Funeral for last Colonel of Gordon Highlanders

The funeral of the last Colonel of the famous Gordon Highlanders regiment is due to be held later.

Sir Peter Graham died at the age of 87 in December.

The Gordon Highlanders – established in 1794 – was the local regiment of the north east of Scotland before it was amalgamated to become part of the Highlanders in 1994.

The service for Sir Peter will take place at The Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst on Tuesday morning.

Sir Peter was raised in Fyvie in Aberdeenshire during World War Two.

During his military career he became known as “The Tache”, both within The Gordon Highlanders and the wider Army, thanks to his impressive moustache.

He held a number of roles throughout his service.

These included commanding 1st Battalion The Gordon Highlanders on an 18-month tour in Belfast.

As the last Colonel of the The Gordon Highlanders, Sir Peter led the regiment’s farewell parade which was held in Aberdeen’s Duthie Park in 1994.

His lasting legacy is now seen as The Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen, having run the successful fund-raising campaign that saw it open in 1997.

Colonel Charlie Sloan, chairman of The Gordon Highlanders Regimental Trust, paid tribute to Sir Peter, who was his first commanding officer.

“All of us who served under him will remember the standards he set, both for us and himself,” he said.

“He made us proud to be Gordon Highlanders and the self respect that engendered was the engine for our excellence.

“It wasn’t by accident that we were one of the best regiments in the Army – it was because of Gordon Highlanders like Peter Graham.

“He was determined to ensure the Gordon Highlanders were not forgotten.”

A memorial service in St Machar’s Cathedral in Aberdeen is expected to be held at a later date.