Major John Errington
Major John Errington, who in 2018 celebrated his 100th birthday, fought at Le Paradis and served as Regimental Signals Officer for the Royal Scots.
He was brought up at a house called Beeslack near to Glencorse and educated at Wellington College before going to RAF Cranwell where he learnt to fly solo in a biplane. His elder brother had been expected to join the Royal Scots but didn't and John, therefore, switched to an Army career, went to Sandhurst and joined the First Royal Scots. The Erringtons have a long family tradition of Royal Scots connections going back to Waterloo - an officer called Stamford was a Royal Scot.
After Le Paradis he became a Prisoner-Of- War. He learnt Arabic off a Palestinian labourer in the Oflag. Apparently he also learnt to dinghy sail as a POW! Sailing became a life long hobby. He also learnt Swahili as a POW and was an avid reader.
After the war he joined Army Intelligence studying at the Middle East Centre for Arab Studies (MECAS) in Jerusalem. In July 1946 his Arabic teacher kept the class back for further studies over the lunch break. The King David Hotel was promptly blown up where they were all due to meet for lunch. He met Brendahis wife who was working for the Foreign Office.
Major Errignton also saw service in the Far East. After his military service he farmed on Mull and close to Aberdeen.
In August, 2018, Major Errington celebrated his 100th birthday and we received the report below from Major David Dickson:
"On 12th August, 2018, John celebrated his 100th birthday with his family at his home in Shrewsbury. John was delighted with all the messages he received, in particular the ones from Paradis from the Mayor of Lestrem and from Helene Chauvin.
A military piper attended and played The Royal Scots regimental marches. He received a card from Her Majesty The Queen. Colonel David Trafford-Roberts (now 91) and his wife Ros visited and David gave John a card from the Regimental Association of The Royal Scots."
Below is a gallery of photographs from the Errington family album and below that a report of Major Errington's Celebration of Life Service which was held following his death at the age of 104.
He was brought up at a house called Beeslack near to Glencorse and educated at Wellington College before going to RAF Cranwell where he learnt to fly solo in a biplane. His elder brother had been expected to join the Royal Scots but didn't and John, therefore, switched to an Army career, went to Sandhurst and joined the First Royal Scots. The Erringtons have a long family tradition of Royal Scots connections going back to Waterloo - an officer called Stamford was a Royal Scot.
After Le Paradis he became a Prisoner-Of- War. He learnt Arabic off a Palestinian labourer in the Oflag. Apparently he also learnt to dinghy sail as a POW! Sailing became a life long hobby. He also learnt Swahili as a POW and was an avid reader.
After the war he joined Army Intelligence studying at the Middle East Centre for Arab Studies (MECAS) in Jerusalem. In July 1946 his Arabic teacher kept the class back for further studies over the lunch break. The King David Hotel was promptly blown up where they were all due to meet for lunch. He met Brendahis wife who was working for the Foreign Office.
Major Errignton also saw service in the Far East. After his military service he farmed on Mull and close to Aberdeen.
In August, 2018, Major Errington celebrated his 100th birthday and we received the report below from Major David Dickson:
"On 12th August, 2018, John celebrated his 100th birthday with his family at his home in Shrewsbury. John was delighted with all the messages he received, in particular the ones from Paradis from the Mayor of Lestrem and from Helene Chauvin.
A military piper attended and played The Royal Scots regimental marches. He received a card from Her Majesty The Queen. Colonel David Trafford-Roberts (now 91) and his wife Ros visited and David gave John a card from the Regimental Association of The Royal Scots."
Below is a gallery of photographs from the Errington family album and below that a report of Major Errington's Celebration of Life Service which was held following his death at the age of 104.
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Pictured on the left is Major Errington at his wedding and above is a newspaper cutting in which he is featured.
The top row of photographs below were taken on Major Errington's 100th birthday. The one bottom right was taken on his 103rd birthday. Photographs courtesy of the family of Major John Errington. |
Major Errington's Celebration of Life Event.
Major Errington died at his home in Shrewsbury on 29th August 2022 at the age of 104. A celebration of his life was held on 24th September 2022. The following report was supplied to us by Major David Dickson of the Royal Scots.
"It was an excellent service attended by approximately 60 people including many of JEs children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. JEs grandson in law Edwards Millais led the service assisted by JEs son-in-law Christopher Corbet. I gave an Address based on John's Military Life from 1938 - 1959. The Regimental Collect was read, and Rab Burns played Dumbarton's Drums from the balcony and then played everyone out of church.
We then returned to the Corbets' house for "Champagne, Canapes and Martell Cognac" to celebrate John's life. The Martell Cognac had been a gift on John's 104th Birthday on 18th August.
The family were very appreciative of the presence of so many Royal Scots connections and of course the Piper."
Below are a selection of photographs from the celebration of John's long life.
Major Errington died at his home in Shrewsbury on 29th August 2022 at the age of 104. A celebration of his life was held on 24th September 2022. The following report was supplied to us by Major David Dickson of the Royal Scots.
"It was an excellent service attended by approximately 60 people including many of JEs children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. JEs grandson in law Edwards Millais led the service assisted by JEs son-in-law Christopher Corbet. I gave an Address based on John's Military Life from 1938 - 1959. The Regimental Collect was read, and Rab Burns played Dumbarton's Drums from the balcony and then played everyone out of church.
We then returned to the Corbets' house for "Champagne, Canapes and Martell Cognac" to celebrate John's life. The Martell Cognac had been a gift on John's 104th Birthday on 18th August.
The family were very appreciative of the presence of so many Royal Scots connections and of course the Piper."
Below are a selection of photographs from the celebration of John's long life.
David Jack, Rab Johnstone, David Dickson and Pipe Major Rab Burns of the Royal Scots at the celebration of life of Major John Errington.
Top left Leila Corbet (John Errington's daughter) with David Jack. Top right Pipe Major Rab Burns leads the toast to Major John. Bottom left David Jack and Anne Errington and bottom right David Jack with the Martell cognac.