1st Battalion
The Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders
The Freedom Fighters of 1974
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1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The Freedom Fighters of 1974 |
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All photographs are the property of RHQ Argylls and may not be reproduced or copied without permission from RHQ Argylls.
Two days after the battalion had returned from Cyprus in July, the drawing up No 1 dress and having our first fitting parade followed the next day by the first parade rehearsal. The same day a recce party joined Colonel Tom Slessor to have a look at both Alloa and Denny on a dismal wet day.
Freedom of Alloa—20th July 1974
All went according to plan from an early start with transport bringing in married men from their homes at 7.30 am, the buses arriving at 8—a quick sizing by the RSM and we were away. In Alloa Sgt Peter Robertson with his Regimental Policemen met us and guided us to the debussing area West End Park. Cruachan clambered nimbly down a ridiculous gradient, the bands and guard sorted themselves out. Col Timber Wood came to have a quick word, and the guard marched down the park and to the parade ground in glorious sunshine at 11 o'clock.
The dignitaries arrived to join the platform party. As we waited wandering eyes were able to pick out many ex-Argylls including Commanding Officers of the 1st, 7th and 8th Battalions. The Commanding Officer, the Lord Lieutenant and finally the Provost. After inspection the minister spoke in stirring words of the record of the Regiment in the past and its relevance in the present and the future. The Freedom ceremony and speeches over, the platform party rolled off in big black cars, and "Move to the right in threes. Form threes—right." The band struck up Bonnie Mary of Argyll and we were on our way through Alloa. The Provost took the salute by the old Town Hall, and we continued, taking in the ring route.
Click picture to enlarge
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We had lunch in the new Town Hall washed down by a generous amount of beer supplied by a local brewery. The return journey to Kirknewton in double-decker buses was happy, musical and punctuated by a long and necessary halt in a wood. The only cloud hanging over the officers was the rest of the weekend to be spent on the Audit Board.
Composition of the Guard;
Guard Commander: Major J. S. D. Robertson
Capt Capt N. J. C. Sharp
Colour Ensign: Lt W. Winstanley
RSM J. Kennedy
Guard CSM: W02 J. Harkins MM
C/Sgt: C/Sgt Gallagher
Escort to the Colour: Sgt Martin
Sgt O'Reilly
The Guard: NCOs and men from all Coys within the Battalion
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Freedom of Denny—27th July 1974
The timings and form of parade were the same as were at Alloa the week before, as were the officers, NCO's and men in the Guard. The weather was not the same. The guard marched on neatly coinciding with the Golden Lions drop, The Guard Commander's words of command were barely audible competing as they were with C/Sgt Lloyd's commentary to the crowd. L/Cpl Sloss and Cruachan, and most of the Pipes and Drums were lost in coloured smoke. However nobody was landed on as the guard took up its dressing. The worst of the rain held off until after the march through the town to the school for lunch. Both Bands played well and without pause, while the RSM kept the guard changing arms, and L/Cpl Sloss and Cruachan acted as usual as 'leading scouts'.
Again there were many Argyll faces in the crowds at the parade and along the streets of Denny, and of course among the VIPs. The Guard CSM was on this occasion and later at Kilsyth, where he comes from was W02 Roddy Kilbride.
Freedom of Kilsyth—31st August 1974
After a break for Battalion block leave the 'Freedom fighters' struck again, this time at Kilsyth. The scene of the parade was a football pitch at the bottom of the town. The Colonel of the Regiment was represented this time by the new Commanding Officer, Lt Col A. W. Scott-Elliot. The parade went well on a dullish day, apart from an impromptu conversation between the RSM and 2 Lt Douglas carrying the colour. Weather conditions had prevented the Golden Lions dropping, a relief to some and a disappointment to the young no doubt. Captain Donald Ross was Captain of the Guard on this occasion.
Provost Barrie, a national service Argyll, who served in Korea with the Black Watch spoke proudly of the ties between the Regiment and Kilsyth which the Commanding Officer reiterated. The Freedom ceremony over, the parade once more marched a longish way through the town past a saluting base at the top of the town and on to the school. Here again the guard had an excellent lunch and some amusing speeches.
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If anyone can put names to faces with companies, dates and locations.
Please e-mail with page name, row number and picture letter to ayoung287@msn.com
Civic Reception at Tarbert—6th September 1974
The civic reception given to the Regiment by the Chairman of the Ratepayers association and the people of Tarbert was also marked by the presentation to the Colonel of the Regiment of the keys of the Castle by His Grace the Duke of Argyll. The distance from Edinburgh required an overnight stay for the guard at the old 8th Battalion drill hall, the now Argyllshire Cadet Headquarters, at Lochgilphead. This proved ideal although unfortunately the guard could not arrive until after 1 p.m. on the night before the parade. There was a welcome stop at the Colquhoun Arms at Luss. During the recce the Argyllshire midge had been at his most ferocious. However the guard had a clear summery day for the parade. Having assembled at Major Neil McGill's school, the guard with both bands and mascot marched down the hill and turned right along the harbour front. The parade took place in front of the Tarbert Hotel. The Guard Commander, who had been the last Adjutant of the 8th Battalion, quaked slightly when confronted by the grand array of former members of the 8th Battalion, among them several distinguished wartime Commanding Officers of the 7th and 8th Battalions. The platform party gradually assembled, and soon it was time for the Guard Commander to present the parade to the Duke of Argyll. The inspection was carried out by His Grace accompanied by Dr Mayer, the Chairman of the Ratepayers' association. Speeches were made by the Duke of Argyll, the Chairman, and the Commanding Officer on behalf of the Colonel of the Regiment. Then the parade marched past and on to a memorable lunch, when even Cruachan was given a meal.
It was a memorable day with a rich an distinct Argyllshire flavour. As we drove back to Edinburgh a few hours later, Loch Fyne was near perfect in the evening sun and it was difficult not to linger. On this occasion the only changes in the composition of the Guard were that it included 2Lt M. T. Wilson (the Colour), C/Sgt W. Spence, Sgt Robinson and Sgt Rahman.
Updated: 16 March 2015