T H E C O V E N A N T E R
followed he achieved a military reputation Cadiz, and found opportunity to fight and win
second only to that of Wellington himself. brilliantly the battle of Barrosa. Then he joined
Returning to England in the spring of 1814 Wellington, became his second-in-command
after the abortive expedition to Holland, and if Wellington had been incapacitated
there was no further prospect of service; and would have succeeded him. In 1814, against
being a man of social habits (and a widower), his own inclination, he was given a peerage.
he no doubt tried to get in touch with some “This is only a brief sketch of a most
of his many friends in the Army.” romantic career. [What this history - nor
And then later in the history there indeed Volume 1 of the history of The
follows this charming pen-picture: Regiment - does not say is that, amongst
“In 1843 Lord Lyndoch died. He was ninety- other things, he took part in the first
five and had been able to hunt and shoot cricket match played in Scotland, he
and travel abroad almost to the last. [It is introduced both Cleveland horses and
recorded that at the age of 72 he rode 24 miles
Devon cattle to Scotland, and he was the
to a hunt meet.] When he was eighty-five he
Member of Parliament for Perthshire for 13
was offered the command of Queen Maria
years. Surely he is long overdue a good new
Christina’s army in Portugal. I cannot bid
biography.]
farewell to our Founder without some further
“What he did for the Club, besides being its
notice of this remarkable man, who seems to
actual founder, is evident from the minutes.
be so little remembered now. Thomas Graham
In the early years his was always the guiding
was a Perthshire laird of considerable means
hand. But apart from that, the only personal
and wide interests. All his early life was
trace I can find is that until recent years a
spent in developing his estates at home and
saddle of mutton was carved differently at the
managing county affairs, hunting in winter
Senior [traditional nick-name for the club] from
with the Pytchley [in Northamptonshire: they
elsewhere - namely crosswise instead of along
wintered in the south: the weather there was
the backbone; and the reason always assigned
better suited to his wife’s health], travelling
for this was that Lord Lyndoch had said that it
extensively on the Continent, and spending an
was the proper way to carve a saddle. In spite
occasional [social] season in London, where he
of universal custom, I believe he was right.
knew everyone. In 1793, when he was forty-
“In May 1843, Lyndoch presented to the Club
four and trying to distract his mind after the
some turtle, venison and special champagne
loss of his adored wife, he found himself at
for the dinner on the [32nd] anniversary of the
Gibraltar just as Lord Hood’s Mediterranean
battle of Barrosa. When he died in December
expedition was passing through for Toulon. He
the window blinds were lowered and his portrait
accompanied it, joined in the fighting on shore,
draped with [black] crape”.
distinguished himself, was wounded, and
In 1828 the club had moved to an
discovered that he was a soldier.
impressive new clubhouse designed by
“He went home, raised mainly at his own
Nash (who also designed Regent Street
expense a regiment (the Perthshire Volunteers,
and much of Regent’s Park). It still stands
later the 90th and now [1937] the 2nd
in Pall Mall, close to the site of Carlton
Battalion Cameronians), trained it and took
House. Sadly the club was, like others, a
it to Quiberon Bay [Brittany]. After that he
victim of the mid-1970’s recession: too few
was appointed British Commissioner with the
members (and many of them too old) and
headquarters of the Austrian Army in Italy; in
insufficient funds. It closed its doors as a
1798 joined with his regiment in the capture of
club and is now the home of the Institute
Minorca; then as a Brigadier, had charge of the
of Directors.
siege of Malta.
There is in existence, but no longer in
“All this time he was trying to get a
print, a handsome coffee-table book with
regular commission, but this recognition was
chapters on, and illustrations of, all of
constantly refused by the Duke of York and
the London gentlemen’s clubs founded
the King, although by this time he had made
in the 18th, 19th and the first half of
a considerable reputation and his cause was
the 20th centuries. All the great ones are
taken up by many of the influential people.
there: White’s Boodle’s, Brook’s etc. The
He hung on to his regiment, but could get no
publishers chose for its cover a photograph
further employment on active service till 1808,
of the main drawing room of the Senior, lit
when he went with Sir John Moore to Spain.
by shafts of afternoon sun, and showing
Then at last, in response to Moore’s dying
members at their ease after lunch. Thomas
request, he was made a Major-General on
Graham of Balgowan would have been
the active list. He was given the command at
pleased.
PRG
38
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