T H E C O V E N A N T E R
the ups and downs of life in twenty seven as we have always had a pet dog. Five
years of very happy marriage. months after Dan’s death I had a phone call
He never spoke of his war experience asking for Dan from the M.O.D. wanting to
to me except to tell of outings on special speak to him personally about his service
piping duties at various functions, or to with the regiment. It was such a pity as Dan
mention ‘the chaps’ with whom, I gather, was fortunate enough to be present at the
he got on rather well. Some of them had trials of Nuremburg and somewhere around
little formal education - he wrote their the house are the handouts he received.
letters home for them, and felt moreover If I am ever in the Hamilton area I will
that they had a genuine respect for his art. certainly visit the Museum. We have no
In the light of what was going on around relatives in the area now unfortunately.
him it seems strange that these drawings yours etc,
contain none of the shocking images Effie Watson (Mrs)
usually associated with ‘War Art’. Shortly Sir,
after we were married Fyffe worked on a I trust by now you have received my cheque
panel some twelve feet long in our studio/ for two copies of ‘The Covenanter’, I look
living room depicting the field of battle forward to receipt of the second copy for
with dead and dying soldiers, all painted in despatch to my Comrade in America.
grim grey/brown colours. I remember it as I write to you on another matter which I
being very expressive, upsetting and eerie. A feel may be of interest to our fellow readers,
short time after it was finished he destroyed I will elucidate.
it and never repeated the theme. This I recently received a copy of an American
was the only attempt at direct ‘catharisis’: publication called ‘The Highlander’ subtitled
his reflection on the human condition ‘The Magazine of Scottish Heritage’, for the
found fuller expression in his later work. months Jan/Feb 2003. Contained therein
Undoubtedly the concentration required is as ‘Article’ by Colonel David Murray,
to draw and paint landscape, turning away (Regiment or Country of origin, unstated)
from these terrible scenes of suffering and Editors Note: late Cameron Highlanders
devastation, was his salvation. He described - Scotland entitled, ‘The 51st Highland
to me how he stood on a disused railway Division at the Battle of El Alamein.’
line in Germany towards the end of the Included with the ‘Article’ were two
war gazing at the countryside and decided ‘photographs, .
there and then to become an artist. His a)’Pipe Majors and Drum Majors of the
lifelong interest in landscape painting was Scottish Regiments, about 1923.
more than just a joy and relaxation from b)’Pipes, Drums and Bugles of the 2nd
the more serious business of mural painting Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
and teaching; it answered a deep-felt need 1935. The third Piper from the left, front row
to reaffirm his belief in the solid reality of has a marked similarity to my old Platoon
the world and its ability to regenerate itself Commander in the 9th Bn. later, Major
and beauty. A. Quinn, who I believe was originally a
I am delighted that these early examples Piper before taking a Commission. Am I
of his work are now with the Second World mistaken?
War Experience Centre and am grateful
to Dr Peter Liddle and his staff for their yours etc,
appreciation of them. Nat Gormlay
33 Greenhill Avenue
Sir, Kidderminster
I was so pleased to receive The Covenanter. Worcestershire
It is nearly three years since my husband’s DY10 2QU
death but I always read the Covenanter
as I had met quite a few of the names Sir,
mentioned therein. Unfortunately the list First of all I must say how I’m sorry to hear
grows smaller each year. of the death of Bendix Page.
In Saturday.s Daily Express there was an I was a mechanic attached to M.T. Section
item about the Dickin Medal and included H.Q. Coy. 1st Bn Cameronians served with
was “KHAN” and as Dan was a participant the Battalion in Bahrain, Kenya, Aden and
in the Walcheren episode it was of special Jordan.
interest to me and has been added to my While in Kenya first time, I was stationed
memorabilia of The Cameronians, especially in Gil Gil, as was Sgt. Page

Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77