Cpl Alexander Beattie,

When war broke out Alex joined the Gordon Highlanders, and was soon training for the Commando. He evidently went through training at Arran, and it is thought his first combat mission would have been at the Litani River. He then took part in the doomed Operation Flipper (Rommel Raid). He was captured, and spent the rest of the war in PoW camps.
Fraserburgh Herald: 24th April 1945: "Beattie was captured and sent to Genoa for internment. When the allies invaded Italy, the Germans sent Beattie away to Stalag 344 in Silesia. There he remained until the Russians came on. Beattie was one of the survivors of the frightful march to Bavaria..."
He was liberated from the camps in 1945 (after two failed escape attempts) and returned home to his wife and family. This photo was taken circa 1945 to celebrate Cpl Beattie's safe return.
He was demobilised in 1945, but remained very active in the Royal British Legion - serving as Chairman of the Fraserburgh branch for a time in the 1980s.
Information supplied by Michael Strachan. Photo posted by Nick Collins