1978 replies to this topic

[MACRAE]

Dan

Of course! we are on the level .... but there is no need for aprons and handshakes as its the Royal Arch public house in Broughty Ferry.

I suppose I could ask my Uncle Edward Thomson (Dundee United) if I could stay over save a trip back to Glasgow if i could attend this meeting . Will try and attend but do not hold your breath I have two cats to look after and wife is on holiday she sure picks the time to go on holiday.

Dan

[Tom A McCluskey]

Doc,

Good to see that you are back. Have your Polo Shirt for you so please PM me your address and I will forward it when I get back next week. I have enclosed a picture of Bob dragging you back from the water's edge after the last meet    in the Ferry.

Aye

Tom McC

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[Ian Robertson]

Gentlemen,

Since you have gone to all the trouble of re-organizing the Black Watch museum trip because I'm off on holiday I'd be mortified if for some reason I couldn't make it on the revised date. Therefore please note that me an' 'er indoors are invited to a wedding on the 9th of August and I am informed that my attendance is not optional (unfortunately).

regards

Ian

[Doc]

Doc,

Good to see that you are back. Have your Polo Shirt for you so please PM me your address and I will forward it when I get back next week. I have enclosed a picture of Bob dragging you back from the water's edge after the last meet in the Ferry.

Aye

Tom McC

Hi! The lure of the sea, especially after a few "wets"! PM in-bound.

While I'm on the forum, I have a query you may be able to help me with.
I am researching a kinsman - Nigal Graham  (b 1895) who was KIA 23 Oct 14 near Ypres. while serving as
a Cpl 1st Bn Cameron Highlanders (SN:9120).
I have found out that he was a member of the Black Watch prior to joining the CH. His SN was 3/1751.
I presume that he was in the Black Watch TA? I guess he was transfered to the CH to make up a
short-fall in numbers?

Don

[Black Jock]

Doc

Heres your man's Medal card I think he was in the special reserve before the war.  Enquire on the soldiers section.

Tom

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[Doc]

Doc

Heres your man's Medal card I think he was in the special reserve before the war. Enquire on the soldiers section.

Tom

 Graham__Nigel___Copy.jpg   13.33K   0 downloads

Many Thanks Tom.

[George Armstrong Custer]

me an' 'er indoors are invited to a wedding on the 9th of August and I am informed that my attendance is not optional (unfortunately).

Bet you enjoy it once you've had a few drinks, Ian.

Best,
George

[Tom A McCluskey]

George,

Are you going to make it for Friday 11 Jul 2008? It will be good if all the troops make it, however, I appreciate that the holidays occur at the same time.

Aye

Tom McC

[George Armstrong Custer]

Yes I'm planning to travel across on the 11th, Tom, and look forward to another convivial evening in the Ferry.

Best,
George

[Black Watch]

Should have a couple of new recruits too, both Gary's coincidently.

Neil

[Ian Robertson]

Bet you enjoy it once you've had a few drinks, Ian.

Best,
George

Well, I'll try and force a couple down... just to be sociable like, plus I think it's an open bar and it wouldn't do to offend the happy couple's generous gesture!

regards

Ian

[Tom A McCluskey]

Ian,

Ref: post 67, a long time ago, on this thread, J B Nicholson and Cpl Hutchinson were mentioned - both 4th Bn The Black Watch. I forgot to mention that I visited their resting place at St Vaast Post. They are buried beside one another in amongst a fair few others from The Black Watch. Nicholson's grave has a quote from the bible (Judges): 'They that handle the pen of the writer'. Anyway, here's where they are buried (Nicholson left, Hutchison right 'Thy will be done' etched on to his marker).

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[Ian Robertson]

Tom,

Many thanks for posting this picture. I have now read "Haunting Years" by William Linton Andrews and it will probably be packed with the Beano Summer special for a second read between Donkey rides at Skeggy. I must say taht the story of him enlisting reads very much like the open chapter of "A Covenant with Death" where the Editorial staff decamp the press offices enmass to line up with miners, clerks and petty criminals anxious to sign up with the "City" battalion.
The more I read about the "Fighter Writers" the more I'm amazed that the likes of Joe Lee is so little regarded in his home city.

regards

Ian

[Ian Robertson]

Lads and Lasses

I have inherited two books which I already have copies of. They are "Victorian and Edwardian Dundee and Broughty Ferry" by Peter Adamson and R. Lamont-Brown and "The Hungry Thirties" by well known Dundee worthy the late David Phillips. The former is a series `of photographs including a couple related to the local militia and the latter is a series of tales of Dundee happenings and people relating to the title. I've been trying to think up a question based on the Oor Wullie theme of recognising WW1 sites but seeing as I've never visited any it's kind of difficult. So in an effort to get these books away out of my office I'm offering them as a prize, post paid, to the first person who can answer the following question:
in my previous post I mention the famous WW1 novel "A Covenant with Death" by John Harris. In a very famous 60's film, a major actor of the time, who is playing what is really a bit part, recites  some more of this quotation from Isaiah 28:14-15*
"Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement"

What is the film and who is the actor?**

* now you know why I never post on a Sunday
** The film is not WW1 related but the subject has been raised on this Forum recently

By the way the books are really, really interesting and well worth racking your brains for (no, really)

regards
Ian

[Black Watch]

Zulu - Jack Hawkins?

My Favourite film, if this is correct its when he was drunk in the storeroom before they packed him off. Can't remember the actual words but it sounds about right.

Neil

[Ian Robertson]

Zulu - Jack Hawkins?

My Favourite film, if this is correct its when he was drunk in the storeroom before they packed him off. Can't remember the actual words but it sounds about right.

Neil

Neil

The books are yours, P.M. me your address and I'll make sure you get them before I go on my hols next week.
One of my favourite films as well. I can remember going to see it many times as a nipper. When you see it now some of the fight scenes are a wee bit corny when compared to "Finding Private Ryan" and "Band of Brothers" etc but the sound of the "train" when Ivor Emmanual (any relation to Nurse Gladys?) is the lookout still gives me shudders down my back! I remember reading that due to the budget restraints Hookie and the soldiers in the hospital never left the UK (you never see them outside)
regards

Ian

[Black Watch]

The part where they sing Men of Harlech always makes my hair stand on end. Yeah watching it now it does look very corny and dated, and these assegais must have been hopeless weapons, the never seemed to penetrate more than an inch. I first saw this on the Gaumont and was hooked, must have watched it, and forced my kids to watch it, dozens of times.

Neil

[Tom A McCluskey]

Ian,

Great that you've read Haunting years:

"Many thanks for posting this picture. I have now read "Haunting Years" by William Linton Andrews and it will probably be packed with the Beano Summer special for a second read between Donkey rides at Skeggy"

Do I detect another forum book review?

Aye

Tom McC

[Ian Robertson]

Ian,

Great that you've read Haunting years:


Do I detect another forum book review?

Aye

Tom McC

Maybe, although my lack of typing skills puts me off. It take ages to type anything of length. I belong to the "bird of prey" method where my finger hovers the keyboard like an eagle before diving on it's victim (quite often the wrong one).
Actually the last WW1 book I read was "Private Spud Tamson"  which spookily reminded me of "The Good Soldier Svejk", or at least the translation of it by Cecil Parrott. Although Tamson, unlike Svejk, is an enthusiastic soldier, Hasek's story is full of similar characters and anecdotes. I have to apologise here as my keyboard remains steadfastly British in it's tendency to ignore the circumflexes, umlauts and accents that Johnny Foreigner tends to pepper (or is that paprika?) his language with.
Anyway I'll have a think about it

regards

Ian

[Black Watch]

They say size doesn't matter, I think in this case maybe it would.

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Not a competition, just an interesting picture. The gun had "Howe 1918" on the makers plate.

Neil

[George Armstrong Custer]

As the freak said to Clint Eastwood in 'Dirty Harry' - "My, that's a big one!"  

Best,
George

[Tom A McCluskey]

Hi All,

Now that the chariot has arrived, details for the next meet are as follows:

Where: Royal Arch, Broughty Ferry

When: 19:30hrs, Friday 11th July 2008

Dress: Service Dress...Okay Polo Shirts, so Neil doesn't feel left out this time.

Hope to see most of of the Battalion make muster parade, so get fell in!

Aye

Tom McC

[Ian Robertson]

Right lads, that's the dog off to the kennels and  the knotted hanky, the Beano summer special, the bucket, spade, 'er indoors and 'er indoors junior are packed. Just time to wish you a good meet next Friday evening. I warned the staff at The Royal Arch that following Black Jock's Vickers impersonation last time he intends to follow up with a demonstration in  hand to hand combat and bayonet technique. They said it's ok because it's not something they haven't seen before on a Friday night. Have a good time.  See you at the next one

regards

Ian

[Black Watch]

Enjoy your hols Ian, and thanks for the books, interesting read.
Looking forward to Friday, see the rest of you there.

Neil

[Tom A McCluskey]

Ian,

It's a pity you can't make it, however, look forward to seeing you at the next meet. You'll be missing lesson 2, stripping assembling, and cleaning of the Vickers machine-gun. Bayonet fighting we are leaving till Perth  .

Neil, do you reckon the landlord would be up for a bit of this on Friday?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm7n1EiFI84

Aye

PS - Neil, have you seen John McDonald (DCM)'s grave marker that I have put on your Auber's Ridge thread?

Tom McC