A mother and daughter are taking on an emotional 100km walk along the Western Front in memory of their Dundonian war hero granddad.
Sara McCann, 47, and her mother, Heather, will begin their challenge at the site of the Battle of the Somme in October.
The duo were inspired to undertake the walk through the battlefields of the First World War after learning of the efforts and death of their relative, William Brough.
Dundonian Black Watch soldier William, 33, died in 1917, having served with the 9th Black Watch.
The story of William’s death only emerged after Sara began to research her family tree while off work after having wisdom teeth removed.
Among the artefacts Sara uncovered about her great granddad was a poem by Dundee poet Joseph Lee, written about William’s exploits on the mouth-organ.
Sara, 47, from Musselburgh, explained: “I had wisdom teeth taken out and had a couple of days off work. I’m not good at sitting doing nothing, so started to look into my family tree.
“Before I started researching, none of my family knew William was remembered on the Menin Gate (a war memorial to British soldiers in Ypres).
“We decided we should go and see it. We booked and found out our visit coincided with the centenary of William’s death and also with the centenary of Passchendaele.
“We were invited, as descendants, to attend the Passchendaele commemoration. Both Prince William and Kate and the King and Queen of Belgium were there.”
Through her visits to Belgium, Sara learned of ABF, the Soldier’s Charity, and its Frontline Walk charity event.
Sara said: “I mentioned the challenge to my mum and we thought and thought about it.
“In the end we decided it would be a good challenge and it would also mark the centenary of William’s death, so we thought there is no better time to do it.
“There’s about 70 or 80 of us doing it at the same time.
“It starts at the Somme and goes through battlefields and memorials.
“It’s a physical challenge, but it will also be quite an emotional one.
“We’ll have a historian with us who can tell us about the context of places.
“Dundee has a strong part in all of this.”
To donate or learn more about Sara and Heather’s effort visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/blackwatchbroughs
