raised in Auchterarder in Perthshire.
He was taken as a prisoner of war in 1942 when his plane crashed in Norway while on a reconnaissance mission.
He was placed in the Stalag Luft III camp, where he worked as a tunnel digger in one of the most famous events of the war, The Great Escape.
Sandy’s nephew Alastair told STV News: “He was the 68th man to get out of the tunnel.
“My uncle Alasdair and his partner were on the run for two days and then they got recaptured at one of the German checkpoints where they didn’t think their paper work was up to scratch.”
Sandy was among the 50 allied soldiers who were recaptured and executed by the German Gestapo on the orders of Adolf Hitler.
He was just 24 years old.
Alastair says his grandparents and father never got over what happened to their son and brother.
Now 80 years since his death, the community in Sandy’s hometown have come together to remember him.
Dr James Grant from Auchterarder Rotary led the project to have a memorial garden and plaque put up in his honour.
Supplied
SuppliedHe said: “It was clear there there wasn’t a good collective memory.
“There was a memory in certain individuals but there wasn’t a collective memory so I thought this is wrong he deserves a collective memory.”
For many, the corner in where Sandy’s memorial is a place to learn and reflect on the sacrifices made during times of War.
Alastair Gunn says it recognises one of Scotland’s forgotten war heroes.
He said: “Up until now he hasn’t had the recognition he probably should have.
“I feel really proud to be here. I think my grandparents, my father and hopefully Alasdair as well will be looking down on us today.”
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