Fife-born Helen Haddow’s last memory of her father was the sound of his footsteps as he went off to war.
But she proudly witnessed the rededication of a long-lost memorial to Lance Sergeant James Laverty’s ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War.
Mrs Haddow, 77, who was only five or six years old when she saw her father for the last time, travelled from her home in Derbyshire with husband James for a ceremony in St Columba’s High School in Dunfermline.
It was thanks to her granddaughter Rebecca Haddow, 36, of Inverkeithing, that two plaques bearing the names of 41 former pupils who died in the war have been unearthed and erected once more.
The memorial went missing when the school moved to Dunfermline from its original building in Cowdenbeath in 1969.
Administrator Rebecca said: “Last year, on Remembrance Sunday, my dad took me to Dunfermline Abbey where my great-grandfather’s name is on the memorial.
“I went home and Googled his name and came up with a page on Friends Reunited about the old plaques in St Columba’s.”
She contacted the school to ask to see the memorial, only to discover it had gone astray. Head teacher Jim Mooney tracked down the plaques, which were repaired and now take pride of place in the assembly hall.
It was an emotional moment when Rebecca learned a special ceremony was to be conducted. “I had a huge lump in my throat,” she said. “He died protecting the country and I am very proud.”
The school invited relatives of all those listed on the plaques to attend.
Mr Mooney said: “We are delighted that the link with our old school in Cowdenbeath and with our former pupils who died in service of their country has been re-established.
“We now have a memorial within the school where we can remember our fallen.”
Mr Laverty, of Dunfermline, was 29 years old when he died serving with the Second Battalion, the North Staffordshire Regiment.
The former Black Watch soldier, who had moved with his family to Stoke to find work, was called up despite being a miner, leading to the belief he did not register for exemption.
He was killed in hand-to-hand fighting in Gueriat el Atach in Tunisia. Also at the ceremony were Rebecca’s father Peter and uncle David.