An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volumes 44--45, January 1949--December 1950

Lcnblii'iiicliean I ra
Scottish Regiments
The Regiments of Scotland,
by J. B. Kirkwood (Moray Press,
142pp., 7/6).
For all those—and they are
many—who are interested in the
history and traditions of the
Scottish regiments there can be no
better introduction than Mr.
Kirkwood’s interesting and infor¬
mative book. It briefly outlines
the history of all the Scottish regi¬
ments, describes their badges and
tartans, and gives other useful
information about them, including
a list of recipients of the V.C.
since 1914.
The Introduction gives much
curious information about the
soldier’s life in the past. Towards
the end of the 17th century the
sold ier ’ s pay was 8d. a day, of wh ich
6d. was set aside for his subsistence.
From the remaining 2d. a day, or
£3 Os. lOd. a year, 12/2 per annum
was deducted for the salary of the
Paymaster-General and 8d. for
Chelsea Hospital, leaving £2 8s.
per annum which was made over
to the commanding officer to pay
for the soldier’s clothing, including
belt, bayonet, and cartridge case.
Even that meagre pay was always
in arrear, often for years.
Between 1740 and 1800 no less
than fifty Highland battalions were
raised. The oldest regiment in the
British Army is the Royal Scots
(‘‘Pontius Pilate’s Bodyguard”),
whose origins go back into medieval
times to the Scottish companies in
the service of France. The Scots
Guards were formed in 1642, the
Royal Scots Greys and the Royal
Scots Fusiliers in 1678, and the
King’s Own Scottish Borderers
and the Cameronians in 1689. All
these, of course, were Lowland
regiments.
It was not till well on in the 18th
century that Highland regiments
began to be formed, and for that
there were obvious reasons. The
oldest of the Highland regiments is
‘‘Am Freiceadan Dubh” (The
Black Watch), which originated
about 1725. The Highland Light
Infantry came into being in 1777.
The Seaforth Highlanders date
back to 1778 and the Gordons to
1787, the Cameron Highlanders
to 1793, and the Argyll and
Sutherland Highlanders to 1794.
Many of these have undergone
changes of name, especially in the
great army reorganisation of 1881
when many Scottish units were
linked in pairs.
Every page of this book has
something of interest.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
The Highland Problem
The Highlands and Isles :
Their Regional Planning, by
Arthur Geddes and F. D. N.
Spaven (The Outlook Tower,
Edinburgh, 53pp., four plates,
two maps, 5/-).
Dr. Arthur Geddes, Lecturer in
Geography in Edinburgh University
is not only an expert geographer
but an enthusiast for the Highlands
and for Gaelic, and in this little
book he, with Mr. Spaven, a
planning expert, has focussed at¬
tention once more, but in a new
way, upon the perennial ‘‘Highland
Problem. ’ ’
The authors survey the present
situation in the Highlands and
Isles, and set forth their conclusions
and convictions. They point out
the very definite assets and oppor¬
tunities which are too often over¬
looked . They also face up to ‘ ‘the
limiting factors. ’ ’ Proposals are
made for a new approach to the
rehabilitation of the Highlands.
Much of what the authors say is
not new to those who have given
thought to these problems, but
there is a new approach which we
hope will find support from the
Highland people and from those in
authority. By integrated develop¬
ment of resources and services
within small areas, using certain
methods and agencies, and granted
certain changes of outlook and
radical action along certain lines
by Government departments, local
authorities, and local communities,
“the Highlands and Islands in the
next ten years might become an
example to Western Europe and the
Dominions in rural rehabilitation,
instead, of drifting towards the
condition of a man-made desert,
a burden to the nation.”
This is definitely a book to buy
and study and take action upon.
Glen More Forest Park
The Forestry Commission have
issued another of their “National
Forest Park Guides.” This one is
about Glen More (published by
H.M. Stationery Office, 72pp.,
with illustrations and maps, 2/-).
Glen More is situated in the
Cairngorms, west of Aviemore.
This beautifully produced booklet
describes in chapters by different
writers (including Dr. I. F. Grant,
Seton Gordon, Professor John
Walton, and Lord Malcolm Doug¬
las Hamilton) the history and
traditions of the district, its
geology and vegetation and wild
life, and the hill-walks and climb¬
ing grounds. Mr. J. M. Banner-
man gives a list of the Gaelic place-
names with English translations.
"A Tale Aboot A Fire”
Tam McGuire’s Farm Fire, by
Duncan F. McLaren (Albyn Press.
Edinburgh, 35pp., 2/6), with
illustrations by Tom Curr, is a long
poem in colloquial Scots—not
“Lallans”—which “relates aboot
a fire That burnt the hoose whaur
Tam McGuire Had lived for a’
his married life Alang wi’ Katie,
his guid’ wife.” The fire began
when a burning coal made contact
with Tam’s “moleskin breeks”
which he had foolishly left lying
spread ‘ ‘ upon a widden fender. ’ ’
The extraordinary series of events
that followed had best be read in
the poem itself rather than in any
bald summary we might give here.
LOCAL MOD REPORTS [Continued from page 111)
competitions)—Jean Lindsay, Fort
William Secondary School.
Verse -speaking—The ‘ ‘ Eriskay ’ ’
Group.
Solo singing: Girls (under 12)—
Ena MacDonald, Banavie School.
Boys (under 12)—Adrian Mac¬
intosh, Banavie School. Boys
(12-16)—Thomas MacKenna, Kin-
locheil. Boys and girls (12-16)—
Jessie MacLean, Mallaig. Girls
(12-16)—Isa MacDonald, Mallaig
School.
Arisaig Trophy (for best junior
soloist)—Thomas MacKenna.
Choral singing: unison—St.
Mary’s School Choir, Arisaig;
harmony—Banavie School Choir.
Senior Section
Reading at sight—Kate Sarah
Maclnnes, Fort William Secondary
School. Reciting prescribed poem
—Kate Sarah Maclnnes. Reciting
prescribed prose—Katie Ann Hag¬
gerty, Fort William Secondary
School. Competition arranged by
adjudicators and secretary—Mary
Alex. MacPhee, Fort William
Secondary School. Acted Dialogue
—Kate Sarah Maclnnes and Mary
Margaret Buchanan, Fort William
Secondary School. Narrating folk¬
tale—Jessie Kennedy, Blarmac-
foldach. Original Gaelic Speech—
Catherine M. Morrison, Fort
William Secondary School.
Solo singing ; Ladies (prescribed)
—Mrs. MacDonald, Arisaig. Men
(prescribed)—Ronald MacLellan,
Morar. Open (prescribed)—Anne
Mackintosh, Nether Lochaber.
Lochaber Cuach (for best lady
(Continued on next page)
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