The Lion
In The Trenches

Once upon a time, on the shores of Loch Lomond, there lived a young man named Sir Iain Colquhoun. Even when he was only twenty-three years old, he became chief of his clan and discovered that true leaders must often be brave long before they feel ready.

During the First World War, Sir Iain served in the trenches of France. Soldiers told stories of his extraordinary courage, and legend even says he was accompanied by a pet lion, a fitting companion for a man who never seemed afraid of danger.

But Sir Iain was brave in another way too. On Christmas Day in 1915, he allowed a brief pause in the fighting. In his diary he wrote of fairy lights shining from the German trenches, calling them “the prettiest sight I have ever seen,” reminding us that kindness can still be found even in the darkest times.

His courage earned him the Distinguished Service Order, and he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel while serving at Ypres and the Somme. Away from the battlefield, he explored as far as the North Pole and was famous for swimming in Loch Lomond before strolling home through the village wearing nothing but his kilt.

When Sir Iain's remarkable life came to an end, a beautiful pipe tune called The Laird of Luss was written in his honour. And if you ever hear its haunting melody drifting across Loch Lomond, perhaps you'll think of the fearless young chief whose courage, kindness and adventurous spirit are still remembered today.