Journal 2008 - The Journal Royal Highland Fusiliers - The Royal ...

a result (line and square), and almost nothing about the battle.He paused, the Führer called for applause and when this had dieddown we debussed – but just to eat our haversack rations ANDDRINK. There was no “Battlefield Tour”.After a few beers, we re-embussed and drove to Zeebrugge – with,OF COURSE, a lengthy(ish) pause at The Chocolate Box to buywhatever was cheaper there in the way of cigarettes, tobacco anddrink than would be on the ship.Next we boarded the Pride of Bruges and sailed for home, inbetween times getting rid of our very last Euros (or delving intoour reserve Sterling).Friday the 25thWe got into Hull at about 0700hrs, after a very smooth crossing,but soon we ran into problems.1. The Port Officials (Die Hafenkönige[?]) declared that our coachwas too heavy! We were over the limit by nearly a tonne! Wemust hire a van to lift at least the baggage and so make the coachlighter. The Führer telephoned to find the cost of hiring a van.More than 500 Euros! Oh dear, TOO DEAR!2. But THEN came worse! David Swinton was on the tenth ofthe ten days that he had been driving. The Law (from Brussels, ofcourse) lays down that this is too much. We could not move untilwe had found a new driver – and David could not even remain onthe coach! He would have to travel home separately!The Hafenkönige then relented a bit. They’d “overlook” theweight problem and let us go. They’d even let David remain ONthe coach. BUT... we MUST have another driver.We then found that we did have one! One of us had a coachlicence! BUT he didn’t have his (EEC-requirement, of course)digital card with him. Back to Square One.So we (quite quickly) got a new driver (from Hull) and set offfor Scotland – only two hours later than we had hoped. (Weeven departed only half-a-ton overweight! Bernard Marshallwas driving down with one of his Rolls-Royces to lift the Ferrybridgeparty!) We arrived in Glasgow not very long after five, unloadedvarious alcoholic goodies at HHQ (518 Sauchiehall Street) anddrove on to Ayr (the Führer still in the Chair) to get rid of theAyrshire Mafia.That done (and this note almost done), we have to thank MrsCairns and her charming staff at Cassels House for puttingup with us (and putting us up). We are also indebted not onlyto Fraulein Helga Scheuss for adding musik to our singingbut also to Miss Brooke Smith. Then the piping! David Moirdidn’t just add to our efforts; he helped to make some of iteven more musical than it might have been. (As Pipe MajorRennie of 1 HLI might have said, it was “the good Highlandmusic” that emerged.) Ken McKinney also had a hand in this(as well as all of his ten fingers) but we have even more tothank him for. We didn’t have to scribble this (illegibly) on anote pad; he lent us a LAP-TOP! (This not only made it mucheasier to compile this note but on the CD he gave us to save iton were photographs. We have used one of them to illustratethis Edition.)The whole was as good as a “Battlefield Tour” as we haveencountered – but might “European pub-crawl” be a moreaccurate description? (However, someone has suggested an evenbetter one, a “Bottleful Tour”.)(NB: The Battlefield Tour for 2008 has had to be cancelled due toinadequate support)ARMISTICE 2007This year’s parade was notable – for various reasons. Not onlywere we again at least 40 in strength (the RRT having put ontheir Sunday suits to become temporary Veterans) but we hadin front of us our own Standard! This magnificent piece (ofPakistani manufacture) was borne by WO2 Steff Stevenson,and it was he who delivered the vital “Eyes Right” (and thesubsequent “Eyes Front”). This was despite a rumour thatGeneral Euan Loudon would join our ranks and thereforecommand (he did neither, was just somewhere about) – andalso despite our having Colonel Bobby Steele with us (who alsobrought a bagful of RHF-badged Glengarries – which almostall of us then wore, other than Bolshie individuals like GeorgeLamont and the Editor).Colonel Steele, however, marched in front of us (behind theStandard) and so did Major Willie Shaw – who also deliveredcommands! (in the shape of the occasional (AND STENTORIAN)“Left, Right”). (These additions were very useful, although theLowland Band (or whatever it’s now called) was remarkablytuneful and had an outstanding Bass Drummer.)On the Parade itself the 6 Scots Guard of Honour was veryimpressive, both in turn-out and drill, and the bugling of The LastPost was quite beautifulThe best part was of course that it didn’t rain – and also that wewere warmed (if also blinded) by a remarkably warm sun as westood and stood AND STOOD. Even better though was that theendless standing was not punctuated by bursts of conversation.(Was Cpl Weaver not there?)In fact we were (or should have been) well over 40. We’d bettercount Arthur Mooney (and Marilyn), although he was detached– as our Wreath-Bearer – and we’d have liked to count one ortwo who “missed the ’bus” (or something) but were there intime for the post-Parade goodies in the City Chambers (egDavid Skelly).We also wish that we’d counted the Paras. They swore to us thatthey were 61 that day.FIELD OF REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY, LONDON 2007The Field of Remembrance Ceremony was held at St Margaret’sChurchyard, Westminster London on Thursday the 8thNovember 2007. The event, sponsored by The Royal BritishLegion in aid of the Poppy Appeal, provides special plots forRegiments’ ex-Service Associations, in which members of thePublic may place their personal Remembrance crosses.This year, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh performed the openingceremony. Following the short service of dedication the DukeTHE ROYAL HIGHLAND FUSILIERS 29