Australian soldier Captain Chris Jaunay has unknowingly joined the same British Army regiment his Great Grandfather served in 95 years ago.

Chris already knew of his family’s Scottish roots when he was seconded to the 1st Battalion Scots Guards but, since deploying with them to Afghanistan, he has discovered that his Great Grandfather, William Wilson, also served with the regiment.

He said: “I deployed a couple of months ago and while I was out here my father wrote to me, telling me that my Great Grandfather on my mother's side had also served in the 1st Battalion Scots Guards during World War I.

“I was one of 40 Australian Infantry Officers who could have been posted as the Guards’ Exchange Officer on this tour. It is considered one of the top Captains’ positions in the Australian Army and is contested for by many.

"The fact that I was lucky enough to win the exchange position is fantastic, but to be told I was going to be a part 1st Battalion Scots Guards and then to trace this link to my own heritage is quite remarkable.

“I feel very honoured and proud to know that my Great Grandfather served in the same Battalion that I am now posted to as an Australian Exchange Officer.”

Family emigrated

Chris was born and grew up in Adelaide after his mother’s family emigrated to Australia from Kilwinning, Scotland, just after World War II. He still has family in Beith whom he has visited in recent years.

Chris was posted to the Scots Guards in January this year and works as their operation officer in charge of running the current operations cell for the Lashkar Gah area of Helmand Province.

The main effort of the Combined Force in Lashkar Gah is directed at supporting the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) in stabilising the province and protecting the local people from insurgent activity as well as winning trust and support for GIRoA’s Governance Outreach Programme.

Chris came to the UK with his wife Majella and his five-month old daughter Lucy who are now based at the Battalion’s permanent home in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

Having joined the Army in 1993, as a Rifleman in the infantry corps, Chris progressed through the ranks and commissioned as an Officer in 2005. He has previously deployed three times to East Timor and this is his second tour of Afghanistan. 

Injured by small arms fire

The Jaunay family are still trying to find out more information about his Great Grandfather William Wilson and his military service.

Chris says: “We are trying to find out as much detail as possible through the Regimental Archives in London and from family members in Australia. All we know right now is that he was born in Beith in 1886.

He joined the Army in London as a drummer aged 15 and had been in the 1st Battalion Scots Guards about 14 years or so before he deployed in WWI. We also know that he was injured by small arms fire and suffered shrapnel wounds in an explosion.”

Captain Jaunay is enjoying his time with the Scottish Battalion and will serve with 1 Scots Guards for the next two years.