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of Edinburgh performed the traditional “walkabout” among themany ex-service people attending their respective plots.Representing the Regimental Association and attending tothe RSF, HLI and RHF plots this year was Alf Wyke and TomThaxter. Members should be aware that the former has madethe pilgrimage to London for over fifty years to watch over theRegimental patch. Tom, on the other hand, is a relative newcomerhaving paid his first visit to the event in 2003. Both 84-year-oldwartime veterans, currently residing in Essex, served together inthe Royal Scots Fusiliers during the period 1942-46.(See the Westminster photographs on the inside of the front cover.)The Regimental Association is extremely grateful and pays awarm tribute to both these ex-soldiers, Alf in particular, fortheir selfless devotion to duty.ADKTHE HLI REUNION 2007The annual reunion this year was on the 5th of May and againin HHQ. There wasn’t a great turnout – only 30 odd – butwe were very glad to see Major Willie Shaw there and therehad been the usual generous contributions from many whocouldn’t make it.Something else that didn’t make it – or didn’t make enoughof it – was the compiler’s lap-top. It took a fit and had tobe quietly put away, despite there being no other apparentrecord. But we do remember there was a quiz in whicheveryone took part in teams (which is less taxing than areindividual performances). We’ve forgotten who won – andin any case it was felt that there isn’t enough space in thisreduced (but v expensive) Journal to publish its questions.THE GLASGOW HIGHLANDERS ASSOCIATIONThe Glasgow Highlander Reunion/Meeting on the 31st ofMarch 2007 was the first after two years of nullity. It waskicked off by WO2 Raymond (Dinger) Bell. First approachedby CSgt Stevie Whyte in the early hours of 1 Jan 07 WO2Bell soon mustered a Committee which was headed byMajor George Stewart. It decided on a Reunion in HomeHeadquarters, The Royal Highland Fusiliers (518 SauchiehallStreet, G2 3LW). This was a great success. Not only was theAyrshire Mafia there in some strength (Dick Stevenson andcronies) but there were many wearing the Glas H tie – andsome of its wearers had even had Glasgow Highlander serviceof the pre-1967 vintage!Among the latter were Rab Bryson, Jack Nelson, DavidSkelly, Major George Stewart and Patrick Tracey – as well asthe writer – and we made a goodly company. As such, we weregrateful to WO2 Raymond Bell for engineering the wholeentertainment and also to WO2 Alex McDivitt, to the HHQStaff and of course to Colonel Bobby Steele for letting themeeting take place in HHQ. Both WO2 Bell and the Coloneladdressed us – but, alas, the writer is as deaf as a post. Wehave little to report on what was said.But we do remember when someone spoke concerning thenext Armistice Parade in Glasgow. The attention of thecompany was achieved by a series of drumbeats on the table(by an empty whisky tumbler), silence was achieved and awarning given. “Do we salute,” asked the speaker, “to ‘TheRoyal Highland Fusiliers, by the right, Eyes Right!’ or shallwe say this year ‘...The Glasgow Highlanders...!’” ?The company had no doubts – but what will actually happenwill be reported (along with this) in the 2008 Journal.Wait and see. (Besides, we are putting pressure on ColonelSteele to take command of our mixed ensemble at this year’sArmistice. We think that he is likely to favour “RoyalHighland Fusiliers”.)**See ARMISTICE 2007 (page 29). We conformed!We did miss Major Willie Shaw at the March meeting. Letus hope that he will use his ’bus pass in time for this year’sArmistice Parade in George Square. Whether or not thecommand is preceded by “The Royal Highland Fusiliers” or“The Glasgow Highlanders”, we do need Major Shaw to keepus in step****He did! See ARMISTICE 2007 (page 29).Next was a BBQ Families’ Afternoon. This, as reported byMajor George Stewart, our President, took place on Sunday17th June 2007 in Walcheren Barracks.“Our sincere thanks go to Lt Col Coull and RSM Cochranefor their continued support of the Association in allowing usto use the WOs’ and Sgts’ Mess. About 44 members and theirguests appeared – as well as some of their children (and therewas considerable inter-wife gossip, some of the ladies nothaving seen each other for years).“The sun was shining on the BBQ area in the yard behindthe barracks, tables and chairs were laid out and WO2(Dinger) Bell (who is now with the ACF) had managed to‘borrow’ enough BBQ equipment. This was put to gooduse by our Chef, Jim McConnell (not only an Associationmember but also ACF). He did a magnificent job. The foodwas done to perfection – although he himself must havebeen half-baked, with the BBQ fires on one side and the suntowering on the other!“Next was, of course, up in the Mess. Not only was the Baropen – and the attendant Mess Staff very helpfully busy – butthere was our usual ‘MUST-HAVE’ Raffle. The latter, runby Sonny Martin, Robert Griffin and Hugh Cameron, madea handsome profit, a profit assisted by Hugh’s donation of abottle of Bubbly.“In all, it was a most successful and enjoyable afternoon. Itwas the first that both my wife Noreen and I had attended.We’ll BOTH be back next year too!“We have also to thank not only Sonny and Robert [Griffin]and Hugh but also our ‘Events Manager’ Robert Woodburn,and also Angela Gardner and C/Sgt Stevie Whyte 6 Scots– and of course Dinger.”THE ROYAL HIGHLAND FUSILIERS 31
The next function was a combination of the Association’s firstAGM and its second 2007 “Reunion”. Again Major GeorgeStewart reports.“This was held on Saturday 27th October 2007 in the WOs’and Sgts’ Mess in Walcheren Barracks. The AGM part didn’ttake long. The ‘old soldier’ instinct soon kicked in; ‘Keepyour mouth shut and let’s get on!’“So we did. As our last Reunion was in 2004, it was great tobe back and seeing the same old faces. Some had a few morelines on them but they were there. There was David Skelly(MT), George Lamont (P&Ds), Pat Tracey (Signals) andAlastair Mack (B Coy) and some of our 52nd Intake – GibbyMcDowall (CSM), Tom McElinney (QM) and John Hurles(MT/D Coy). If we had a combination of memory and space,the list would go on and on.“Bobby Woodburn, our Treasurer, then RETURNED to mostof us £3.00! The Reunion’s costs were less than had beencalculated. But Bobby very sensible restored the money justbefore the usual ‘MUST-HAVE’ Raffle. The Raffle proceededto make a healthy profit.“More importantly, we must mention the attendance of aGlasgow Highlander who served even long before DavidSkelly. Jim Wilson, who joined us in 1939 and fought with 1Glas H throughout the War, had travelled up from England tojoin us again.“Jim and his friends enlisted in 1 Glas H on 1 Sep 39 onadvice from his father. The latter knew that War was aboutto be declared, that call-up papers would soon be issued,and that Jim and his friends might thereby find themselvesin a host of separate units. If they PRE-enlisted together,they would stay together. So Jim and his friends not onlyimmediately enlisted but decided (very sensibly) to followmore of Jim’s father’s advice. They joined the elite GlasgowHighlanders.“However, although Jim went to war with 1 Glas H as partof BEF2 to Cherbourg in 1940 (and got back again), hisknown expertise (he had worked in Barr and Stroud’s) hadhim soon extracted – but not out of battle. Soon he was aRoyal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer – fighting first theItalians and then the Afrika Corps in North Africa.“Jim’s being there is a perfect example of why we must do ourbest to ensure the future of the Association. It is fortunatethat we are being supported by both Lt Col Coull and WO 1(RSM) Cochrane.”THE TENTH HLI CONTINUATION CLUBThis, if not its “activities”, has diminished even further.Halfway through 2007 even Willie Nixon became ill – andseriously so. The weekly visits to Eddie Traynor and BobbyMcLachlan have continued but have often done so withoutWillie or any other full members. It is Lachie Christie, anAssociate Member, who now conducts them – and often doesso on his own. Nor is a descent on the Station Bar now partof the visits – except that Lachie sometimes calls in there enroute to Eddie’s (Thursdays). But what we miss at the StationBar is more than generously afforded at Eddie’s. Inaddition to pie and peas we have APPLE PIE ANDICECREAM! We also have the usual beer and whisky(ies) –AND once at least the latter was a Smith’s Glenlivet! (Bobbyalso very generously feeds us – and has even been known topour out whisky for at least one of the thirstier AssociateMembers – except Bobby.)But now the bad news. John Ross, who had been virtuallyhouse-bound for the last year or two, died at the beginningof October. (John, who enlisted in 5 HLI before the outbreakof war in 1939, was soon posted to the newly-formed 10 HLIand was, equally soon, prevailed upon by Captain Faulds tobecome a Signaller – with the brief words, “Ross, you’re forthe Signals!” John was badly wounded in Normandy – andafter his recovery found himself a Green Howard – but was,luckily, too long in service to be despatched to bring Japan toits knees.) (There are rather more of John’s exploits recordedin his Obituary in this Edition.)Willie Nixon managed to get to his funeral, which was on the12th of October, and so did Bobby, both driven there (by sonin-lawand son), but alas Eddie wasn’t there. Although we hadseen him just the day before, he had in the interim collapsed– and been carted off to the Royal Infirmary.Major Willie Shaw was also at John’s funeral. (Willie has notonly a rigid sense of duty but has always had a soft spot forthe redoubtable Tenth.). He didn’t stay for the post-funereal‘Celebration’ (pleading “work”!) but we (and many others)did. We found ourselves being generously entertained by MrsMary Ross, John’s lovely wife and constant companion since1946, and also by her son (another John). (The latter dwarfsJohn but is equally well-mannered!)There have been other events worth noting vis-à-vis theTenth. In February this year Colonel Bobby Steele gave, alongwith the members of the Luncheon Club, a luncheon at HHQfor Eddie Traynor and his friends and relations (includingWillie Nixon and Bobby McLachlan). John Ross didn’t makeit. Neither did the Queen – but HM took note of it. She herselfcame up to Holyrood in July to present Eddie with his MBE.Oh dear, someone didn’t brief HM to invite us (nor us toinvite HM).And of course the Continuation Club carried out itscustomary disappearance for Hogmanay and New Year’s Dayto Blackpool. (To do so in Scotland is a bit more expensive.)Willie Nixon was the only full Member there this year – andhe made the best of it, apparently dancing on Hogmanay andduring the Year’s Turn with every lady in sight.That’s the Tenth for you!The Continuation Club had another function on Friday 15th ofFebruary – a free luncheon as the guests of Eddie Traynor – whohas recovered since his October disappearance into hospital.(As this edition of the Journal should be off to the Publisher beforethe 15th of February, we can’t report on the luncheon.)32 THE ROYAL HIGHLAND FUSILIERS
Page 3: ForewordIt gives me pleasure to int
Page 6: Location of Serving OfficersReprese
Page 10 and 11: the beauty and isolation of this de
Page 13 and 14: contacted a number of the enemy in
Page 15 and 16: Posted to 11 RSF, stationed in Norf
Page 17 and 18: various regimental and staff appoin
Page 19 and 20: commitment and loyalty. His excepti
Page 21 and 22: PRIVATE JOHN ROSS HLIJohn wasn’t
Page 23 and 24: After a year at Aldershot, David wa
Page 25 and 26: Associations and ClubsTHE ROYAL HIG
Page 27 and 28: “The Three Amigos”.“Get me to
Page 29 and 30: contain a shooting club and other c
Page 31: At the Garden of Remembrance.Tom an
Page 36 and 37: A Coy 2 ScotsB CoyFus Hughes taking
Page 38 and 39: The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Can
Page 40 and 41: A Coy celebrating at the ‘Last So
Page 42 and 43: oles will be put to good use during
Page 44 and 45: Commanding Officer saw the complexi
Page 46 and 47: CSgts Trousdale and McIndo covering
Page 48 and 49: A Maori warrior on patrol.Stage 1 -
Page 50 and 51: at the Accies, we played in numerou
Page 52 and 53: Bremen Pl, Kabul, Dec 07.IRs (Indiv
Page 54 and 55: WO2 C Best, Machine Gun Platoon 2IC
Page 56 and 57: The Royal Highland Fusiliersof Cana
Page 58 and 59: Officer Training CorpsGLASGOW AND S
Page 60 and 61: Army Cadet ForceWEST LOWLAND BATTAL
Page 62 and 63: Col Kelly being “pulled out”.ce
Page 64 and 65: ArticlesA DEPOT DIARY (Part Two)(Th
Page 66 and 67: have a truly devastating effect.) M
Page 68 and 69: ADVENTURES AT OXFORDAnonUp until 19
Page 70 and 71: CSM). I stayed at HQ, Cpl McDougal
Page 72 and 73: Entertainers started to visit the I

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