THE COVENANTER
I first became an under-age drummer boy in whom I wished to emulate in their regimental
the pipe band of our affiliated Kelvinside progress, but could not see how. I have in
Academy CCF unit under the tutelage of a the past mentioned a number of officers
first war veteran who had drummed one of who were influential in my life. Now let me
the several battalions of the regiment on the tell you about some of the others, because
Somme. they deserve a place in history; most will be
familiar to other readers.
I bought regimental ties at the Museum
to see me out for the rest of my days, lest Ted Martin was a corporal in the Intelligence
they become unavailable. Yes, we still wear Section at Barnard Castle when I was posted
neckties in the Malawian part of the tropics in; he became one of those rare beasts, a
that has been my home for many years National Service sergeant. Colonel Henry
now. The tie goes well with any dark suit Alexander saw him as an asset and enticed
and white shirt, and is less depressing than a him back as a regular after a few short weeks
black one to sport at the increasing number of civilian life in a job for which he was
of funerals one attends with advancing actually fully qualified. Five years later I
years! took over from him as recruiting sergeant at
RH (Bob) Martin Hamilton; he had been promoted to colour
sergeant, a rank which generally came only
Lasting Memories
after long and impatient waiting. In due
And Notable Personalities
course he became RSM, but when I next

saw him he was a captain – we both were,
It is over fifty years since I first wrote for the
but I was of the laid back RAEC variety. As
Covenanter and fifty-five since I was first
we stood at the edge of the square chatting
tasked with typing out Dog Company notes
about old times, who should appear but the
– remember Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog before
Commanding Officer. Ted introduced me
the NATO alphabet came in? Typical
to him, clicking his heels with that quiet
European interference! I face my
dignity which most officers forget speedily
contribution to what I gather will be the last
after leaving Sandhurst, but which is the
Covenanter, feeling a bit like Richard
mark of those of us who have come up “the
Hannay in Mr Standfast: “I went to bed in
hard way”. Ted was the first senior NCO
the loft in a sad and reflective mood,
whom I recall having a decent motor car –
considering how in speeding our new-
a Sunbeam Talbot 90, no less. There was a
fangled plough we must break down a
bachelor RQMS earlier on with a Triumph
multitude of molehills and how desirable
Roadster, but he was believed to have a
and irreplaceable was the life of the moles”.
wealthy lady friend; I am sure Ted used his
Like moles, the Cameronians wore black
own resources.
and did an invaluable job; thereafter

similarities cease.
Ian Collinson was another in the Ted Martin

mould. I recall his promotion to Lance
This pathos may sound strange from
Corporal at the end of his basic training, by
somebody who had a love-hate relationship
which time, along with Bill Thomson, he
with the Regiment and couldn’t wait to
had already featured as Sandy in the Jock and
transfer to the Intelligence Corps. Yet I
Sandy photographs in the 1957 recruiting
vividly recall my regret at handing in my
handbook. He was so keen that he not only
dark green bonnet, TOS and Douglas tartan
volunteered for the Guards drill course, but
trews, to be handed a pale green beret and
even invested his own money in a couple of
khaki trousers. Three years later I had no
pairs of extra soft leather black boots for the
such compunctions about returning that
occasion, capable of accepting the highest
lacklustre kit before commissioning. How
possible levels of ‘bulling’, whilst being able
ignorance proliferates in the modern world;
to tramp the sacred squares of Pirbright or
my spell check disapproves of that splendid
Caterham without causing discomfort..
word ‘trews’. I will try to temper the sadness
His wife was a nurse at the Law Hospital;
with a few recollections to bring smiles to
perhaps the double income made privately
readers’ faces.
sourced boots that much more affordable.

Later he took over from me at the Hamilton
The trouble was that, as a youngster, I had
office. By the disbandment he was already
the brains, but not the application. In the
a WOII having had the world at his feet;
Regiment I had friends and even heroes
however I gather that on transferring to his
46
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