Scotty’s Little Soldiers Members March in Memory of Their Heroes
This Remembrance weekend, 55 bereaved military children and young people donned their black and yellow scarves and ventured to London with Scotty’s Little Soldiers, the charity for bereaved military children. Together, they attended BBC One’s Festival of Remembrance and took part in the Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph Parade, honouring their parents who served our country.
“I thought the Remembrance parade was great,” says eight-year-old Luca-Beau Levick, whose dad, CSgt Jamie Pallister, died by suicide before she was born. “My favourite part was laying the wreath. I was a bit nervous at first but once we started walking I loved it and had a really good time. I liked attending the parade with a lot of other Scotty Members as it made me feel really comfortable.”
Scotty Member Luca-Beau with the charity's founder, Nikki
Remembering their parent
Every member of Scotty’s Little Soldiers has experienced the death of parent who served in the British Armed Forces, and being able to remember them and pay their respects with 54 other children and young people who understand what they’re feeling meant a huge amount to everyone involved.
“Remembering my daddy made me feel really proud and seeing everyone clap and cheer reminded me how many children Scotty’s support,” says Luca-Beau.
Scotty Member Brooke at BBC One's Festival of Remembrance
Receiving a letter from Prince Harry
On Remembrance Sunday our members received a very special letter from Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex.
Prince Harry knows November can be a proud but emotional time for bereaved British Forces children, and he understands what it is like to experience the death of a parent. He has been involved with Scotty’s for several years and it’s a cause close to his heart. To receive his letter on Remembrance Sunday gave Scotty’s members a huge boost on a difficult day.
Upon receiving the letter, 14-year-old Samuel Hall, who was only 3 years old when his dad, Lt Cdr Andrew Hall, died by illness in 2012, said: “It’s comforting to know Prince Harry understands how we feel and cares about us. It was great to receive the letter. Remembrance is a difficult time and being with Scotty’s helps me and the other members know people are there for us.”
Georgia Paterson, who is also 14 and has been a member of Scotty’s since 2018 following the death of her dad, Cpl Norman Stevenson, when she was 7 years old, said: “It’s amazing knowing someone as important as Prince Harry has reached out to us. To know he’s thinking about us and our parents means a lot. I feel able to relate to him as he understands what we have been through.”
Scotty Members holding the Scotty flag
Why did Scotty’s wear black and yellow scarves at Remembrance?
Every member of Scotty’s wore black and yellow scarves over the weekend to honour the parents of our members and show that we’re all united. Black and yellow were the colours of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment which Scotty’s namesake, Corporal Lee “Scotty” Scott, served with – colours that Scotty’s Little Soldiers have adopted in his memory.
Luca-Beau said: “My mum did my hair specially to match my scarf! I think it looks funny and really cool.”
Want your own Scotty’s scarf to wear with pride? Buy one here.
Scotty Members showing off their Scotty scarves
Paying respects
The event was attended by thousands of veterans, servicemen and women and civilians, as well as members of the Royal Family, including His Majesty King Charles III and the Prince and Princess of Wales. Many high-profile political figures were also in attendance, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Seeing so many people taking part in the ceremony reassured our Members that their loss had not been forgotten, as thousands of people stood in silence to honour their parents and pay respect to the service they gave to our country.
“Seeing so many people honour my daddy made me feel really proud and reminded me of how many children Scotty supports,” says Luca-Beau.
Scotty Members attending the parade
Scotty’s Remembrance support
In addition to attending the National Service of Remembrance and BBC One’s Festival of Remembrance this year, ahead of the weekend all members were sent Remembrance packs which include suggestions on how to remember their loved one, guidance on looking after themselves, a special Remembrance colouring-in sheet, and a voucher to spend on a meal so they can take some time out. The pack also included information that could be given to their schools to help with challenges faced during the Remembrance period.
Scotty Member holding the memorial wreath
Scotty’s founder, Nikki:
“Remembrance is such an emotional time for myself and all our bereaved Forces families. Honouring our loved ones at the National Service of Remembrance always brings back a lot of painful memories, but it also makes me feel incredibly proud. Every single Scotty member has experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces, and seeing them stand side-by-side, honouring their parent alongside Scotty’s is very special indeed. Everywhere we went people were talking to us, paying their respects and asking about the charity. It was a difficult, fantastic, meaningful day and I can’t thank everyone involved enough.”
Nikki Scott taking part in BBC's Festival of Remembrance
Thank you
Remembrance is a time of great pain and great pride for all our members, which is why being able to offer the very best support and opportunities we can is so important.
A special thank you to Rail Delivery Group for providing Scotty’s Little Soldiers with complimentary travel to London; to Poppy Cabs for arranging transport in London; to Lest We Forget for covering all other expenses over the Remembrance Weekend including the cost of accommodation and special Remembrance gift vouchers to all our Members and to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust whose project funding helped deliver all our emotional and wellbeing support sessions and resources.
We’d also like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has donated or spread word about Scotty’s this Remembrance weekend. Our mission is to support 1000 bereaved military children and young people by 2030, and for that we need your help.
Scotty parents and Members about to walk the parade
Supporting bereaved military children
Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a charity dedicated to supporting children and young people (0 to 25 years) who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.
Inspired by the experience of Army widow Nikki Scott, following the death of her husband Corporal Lee Scott in Afghanistan in 2009, the charity, which was set up in 2010, provides support and guidance to hundreds of bereaved military children and young people throughout their childhood.
Services offered to Scotty’s members include access to child bereavement support, guidance to parents and carers, personal education and learning assistance (including grants), and fun activities such as holiday respite breaks and group events. These are all designed to remind the children and young people supported by Scotty’s that they are not alone.
If you know a child or young person who has experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces, they could be eligible for specialist bereavement support from Scotty's Little Soldiers. Hundreds of bereaved military children aren’t getting the support they need but we are here to help.
Scotty Members posing for a photo with our furriest supporter
If you are the parent or carer of a bereaved military child or young person, click here.
If you work with bereaved children & young people, click here.
If you are a bereaved young person seeking support, click here.
Support Scotty's Little Soldiers' Family Programmes with a regular monthly donation
