THE COVENANTER
held high. It is barely conceivable that the
unique character of the Cameronians would Finally I come to Robert Shaw. Bob Shaw
have survived now in any recognisable or came from Manchester and was the oldest
acceptable form. member of the section. Bob had seen action
in North West Europe in the latter [part oif
Sir, WWII. He was a quietly spoken reserved
A Final Tribute man. I would say he was very much a loner
In 1950 I was a member of C Company but he had a canny sense of humour and was
stationed on the Craigielea Rubber Estate very well liked in the platoon. On occasions,
near the town of Muar, Malaya. From this I would sit-down and have a chat with Bob
location, our company sent out patrols in and I always felt that deep down there had
search of bandits, or terrorists as they are been some sadness in his life which he never
known today. wanted to aljk about.
I was then a young section commander in Tommy and Jimmy were both National
charge of a section I have always regarded Service men whilst Bob was a regular
as one of the finest in the British Army. The soldier
section was part of eight platoon which at My memories of these three wonderful
that time was commanded by Sgt Danny young men are everlasting.
Brown who proved to be a first class platoon Yours etc,
commander. Eddie Clark
The object of this article is simply to pay Sir,
tribute to three young men who died on Alas, the dreaded moment has arrived - I
operations whilst serving members of my have now commenced writing what will be
section. They were: my last items for our illustrious journal. I do
not use the word illustrious lightly as I am
Rfn Thomas Holland sure many of you, like myself have enjoyed
Rfn James Vallance reading and contributing to this publication
Rfn Robert Shaw during our lifetime. since it’s inception in
May 192 1 (vol. 1 No 1) , The Covenanter
Tommy Holland who hailed from has been a brilliant production where
Kilmarnock, could be described as a dwarf every contribution was made by people
like in stature (not of the poison dwarf writing from the heart about experiences in
variety, I hasten to add). He was a small very their lives and times whilst serving in the
likeable lad with a terrific sense of humour. Regiment.
I used to worry about him on patrol in case
he would disappear without trace in the The first Editor of the Covenanter was Lt.
Bakri Swamps. I therefore would always Eric M. H .Galbraith and in the Journal’s
detail someone to be near Tommy to be first editorial he wrote movingly about the
able to grab him if he appeared to get into aims and ambitions for the future of the
difficulty. Thankfully, this only happened Journal. His was a very inspirational and
on one occasion and rescue was swiftly at stirring piece which I am sure paved the way
hand. for future heart warming publications.
Jimmy Vallance, another Ayrshire lad was The first volume of the Covenanter was
much taller than Tommy Holland but published in May 1921, when the 1st Bn
very similar in temperament, with a broad The Cameronians were stationed in Gough
Ayrshire accent and a wonderful sense Barracks, The Curragh, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
of humour. From what I can remember The first issue was understandably pretty
Jimmy’s death was a terrible tragedy owing slim and relatively lacking in in content
to the fact that he had only been married owing to it’s new birth. However like all
for two or three weeks prior to leaving home healthy infant, it grew and matured into
to join the battalion several months earlier. the fine and healthy journal that we have
Jimmy loved to drink tea and was always enjoyed so much during our lifetime.
a frequent customer of the company char
wallah. (There was no NAAFI in up country On reading ‘The Battalion Notes’ I couldn’t
Malaya in those days. I took his loss very help but notice several familiar names
badly. leaping from the page at me, For example:
99
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