Military treasure from WW2 reunited with Scots regiment 80 years on

A military treasure thought to be lost to history has finally been reunited with one of Scotland’s most celebrated regiments

The silver fruit stand was assumed safe in a security bank vault when the 2nd Battalion of Gordon Highlanders fought in the Battle of Singapore during the Second World War but it vanished without trace.

Now, almost 80 years later, the exquisite 19th century centrepiece has been rediscovered in an auction, much to the regiment’s surprise.

It has now been reunited to its proper home in the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen

Ruth Cox, the museum’s curator said: “We thought we will never see this again.

“It was presumed looted during the war and then a year and a half ago we were made aware of this piece’s existence.

“It was here, and in Scotland none the less, which was a fantastic piece of good news. We were so chuffed the museum was able to acquire it and that it can come back to Aberdeen after being truly all over the globe for more than 150 years.”

The 2nd Battalion was captured by the Japanese during the Fall of Singapore in 1942

Poignantly on the 80th anniversary of the battle this stunning historical dessert stand will now be displayed as a memorial to all those in the Regiment who lost their lives

Charles Sloan, of The Gordon Highlanders Museum, explained: “We lost 380 soldiers and officers as a result of the Fall of Singapore, in prisoner of war camps and fighting in appalling conditions, and having a piece of silver so intimately connected with that particular period of history and now on display is really important for us.”

The impressive piece is once again proudly sitting centre stage in all its glory amidst the Regiment’s silver collection.

The museum hopes the antique will tell the 2nd Battalion’s story to a new generation and it says it’s determined to solve the remaining mystery of its lost years.

Mr Sloan explained: “In fact it is one of a pair and part of the mystery is where the other one is and we hope us getting this one might jog someone’s memory and we might find the other one.”