North historians are asking people to supply photographs of heroic loved ones who were awarded military medals in decades past.
The Highlanders Museum at Fort George, near Inverness, has a huge collection of medals but many do not have a great deal of background attached to them.
Pictures are now being sought to put faces next to the names of the soldiers who were awarded the accolades.
Volunteers at the museum, led by retired Lieutenant Colonel Bob Towns, have created a medal carousel and touch screen medal finder in recent years.
The search engine allows members of the public to bring up veterans’ names, where a photo of their medal haul and a summary will be displayed.
However, since restrictions were implemented under the coronavirus pandemic, people have not been able to visit the museum.
People are now being asked to check whether any relatives might feature on the extensive list, and share their stories with museum chiefs.
Lt Col Towns said: “This will allow us to ensure that these brave men are honoured for their achievements for generations to come.
“It is important. We don’t want all of these medals to sit in drawers.
“We want the people who were awarded these medals to be known and to make it quite a high point of the visit to the museum.
“The photograph will be added to the display adding greatly to our records of these gallant men.
“It certainly brings more of a personal element to the whole process.”
To submit photos, members of the public are being asked to log on to the museum’s website at www.thehighlandersmuseum.com, access the PDF list of medals and search their family name.
If any matches are discovered, family members are asked to contribute photos by emailing medals@thehighlandersmuseum.com or via post addressed to FAO Bob Towns, c/o The Highlanders Museum, Fort George, Ardersier, IV2 7TD.
Lt Col Towns has said any additional information uncovered from family testimonies will be included in displays at the museum.
