THE COVENANTER
heyday he had no delusions of false modesty
It was a pleasant Sunday morning in May, or feelings of inadequacy as to his own
but it was more than forty years ago and self-worth, being, it was rumoured, a little
we were not at Douglas but at D.O.D – or miffed at not being considered for the job of
dear old Dechmont. The firing ranges on Viceroy of India. Always an imposing figure
a hill outside Cambuslang were the setting he had continued in high-profile positions
that morning for the Scottish Command T.A in British public life, with his height, 6’6”
Rifle Meeting. and craggy features (“he had a face made
for Mount Rushmore”, some said) making
6/7 Cameronians used Dechmont quite him an instantly recognisable figure in
a lot over the years though it could be a any gathering, until he retired from vice-
dreich place, with a worn-out air to its old chairmanship of British Oxygen and took
usually-closed buildings. The hutted camp up the role of “Great Man!” on a permanent
was open as was the dining hall, while for basis.
the first time most of us could remember
the officers’ mess and sgts mess huts were Like many great men he had mastered a
functioning. technique of appearing, even from a sitting
position, to look down upon those standing
As firers in the various details of the several before him. How do you talk to such a
competitions running simultaneously man? I soon found out as my G.H.Q friend,
scuttled about, pausing to check progress having introduced us, promptly sloped off
of the results on the central scoreboard, I for some overdue refreshment. Lord Reith
was approached by a most pleasant chap and I began to chat over a pot of tea. That I
in a Glengarry whom I took to be a regular found him good company and easy to talk
officer because of his assured manner and to was down to two main factors.
the fact that he spoke almost exclusively in
acronyms. Firstly, before his long period in public
life John Reith had served in World War
“G’morning! I’m from GHQ Scotcom and 1. As a Captain in the Cameronians he
for my sins I’m i/c VIPS. I understand you’re had been Transport Officer of the 5th bn in
the S.C.P” Northern France, and had written about his
experiences in a book of biography “Wearing
“SCP?” I repeated quizzically “Senior Spurs” (1966) which had been published not
Cameronian Present” he replied. I didn’t long before our meeting.
think so but conceded that, at that precise
moment I might be the S.C.V or Senior Secondly, by the most fortunate possible
Cameronian Visible… “No matter” he said coincidence I had been reading that very
“you’ll do perfectly. I’m entertaining this book only a week or two before our meeting
old chap for a couple of days who’s a retired and so was able to get him to reminisce
officer of your regiment who talks about the about those days, about his favourite charger
old regimental family and wants to meet (transport officer was a mounted role at that
some Cameronians. He’s in the mess, come time) which he kept much longer than the
and meet him”. Off we went. remount system would normally allow, and
like all soldiers, about the mud and bullets.
So it came about that Lord Reith and I met We talked, I went off to fire in my detail,
for the first time. we talked some more, mainly about himself,
possibly, like many great men, his favourite
Those who remember him well would be subject. Then, full of gratitude for the
most likely to recall the then Sir John Reith respite, his escort appeared and bore him off
as the first Director General of the B.B.C, to lunch, leaving me the lasting memory of
though he had a stellar career after that a visit from an old family friend...
and a pretty full life before it too. After the George Ferguson
B.B.C he emerged as Chairman of Imperial
Airways, then as Head and first Chairman
of B.O.A.C. He was in great demand with
many directorships and much public
acclaim. He had the world at his feet where,
many suspected, he felt it belonged. In his
62
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