Report of the REDEDICATION SERVICE to mark the 100th ANNIVERSARY of the UNVEILING OF THE REGIMENTAL MEMORIAL of the CAMERONIANS (SCOTTISH RIFLES) at Kelvingrove, Glasgow on Saturday 10th August 2024.
The Service Rev. Mark Johnstone DL, MA, BD,
Minister of Glasgow Cathedral
Civic Welcome:
Jacqueline McLaren, Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of Glasgow
Parade Commander:
Mr. Tom Balloch MBE, Vice Chair
Commemoration Co-ordinator Mr Douglas McCreath BSc, MEd, MBA, Secretary
(2) PLANNING THE COMMEMORATION
(3) In the initial stages, Ian Bilboe had proposed the formation of a representative
action committee. However, given the geographical spread of members, this
proved not to be practicable . A ‘Zoom call’, as an alternative proved equally
problematic. The adopted process involved direct action by the Secretary and
his reporting to members at the monthly meetings of the organisation for
ratification of these actions, which, being recorded in the minutes, kept all
members informed. Where appropriate, such as in the compilation of the
invited guest list, suggestions were sought.
Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren had readily agreed to the granting of a Civic Reception
though the planning process, proved to be long, complex and multi-faceted.
Inter alia, a ‘Permission to Use’ Certificate had to be secured from the Council. This
involved both the conduct of a formal Risk Assessment and the acquisition of Public
Liability Insurance.
Equally convoluted was the creation of the Guest list since current domiciles of some
were not known.
Seating at the Memorial had to be provided by the Association, as had the necessary lectern and sound system. Initially, the hire of seating from a commercial company wasconsidered – though in the end, military contacts of Tam Balloch came to the rescue.
We have, courtesy of Alex Maxwell our own lectern and my son, Euan, took responsibility for borrowing and installing the sound system.
In the weeks preceding the ceremony Tam Balloch (as Vice Chair) and myself (as Secretary) had regular logistical planning meetings. We were joined by Bill Thomson.He and his son who undertook to tidy up and power-wash the memorial.
We became aware that, although the surrounding hedge been trimmed following a meeting with representatives of the Parks Department, much of the iconic sculptureremained hidden from view. This was disappointing for a number of reasons:
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From the guest seating only the tops of the Regimental figures were visible. Earlier images of
the Memorial were included in the Commemoration booklet to highlight the contrast.
• Tourist income is important to the City, yet many visitors are un aware of the monument’s
presence. Only part of the inscription plaque on the main west front is visible. Sight of the south
and east faces is only possible when the gate is unlocked.
The matter is being pursued.
In the words of the Glasgow Herald article of 1924 reporting the unveiling ceremony: The memorial has
been erected on the high ground to the west of the Art Galleries and is a conspicuous object from one of the
main arteries of the city’.
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The rededication event may not have taken place were it not for the direct intervention of
Ian Bilboe, for it was he who first raised awareness some two years ago, of the
forthcoming anniversary and wrote to the Lord Provost’s Office to enquire if a Civic
Reception to recognise the occasion might be possible,(2) CIVIC HOSPITALITY
The service of re-dedication was held at the iconic Regimental Memorial at Kelvingrove
on Saturday 10 August 2024.
It was conducted by the Rev. Mark Johnstone, Minister of Glasgow Cathedral.
In the Museum cafeteria, Glasgow City Council provided well-received, pre-service civic
hospitality comprising tea, coffee and pastries.
3(3) THE LOCATION OF THE SERVICE
Seating for the ceremony was arranged adjacent to the Memorial, where guests gathered
prior to its commencement.
Following Regimental tradition, piquets were posted around the Memorial
The designated piquets were J. Hurles, B. McNeill, W. Thomson and J.Poulton.
44. MARCH ON
Buglers T. Graham and D.Mullen sounded’ Fall In’ for a short ‘March On’ to the Memorial,
beside which was located a lectern where Provost McLaren, as Lord Lieutenant of
Glasgow, took the salute.
Piper J. Paton led the parade.
The Cameronians Association standard bearer was R. McKnight.
The standards of the Glasgow Highlanders Association and Royal Scots Fusiliers were
also paraded.
5(5) THE RE-DEDICATION SERVICE
Following Regimental tradition, Parade Commander’ to the Rev. M. Johnstone, allowing
the re-dedication service to proceed. Following the call to worship, Lord Provost McLaren
proffered a Civic Welcome.
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Douglas McCreath delivered the Bible reading,
Peter Carroll offered a short discourse on the
historic significance of the Memorial to the
Regiment
Tom Balloch reported the all clear –
‘No enemy in sight
Members who took part in the ‘March on’(6) ORDER OF EVENTS
Piquets Posted J. Hurles,B. McNeill,
W. Thomson, J. Poulton
Fall In Buglers T. Graham, D. Mullen
March on to Memorial Piper J. Paton
March on the Standard Standard Bearer R. McKnight
Escort W. Miller, T. Miller
Report to Minister Parade Commander T. Balloch MBE
Call to Worship Rev. M. Johnstone DL, MA, BD
Civic Welcome Lord Provost McLaren
ServiceRev. M. Johnstone, DL, MA, BD
Minister of Glasgow Cathedral
Psalm 121: I to the hills
Reading: Romans 13:10-18 D. McCreath
Prayer
The MemorialLt Col P. Carroll TD VR
Sermon
Legion Prayer T. Balloch MBE
11.30 Last Post Buglers T. Graham, D. Mullen
Two Minute silence
Reveille Buglers T. Graham, D. Mullen
11.40 Laying of Wreaths
11.45 Benediction Rev. M. Johnstone
National Anthem
March off the Standard
Fall Out
77. THE LAYING OF WREATHS
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Last Post Buglers
Two Minute silence
Reveille Buglers
Laying of Wreaths as piper plays
Cameronians (SR) Ian Bilboe 1st Battalion
Glasgow City Council Jacqueline McLaren,
Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant
Lieutenancy of Lanark Louis Munn,
Depute Lord Lieutenant
South Lanarkshire
Margaret Cooper, Lord Provost
North Lanarkshire
Bob Burgess, Depute Lord Provost
Later:
The Chindits Denis McCormick9(8) COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND VIP GUESTS
Rev. Fiona Anderson, Minister of Dalserf Church
Mr Tom Balloch MBE, Vice Chairman Cameronians (SR) Organisation
Mr Raymond Bell, Glasgow Highlanders Association
Ian Bilboe, Ex Cam 1st Battalion
Cllr. Bob Burgess, Depute Provost of North Lanark
Mr Hugh Cameron, Glasgow Highlanders Association
Lt Col P Carroll TD VR, Chairman of the Cameronians (SR) Officers’s Club
Cllr. Margaret Cooper, Lord Provost of South Lanark
Susan Currie, Daughter of James Currie, Editor of WW2 Cameronian Herald
Mr Barrie Duncan, Head of Collections, Low Parks Museum
Tommy Graham, Bugler (Ex-Queens Own Highlanders)
Mr Alan Halliday, Chairman Cameronians (SR) Organisation
Sara Johnston, Daughter of Brigadier D B Riddell-Webster OBE
Major J Kerrigan, Lanarkshire Cadet Force
Rev. Mark Johnstone, Minister of GlasCathedral
Lt Col. Guy Maxwell TD VR 6/7th Cameronians (SR) Trust
Mr Douglas McCreath, Secretary Cameronians (SR) Organisation
Mr James McDiarmid and daughter, Ex-Cameronians (SR)
Mr Joe McDonald, Ex-Secretary Cameronians (SR) Organisation
Mrs Linda McDonald, Treasurer Cameronians (SR) Organisation
Mr and Mrs McKnight, Standard Bearer Cameronians (SR) Organisation
Provost Jacqueline McLaren, Lord Lieutenant of Glasgow
Willie Miller, Chair Cameronians Travel Club
Tom Miller, Cameronians (SR) Organisation
Mr and Mrs A Morrowsmith, Ex-Cameronians (SR) 1st Battalion
Anne Mullen, Daughter of James Currie, Editor of WW2 Cameronian Herald
Danny Mullen, Bugler (Ex Queens Own Highlanders)
Mr and Mrs Louis Munn, Depute, Lord Lieutenant of Lanark
John Paton, Piper
Rev. Fraser Penny Minister, of Dunkeld Cathedral
Major Gen Mike Riddell Webster, Ex-Governor of Edinburgh Castle
Major John Robertson, Lanarkshire Cadet Force
Mr Bob Russell, Chair of East Kilbride British Legion
Apologies
Mr Ronnie Convery, Honorary Italian Consul
Provost Kenneth Duffy, North Lanark Council
Provost Kenneth Duffy
Major Philip Grant
Lady Haughey, Lord Lieutenant of Lanark
William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow
Major Mike Sixsmith
10(9) EARLIER IMAGES OF THE MEMORIAL
11(10) 100 YEARS AGO
FROM AN ARTICLE IN THE GLASGOW HERALD, Monday 11th August 1924
The regimental memorial scheme of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) is a three-fold one:
• A memorial tablet has been placed in the Cameronians’ Corner in Glasgow Cathedral
• A sculptured group in bronze was unveiled in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow
• The efforts of the promoters are now to be directed towards the establishment of a Regimental Memorial
Club in Glasgow.
Glasgow was selected as the site of the memorial because of the regiment’s close association with the city,
and in a double sense the memorial is singularly appropriate in the symbolic character of the design and in
the commanding situation of the site.
The memorial has been erected on the high ground to the west of the Art Galleries, and is a conspicuous
object from one of the main arteries of the city.
The design embodies the figures of three soldiers of the regiment set on a low stone base. In the centre is the
animated figure of a sergeant going ‘over the top’, symbolising victory. To his right there lies the sacrificial
body of a young officer, while on the left a Lewis gunner covers the advancing troops, signifying the dogged
determination of the men of the regiment.
The sculptor was Captain Lyndsey-Clark DSO, the son of a sculptor, who joining as a private, rose to the
rank of Captain.
In the presence of many thousands and in delightful weather the memorial was unveiled on Saturday
afternoon by Field Marshall Earl Haig who spoke of the great regimental traditions of the Cameronians.
“The battle honours of the regiment in the Great War”, he said, “were worthy to rank with those of older
battle honours on which the glorious reputation of the regiment was founded and built up.”
It was under the wide vault of the sky in many lands that Cameronians fought and died.
In this city with which the Regiment has been so prominently associated an open air memorial has been
erected to commemorate their valour.
Great crowds had assembled in the roadway fronting the Art Galleries and in the reserved enclosure there
was a large assembly of officers and men of the regiment and relatives and friends of the fallen.
A guard of honour was formed from men of the depot of the regiment at Hamilton. In addition, the Territorial
battalions, Service battalions and the Regimental Association, consisting of ex-soldiers were represented.
There was a large assembly of staff officers of the various units with Lieutenant-Colonel Boyd commanding
the parade, and Lieutenant-Colonel Vandeleur, the honorary secretary of the Regimental Association, who
has been largely responsible for the organisation of the memorial scheme.
Earl Haig said:
“As a Lowland Scot, it is with a full heart and deep sense of pride and gratitude that I am here this afternoon
to unveil this memorial to the heroism of more than 7,000 men who in the Great War fell in the ranks of your
famous Lowland Regiment. The thought of that great number of brave men, most of them young, many of
them only on the threshold of life, yet each lost to home and kindred amid the suffering and tragedy of war, is
a sad and terrible one. But with that sad thought goes another; the thought that as our fathers in days long
past were content to give up all, even life itself, for the sake of the faith that was in them, so in this present
generation men of the same old Lowland Scottish stock went out in their thousands and in their thousands
gave their lives for their faith in the freedom of nations and for liberty and justice among men”.
12(11) THOUGHTS INSPIRED BY LOOKING AT THE CAP BADGE
Richard Fowler, The Covenanter 2004
The cap badge of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) consists of the five-pointed star, or mullet, of
the Douglas Family, above a hunting horn with a lovers’ knot; and the whole is surrounded by a
wreath of thistles.
Looking at this one day, I was struck by the thought that not only was the Regiment formed by
Covenanters, the Regimental Cap Badge contains a sermon in itself.
The star is a five-pointed star. There are five continents on this planet and the Regiment has
served in each of them – Africa, America, Asia, Australasia and Europe.
Moreover, the star is a very important image in the Bible – for instance, a star shone over the
Bethlehem stable where the infant Jesus was born, and in the Book of Revelation we learn that
‘To him that over-cometh I will give the Morning Star.’
The horn and lovers’ knot are the symbols of light infantry regiments – the HLI (Highland Light
Infantry) had the same emblems in their badge, although they never marched at the Cameronians’
pace.
The horn is a hunting horn, used to call the huntsmen together, and it is a reminder that God is
calling His people to serve Him and we should answer His call.
The lovers’ knot cannot be untied and symbolises for me the fact that God’s love is always there
for us – nothing can separate the Christian from the love of God.
The thistles indicate that The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) is a Scottish Regiment.
There are ten thistles, one for each letter in the word ‘Cameronian’.
The thistle became the emblem of Scotland after the Scots won a night battle with the Danes.
The Danes mounted an attack on the Scots under cover of darkness and in an attempt to make
less noise a Danish soldier removed his footwear. However, the element of surprise was lost
when he trod on a thistle. His resultant howl of pain alerted the Scots, who beat off the enemy.
To me, the thistles on the Cameronians cap badge are a reminder that God’s protection is always
there for
us. He will always sustain us and he will never let us be tried beyond what we can endure.
13(12) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
With sincere gratitude to all who, in their various ways, participated in the planning
and execution of the event, including:
Rev. Mark Johnstone
Lord Provost McLaren
Ann Townsley, Lord Provost of Glasgow’s Administrative Assistant
Shona McDougall and the staff of the Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum
The 71 Engineer Regiment from Leuchers Station
The Glasgow & Lanarkshire Battalion Army Cadet Force
Lt Col Peter Carroll
Alex Maxwell
Euan McCreath
Joyce McDonald
Marie Stuart
Bill Thomson
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OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH OUR WELL-RESPECTED FELLOW
MEMBER, DAVIE McCOLL, WHO IS IN HOSPITAL RECUPERATING
AFTER MAJOR SURGERY(13) SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP IN GLASGOW CATHEDRAL
Rev Johnstone conducted a Service of Commemoration at 11.00am in the Cathedral on Sunday
11th AugustMembers of The Cameronians (SR Association) were welcomed by him to the
Cathedral, reinforcing the words in the Order of Service.
“We welcome to the service today The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). They were a rifle regiment of the
British Army, the only regiment of rifles amongst the Scottish regiments of infantry. It was formed in 1881
under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 26th Cameronian Regiment and the 90th Perthshire
Light Infantry
Following the Service, there was a moment of shared reflection.
The stimulus for this moment of reflection in Cameronians Corner was drafted by Ian Bilboe, who also
organised the occasion and engaged the other participants.
15(14) A MOMENT OF SHARED REFLECTION IN CAMERONIANS CORNER
Context: Spoken by Ian Bilboe
This is the 110th year since the outbreak of WW1, the 85th since the outbreak of WW2 and the 80th since
the D Day Landings. We gather here again in our corner of this great sanctuary bearing the torch of
commemoration to offer prayers to GOD our Saviour and to give thanks. We reflect not only on ALL who
served and fell in those wars but also on the many who supported them behind the lines, and at home
ministered to their needs, nursed and comforted them, fed them and prayed with them, produced and
delivered the materials and weaponry for them with which to fight to defend the freedoms that we cherish
today. We give our eternal thanks for their sacrifice.
Reflections on D-Day: Spoken by Douglas McCreath
As I watched TV images of the masses of men and armoury forming up for the D-Day battle, the image of
summer leaves on a tree sprung to mind; all fresh and in their varying shades of green; shining and
fluttering in the breeze – so full of life. Following the battle they were, as autumn leaves, strewn and dead;
like the men of our regiment who paid the ultimate sacrifice to make us free.
As leaves of the forest when summer has been
Our brothers in arms at day break were seen
Camouflaged all over in khaki and green
After the battle
They lay scattered
As though their lives
Had never mattered.
Men, as autumn leaves,
Lying wasted and dead.
Homage: Spoken by Marie Stuart:
We must honour and the keep memory of the men of the regiment alive.
We must educate and commemorate with our young people the story of the Cameronians
Post-Reflection
Following our moment of reflection, we had the opportunity to meet other visitors who were intrigued by
Theywere their padre, and a group from Iowa, USA and a party from Aberdeen that included a young lady,
originally from Cameroons. ’Cameroons’ is sometimes returned in error by internet search engines when
looking for ‘Cameronians’.
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Report compiled by D. McCreath: August 202417181920·
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