Armed Forces Day offers an opportunity to celebrate those who serve, and for two Highland brothers it is also a reminder of a family tradition that stretches back more than a century.

Captain Angus Lapslie and Second Lieutenant Henry Lapslie both serve with the 7th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, balancing military commitments with civilian careers rooted firmly in the Highlands.

Their parents met while serving as Regular Officers in the Royal Corps of Signals and the brothers grew up moving between postings across Europe and Canada, experiencing Army life from an early age.

Their connection to military service reaches back even further, with a great grandfather who served as an officer in one of the antecedent regiments and received his commission in 1917.

Yet despite growing up immersed in military life, neither brother followed a conventional path into the Armed Forces.

Instead, both found a way to combine military service with careers they are passionate about.

Angus, who lives in Caithness and works within the nuclear sector, had originally imagined a full time Army career following university.

“I had always thought I would end up as a Regular Officer,” Angus said.

“But after university I decided to give civilian life a go and found I could strike a good balance between my chosen career and a part-time military career.

“The Reserves has allowed me to scratch that soldiering itch and do the things I wanted to achieve in the military, while also building an enjoyable and challenging day job.”

His Reserve career has already taken him far from home, including a deployment to the Falkland Islands with 2 SCOTS, where he commanded a machine gun platoon.

He also attended a NATO linked seminar in Romania and carried the King’s Colour at the Coronation using the sword once owned by his great grandfather.

“The Falklands was a brilliant experience.

“I loved working with the Jocks in 2 SCOTS,” Angus added.

“It gave me the opportunity to command soldiers full time within an operational environment, developing skills that have proved valuable in my civilian role.

“It was like Caithness, but with penguins.”

Henry’s civilian life could hardly be more different.

Based near Aviemore, he works as an outdoor activity instructor, teaching sailing, paddle sports, skiing, snowboarding and archery.

“I considered the Regulars as an option for a long time and also thought about the Royal Marines,” Henry said.

“Ultimately, I think the Reserves is the right fit for me, at least for now.

“I love my day job, it doesn’t feel like work, and I want to take advantage of that feeling for as long as it lasts.

“I do still consider going back to Sandhurst to do the Regular Commissioning Course, but for now the Army Reserves is where I want to be.”

Henry also credits his older brother with helping guide him through the process of joining the Reserves.

“Angus was a good person to talk to about the process, but also about speaking to units and making sure I found the right fit for me.”

Rugby has become another important part of his Army experience, having represented both the Army Under 23s and UK Armed Forces Under 23s.

“To play for the Army is massive,” he said.

“It was one of the proudest moments of my life pulling on the Red Shirt, and it has left me wanting more.”

Although they serve in the same battalion, the realities of Reserve life mean the brothers have only occasionally found themselves in uniform together.

“The realities of Reserve life mean we’ve only been on a couple of training weekends at the same time,” Angus said.

“We’re in the same company, but work and other commitments mean it doesn’t happen as often as people might expect.”

For the Lapslie brothers, service is not simply about following in family footsteps.

It is about finding a balance between modern Highland life and a long standing commitment to serving their country, proving that military tradition and civilian ambition can still sit comfortably side by side.

On Armed Forces Day, their story stands as a reminder that the Highlands continue to play an important role in the nation’s military heritage, with a new generation choosing to serve in ways that fit alongside the lives and careers they are building at home.