Sad Last Post for The Cameronians

May 15 2008 By George Topp

THERE has been a poignant Last Post for The Cameronians.. after 319 glorious years.

On the exact spot near Douglas where the first Cameronians rallied 319 years ago, old soldiers last weekend gathered for their final conventicle.

With time taking its toll on former Cameronians, it was decided that Sunday would be the regiment's last conventicle — their traditional annual gathering to mark Covenanting origins.

Almost 40 years to the day from official disbandment, on May 14, 1968, old comrades gathered at the Cairn one last time.

The cairn, topped by a statue of regiment founder The Earl of Angus, was erected by Lanarkshire Council Council as a token of high regard for the county regiment.

A plaque on the cairn says: 'Here on the 14th May, 1968, within a mile of the spot where the 26th Cameronian Regiment was raised by the Earl of Angus on 14th May, 1689, the 1st Bn Cameronian (Scottish Rifles) held a conventicle and lowered the regiment flag to mark its disbandment on orders of the government.'

On Sunday, former soldiers from across the country took part in the event, which included a service at St Bride's Church, Douglas, and the open air conventicle. Speakers included Colonel Hugh MacKay and Major Philip Grant.

The regiment was born out of 17th century religious intolerance, when Protestants were forced to worship in secret, at conventicles.

Three months after being formed in 1689, the Cameronians had their first taste of battle.

Despite overwhelming odds and heavy losses, they took on rebellious Highlanders at Dunkeld. Their fierce fighting spirit was recognised by King William who sent them to Flanders in 1691, where their figurehead, the Earl of Angus, was killed the following year.

There followed battle honour after battle honour, among them Blenheim, Gibraltar, the American Wars of Independence, the Napoleonic Wars, North Africa, South Africa, Relief of Ladysmith, Lucknow, Sevastapol, practically every area of France during the bloody First World War from the Somme and Passchendale to the Hindenburgh Line. During the Second World War they fought with distinction across Europe, the Middle East, and in the Far East.

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