SCOTTISH SOLDIER'S BRAIN BURIED 85 YEARS AFTER WORLD WAR TWO DEATH

The brain of Donnie MacRae, a Scottish soldier who died during World War Two, has been buried alongside his remains in Germany. MacRae died in a prisoner of war hospital in 1941 after being captured whilst fighting in France. During a post-mortem examination, German doctors removed his brain and part of his spinal cord for research purposes. His family remained unaware of the removal until researchers uncovered the fact nearly 80 years later. A blessing ceremony took place on Wednesday in Germany, attended by relatives including a cousin and great niece.

MacRae served as a private in the Seaforth Highlanders and was captured in June 1940. He suffered from a rare neurological condition. An international group of researchers examining records of thousands of brains used in German research identified MacRae and sought to commemorate all subjects properly. The Ministry of Defence's Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre assisted in locating his relatives. MacRae's brain had been sent to the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Psychiatry in Munich following the post-mortem examination. His body was originally buried by the Germans and later reburied by the Allies in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Berlin.

The reburial provides closure for MacRae's family and allows them to honour his sacrifice, according to JCCC case worker Nicola Nash. The ceremony gave relatives an opportunity to commemorate his life and acknowledge his service. MacRae, originally from Gairloch in Wester Ross, was 33 years old when he died. The identification and reburial process represents part of broader efforts to properly commemorate all individuals whose remains were used in wartime research.