A painting to commemorate one of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ most famous victories has been unveiled at Stirling Castle.
The artwork marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Longstop Hill in Tunisia, which forced a turning point in the struggle for North Africa in the Second World War.
The painting was unveiled at a reception in the castle’s regimental museum last night, exactly 70 years after the battle, as a tribute to the soldiers who fought and died in the action.
Robert Layden, chief executive of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Trust, said: “The battle was one of the concluding actions in the fight for North Africa. The capture of Longstop Hill by the 8th (Argyllshire) Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders opened the route to Tunis and the subsequent surrender of the Axis forces in North Africa.
“The museum committee of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum decided to commission the painting recording the capture of Longstop Hill.
“The 8th Battalion was recruited from Argyllshire and it is appropriate that the remaining balance of that battalion’s kilt fund was used to procure the painting.
“Stuart Brown, of Skipper Press, who is a leading military artist, completed the painting with help from Major Duncan McMillan MM, who is the last known Argyll survivor of the battle.”
The kilt fund was started after the start of the Second World War when the garment was withdrawn from the official uniform. The controversial decision provoked a backlash and a fund was created to provide enough kilts for the entire 8th Battalion.
The kilt was eventually reintroduced with the creation of the TA. The painting will now be displayed in locations throughout Argyll.