MEMBERS of Girvan and District Great War Project were joined by First Minister John Swinney on Saturday to unveil a permanent memorial to 31 French sailors who lost their lives at sea.

Twenty family members of the stricken sailors were also in attendance after crossing the shores from France to Ayrshire to attend the poignant ceremony in Girvan Doune Cemetery.

As well as interested members of the public, French Consul General Stéphane Pailler and French Naval attache Captain Marc Woodcock, alongside Colonel John Dalrymple Hamilton OBE TD, the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran and pupils from three local schools - Girvan Academy, Girvan Primary School and Sacred Heart Primary School – also attended the event.

The French navy crew of PSP Flamant also showed their support, firstly visiting the site of the Longwy wreck to lay wreaths at sea before joining the congregation for the dedication service.

(Image: Poppy Scotland) The French Merchant Steamer Longwy was sunk on November 4, 1917, whilst on route from Bilbao to Glasgow after being torpedoed by the German U-Boat UC-75, just off the northern shore of Corsewall Lighthouse, killing all 31 crew members.

Tragically, the bodies of three sailors later washed up near Girvan and were laid to rest in Doune Cemetery.

In 1924, however, the body of Captain Joseph Huet was exhumed and repatriated to France, with Adolphe Harre and Samuel Brajeul eternally resting in Girvan.

For more than a decade, the Girvan and District Great War Project have engaged with the French authorities with the aim of having a permanent memorial erected in their honour.

(Image: Poppy Scotland) In the last few months, their efforts have paid off with the £12,000 fund-raising target being met.

The memorial includes all 31 names and occupations of those on board, and has been situated carefully on the former grave of the Captain, flanked by the two existing crosses.

First Minister John Swinney said: “It was a great honour to be in Girvan to attend the unveiling of the memorial to the 31 sailors from the SS Longwy who lost their lives 107 years ago.

“Scotland cherishes its centuries-long friendship with France. Thousands of Scottish war dead rest in France, where their graves are maintained by the communities there.

"When I visited Normandy earlier this year for the commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, I was honoured to witness how far the people of France go to recognise all those who laid down their lives.

(Image: Poppy Scotland) “There are comparatively few graves of French men and women in our country, so it is only right that we take every care to honour the memories of the sailors of the SS Longwy.

"I would like thank Ritchie and Lorna Conaghan from the Girvan and District Great War Project for their commitment to ensuring the sacrifice of these men is properly recognised and commemorated.

"We remember every sacrifice, never taking our democracies for granted, nor the lives lost to preserve them in both world wars.”

(Image: Poppy Scotland)

Dr Claire Armstrong OBE, CEO of the Royal British Legion Scotland, said: “The Royal British Legion Scotland are very proud to be custodians of Remembrance in Scotland, and were very pleased to be able to support the Girvan and District Great War project as their efforts to have a memorial installed in Girvan Doune Cemetery comes to an end.”