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McCRAE’S CONTALMAISON PILGRIMAGE.
Another fantastic trip away with McCrae’s Battalion Trust to the Somme, some fantastic places with truly amazing people, thank you to Tam Douglas and everyone who makes this pilgrimage possible year after year.
A sad day when we all stopped to pay tribute to the late Lt Col Gary Tait MBE, when a letter was read out from a padre to a family of a Royal Scot who lost their son during WW1 which touched everyone’s heart.
Anyone who would like to come alone on next year’s pilgrimage to the Somme with McCraes Battalion Trust should contact Tom Douglas or Jack Alexander or visit :- http://www.mccraesbattaliontrust.org.uk for more details.
Hi all,Condolences to The Family of Finlay McLean and on a lighter note,bumped into Stevie Simpson at ERI Little France. He was accompanied by his good Lady Wife and Daughter and in good Spirit.Never fails on most occasions tae bump into “A Gallant Royal Scot”.Wishing you all well and an enjoyable Highland Branch Booze Cruise for those attending.I will be at Freedom Of Dunbar Parade in other’s Stead,privileged to do so within budget restrictions.U.T.R.Legends and Absent Feends.
The Secret Squirrel69
JOHN CHARTERIS
I see from a posting on Facebook earlier today that John Charteris had a heart operation. Does anyone on 5b3 Regiemtal Family know about this?
Wishing Lt Col John Charteris MBE MC a speedy recovery after his heart operation good wishes.
Very sad news. Finlay was one of my subalterns on our first NI tour in Belfast in 1970. Diligent and meticulous in all he undertook.
Well remembered by all our family and pleased that he visited us a year ago before this dreadful event. Our thoughts are with Caroline and family and heartfelt condolences from Barbara and me.
May and June have been hard months for the Regimental Family with the loss of so many of our comrades and friends. The news of Colonel Finlay Maclean’s death brings the total for May and June to eight. Very sad.
Some I had served with such as Ian Lusty and Finlay Maclean, others were not of my time but all were Royals and will be missed.
RIP all. Up the Royals.
Funeral Details – Col Finlay Maclean.
The funeral will take place in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on Mon 8 July. The funeral service begins at 13.30. You are requested to be in your seats by 13.15.
Entry is through the Henry VIII Gate. Car parking is in Victoria Bks, SL4 1HF, 10 mins walk from the castle.
Train stations are Windsor and Eton Riverside (South Western) and Windsor and Eton Central (Great Western).
All those proposing to attend should email Jolyon Willans (staffofficermkw@gmail.com) cc cdelacombe@crdelacombe.com with: Name(s) of those attending
Car details (make ® no) if arriving by car and requiring parking at Victoria Barracks.
All those attending must bring photographic ID
There will be a wake in the cloister after the service
Sad to hear of the death of Col Finlay Maclean.
I served with him in the Regt in the 1960s and early 1970s.
Being a member of the Southern Branch a great number of years
it has been a great pleasure too meet him and the lovely Caroline on
numerous occasions for a drink or a meal and talk about the past.
The last time I saw him with the lads was at Wolverhampton where we were there for the memorial stone for Cpl Roland Elcock VC.
My thoughts are with Caroline and the family at this sad time.
RIP Sir
Alex
Alex Moore and the lads of the Southern Branch
Sadly we have to report the death yesterday of Colonel FRJ (Finlay) MacLean.
Finlay was commissioned into The Royal Scots in 1968. He retired from the Army in 2002 and for the next 10 years was a civil servant on the personal staff of the Chief of the General Staff in the Ministry of Defence. In 2012 Finlay was appointed a Military Knight of Windsor. His funeral will take place in St Georges chapel in the Castle of Windsor on 8 July. Details will be published when known.
The format for AFD Stirling on Sat 29 June is as follows.
1145 Parade assembles at Port Street
1200 Kennedy Cupcakes
1200 Parade steps off
1230 Parade arrives at Kings Park
1240 Silver Stars Parachute display team
1250 Parade enters arena
1300 Parade Inspection
1330 March Past
1345 6,7 SCOTS Military Band with support from 7 Scots Pipes and Drums
1410 Kennedy Cup Cakes
1425 Cadet Drill competition and prize giving
1450 Dionne Hickey
1515 Tug of War (Stirling Highland Games)
1535 Beating of the Retreat
1600 Event Finish
Funeral of Lt Col Gary Tait.
Veterans attending the funeral should wear medals.
Deepest sympathies for the family of LT Col Gary Tait. I had the privilege of serving under this true gentleman of a man, totally one in a million of which I’m sure others I served with at the time will agree. Sir, you will be sorely missed by all.
Rest in peace Sir.
Funeral arrangements – Lt Col Gary Tait MBE.
There will be a full Military funeral on Tuesday 2nd July.
The Service will be held in The Canongate Kirk at 1130hrs and a burial will take place at Inveresk Church Musselburgh (Immediate family and invited guest only) at 1300 hrs.
The bearer party will be made up from Warrant Officers from 1 and 2 SCOTS.
The family wish to invite all those attending for refreshments at the Garrison Warrant Officers and Sergeants Mess at Redford Infantry Barracks, Colinton, EH13 0PP. The venue will be open from 1300 onwards. Parking will be available on the main square.
Jimmy
I’m very sorry to read about the passing of Lt Col Gary Tait MBE
Rest In Peace
Franny
From Admin (Ellie)
We have received a call from Major Duncan Simpson’s wife, just to say that he won’t be on the parade tomorrow due to being in hospital.
Unfortunately we do not know which hospital
For information
Major Duncan (Stevie) Simpson is now back at home after a blood transfusion.
Royal Scots World War 2 veterans’ experiences
Hi Jim, With respect let’s Dedicate this ARMED FORCES DAY PARADE in EDINBURGH on SATURDAY. TO all of our late ROYALS who have passed away in theses recent weeks. UP THE ROYALS GET ON PARADE. BEING TRUE FRIENDS and Great ROYALS. Rab Simpson, Ian Lusty to name a few.
Bruce, absolutely, couldn’t agree more. We will remember them.
Jimmy
Lets dedicate this years Armed Forces Day Parade in Edinburgh on Saturday to the late Lt Col Gary Tait MBE.
Royal Scots………..GET ON PARADE.
Jimmy
Lt Col Gary Tait MBE: a great leader, wise counsel and charming man. He will be sorely missed and my sincere condolences to his family.
On returning to Kirknewton from the Falkland Islands, big Andy Stewart as CSM C Coy briefed me on the parade state. “The good news is that we have four of the latest draft from the Depot. The bad news is that one of them has been snaffled as an Officers Mess waiter”.
In deepest dudgeon, I stalked off to the Mess to find a smart but bemused young soldier. “How the !!!! did you get diverted into here?”, I demanded. The immediate and equally indignant reply was “Exactly my question for you, Sir!” Within an hour he was starting his apprenticeship in a C Coy rifle section. Gary and I chuckled often about our first meeting.
The exigencies of the service took us on our respective paths although I kept my antennae tuned for Gary’s impressive progress as a very competent operator indeed.
We next came together when I was appointed Regimental Secretary RS around which time Gary became greatly involved in McCrae’s Battalion Trust. There he did tremendous work, including educating those of its members who had no appreciation of there having been 34 other RS battalions in WW1, eight others of which had also fought at the Somme or that 15 RS and 16 RS had advanced together at Contalmaison.
Gary’s efforts didn’t stop there. He rekindled SCOTS interest in that part of their Golden Thread by attending the annual pilgrimage to Contalmaison, taking with him parties of young soldiers from across the SCOTS battalions and leading them on tours of the battlefield. During the centenary pilgrimage, Gary arranged a video link with BFBS and St Cuthbert’s Church in Edinburgh where a special commemorative service was being held.
We have lost a good friend, a staunch comrade and a very loyal Royal Scot who would have brought a very great deal to RS Museum & Heritage had he still been with us.
Jim Blythe