1st Battalion
The Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders
10th February 1994
Raising the Regiment Day
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1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 10th February 1994 Raising the Regiment Day |
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All photographs
are the property of RHQ Argylls and may not be reproduced or copied without
permission from RHQ Argylls.
10th February every year marks the anniversary of the Raising of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders — more accurately the Raising of the 91st Argyllshire Highlanders, but in 1994 it marked the 200th Anniversary. This seemed like a good reason for celebrations, particularly given the battalion’s near demise in 1969, and barely concealed concern of the same before the axe of 'Options for Change' fell on other battalions.
The Battalion had been forced by the uncertainty over its programme for 1994 to decide rather late in the day, to celebrate in major style on 10th February 1994, rather than later in the year when the weather could more reasonably be expected to be better. Nevertheless, the approach to Her Majesty The Queen in the late spring of 1993 to ask if She would grace the battalion with Her presence on that day, as Colonel-in-Chief, met with success. That was how it all began, and also how it was very much left for a time, as the Battalion extracted itself from Minden between July and September, finally paraded as a battalion in mid September in Shorncliffe, and promptly headed into a hectic month of getting sorted out and running cadres until the end of October.
It then fell to the planners to crack on, at the same time as training and preparing for a SPEARHEAD tour over the Christmas and New Year period. As 'Project Co-ordinating Officer', Major McAlister had produced a very outline programme back in June 1993 to fill in the time between the anticipated Royal arrival and departure. This had to be given substance, and in the end it was remarkable just how much was fitted into, and around, a Church service, drinks in the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess, lunch in the Officers' Mess, and a visit to the gymnasium to meet the Jocks. To make The Day special and memorable a plethora of extra 'touches' were added, most of them the brainchild of the CO, which certainly elevated the occasion from the ordinary (not that it was ever going to be 'ordinary'):
Click pictures to enlarge
Many members of the Regimental Band, disbanded six months before, were gathered for The Day, along with other musicians from other Scottish Regiments to make up the numbers and sound.
Stylish Order of Service booklets, and Luncheon Menu booklets were produced for all in the Church and the Officers' Mess.
A photograph was taken of all serving officers present with The Queen.
All serving members of the Regiment and their wives were invited to join the battalion for The Day.
Wives who contributed to the welfare of the Battalion in various ways were presented to The Queen.
The Pipe Major wrote a special pipe tune, The Colonel-in-Chief's Jig, and it was made into a leather-bound present for The Queen.
Regimental Headquarters produced a smart scroll with the nominal roll of those serving in the Battalion on The Day — one copy each.
The Queen signed a manuscript message of Royal Greetings to the Regiment, which was then transported to Regimental Headquarters in relays by bicycles.
A picture of the Regimental Band was unveiled by The Queen to mark the passing of the band.
A Children's Art Competition was held, the winners of which met The Queen.
Four expeditions were sent to the sites of famous battle honours around the world — Balaklava, Lucknow, Malaya and Antigua/New Orleans, and put up displays depicting them.
Life was made considerably harder for the planners because as much of the preparation as possible had to be done before the Battalion went on leave for three weeks in early January (having been in barracks and working over Christmas and New Year whilst on SPEARHEAD). This left five weeks still to go and
at that stage little interest, let alone panic, was apparent in anyone except the planners, (but boy were they making up for the rest). Worse, there were only ten days to put everything together on return from leave before it would all be too late. Nevertheless, it was done, and thanks were due to those who formed the hard core of the planning team: Lt Col Miller, Major Salisbury, Major Bain, Major MacNaughton, Major Matthews, Major McAlister, Captain Brown, Captain Hall, Captain Elliot, Padre Kingston and W01 Webb. However, thanks were also due to many others who played a vital part, and the entire Battalion contributed in some way to what was a truly magnificent day.
Certain things stayed in the mind, to haunt those involved, although there was the warm and comforting knowledge that in the end it could not have gone better:
Getting the Order of Service booklet printed after countless proof reading, then tying in the ribbons.
Getting the Luncheon Menu booklet printed with one day to spare, and then tying in those ribbons too.
Sorting out the horrendously complicated transport programme for The Day and having kittens about it to the last minute.
Trying to find out just how many would really be there on The Day, wives, children and all.
Which wives were the other wives happy to have represent them.
Were any children at all going to enter the art competition?
Would we have to seat some officers and wives out in the hall for lunch, and who was going to tell them.
Reeling in amazement at the calm of the QM as so many of his well laid plans reached fruition just before the deadline.
Finally getting a band at the eleventh hour, and wondering if it would be able to keep the organist in line.
Were the Jocks ever going to get the words fitted to the music of "Be Thou my vision, 0 Lord of my heart" — indeed, what was the right music for it, and what were the right words.
Wondering where the posy was for Melina Walker to present to The Queen with 30 minutes to go.
Major Russell wondering why everyone was thinning out of the Mess after lunch, only to remember after the transport had gone that he was supposed to be presenting Jocks to The Queen in the gymnasium in ten minutes time.
The smile on the face of The Queen as she walked round the stands in the Sports Complex chatting to the Jocks, and again as She drove out through the gates behind the Pipes and Drums, looking back at the massed Jocks giving three loud cheers to send Her on Her way.
After the drama of the day the All Ranks Party that night, organised by Major McCrow, was a particularly raucous affair, enjoyed by all.
For the record, a brief outline of the programme is shown below:
1125-1200 hrs Service in celebration of the Raising of The Regiment in St Mark's Garrison Church, officiated by the Chaplain General, Rev John Shields, Rev David Kingston, and Father Hartley.
1205-1215 hrs Her Majesty The Queen met local civic dignitaries and military guests in the Sir John Moore Library.
1215-1218 hrs Photograph of The Queen with all serving officers of the Regiment present.
1220-1240 hrs The Queen had drinks in the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess.
1250-1425 hrs The Queen had drinks and lunch in the Officers' Mess.
1430-1520 hrs The Queen met as many members of the Battalion as possible on various stands in the Sports Complex.
1520-1530 hrs The Queen met representatives of the wives of members of the Battalion, and the winners of the Children's Art Competition.
1530-1535 hrs The Queen met those involved in the bicycle ride to Stirling, and started them off.
1535-1540 hrs Her Majesty The Queen was led to the main gate by the Pipes and Drums, and cheered by the Jocks as She left.
Updated: 16 March 2015