A commemorative stone has been laid to honour a Perthshire war hero.
A slab bearing a Victoria Cross was unveiled in St Martin’s, to remember Major William Davidson Bissett VC, who was born in the village in 1893.
It commemorates Major Bissett being awarded the Victoria Cross 100 years ago.
He was given the accolade to honour his bravery in France when, as a 25-year-old lieutenant, he took command of his company and handled it with great skill when an enemy counter-attack turned his left flank.
When they ran out of ammunition, Lieutenant Bissett mounted the railway embankment under heavy fire and called for a bayonet charge to drive back the enemy.
Almost 100 years to the day, a service was held in St Martin’s Church, followed by a ceremony at the village’s First World War Memorial, where the commemorative stone was unveiled by Perth and Kinross Provost Dennis Melloy.
He said: “It was an honour to be asked to unveil Major Bissett’s commemorative paving stone in the company of representatives of Major’s Bissett’s regiment in 1918, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
“It should not be forgotten that Major Bissett also served with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and Royal Pioneer Corps in the Second World War and it was during this campaign that he quite rightly achieved the rank of Major.”
Major Bissett died in May 1971 and is buried at Aldershot Military Cemetery. His Victoria Cross and other medals are displayed at the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum in Stirling Castle.
Another stone will be laid in Famars, France, on November 10, to honour Major Bissett and other Scottish soldiers who fought In the Battle of Famars in 1918.
