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Chamber and committees

Congratulations to Major Archie Douglas and Cocoa on Soldiering On Award Win

  • Submitted by: Paul McLennan, East Lothian, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
  • Motion type: Standard Motion
  • Motion reference: S6M-19600

That the Parliament congratulates retired Major Archie Douglas from North Berwick and his assistance dog, Cocoa, on winning the Animal Partnership Award at the prestigious UK Soldiering On Awards; recognises Major Douglas’s distinguished service with the 1st Battalion of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, including tours in Afghanistan, and his remarkable resilience following a brain tumour diagnosis in 2013; commends the vital support provided by Cocoa, trained by the Scottish charity Bravehound, in enabling Major Douglas to live independently and safely despite living with stroke-like migraine attacks after radiation therapy (SMART) syndrome and epilepsy; acknowledges the duo’s inspirational bond and their contribution to raising over £50,000 for charitable causes, including more than £30,000 for the Disasters Emergency Committee, and celebrates their achievement as what it sees as a shining example of the transformative impact of animal partnerships in the Armed Forces community.


Supported by: Karen Adam, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Jackie Dunbar, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Jamie Hepburn, Bill Kidd, Rona Mackay, Stuart McMillan, Audrey Nicoll, Alexander Stewart, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, David Torrance, Annie Wells, Tess White