T H E C O V E N A N T E R
war. ‘Herr Absolutely Vile’, a good example of
I was born in March 1941 and my brother, schoolboy humour.
Nicholas, was born in January 1943, both in Wives and children often travelled
Edinburgh. Much of my father’s war was in the Regimental bus on excursions to
spent in Burma. Hamburg, its pretty suburb of Blankanese,
One of my most vivid childhood memories Luneburg and other destinations. The
is of his return in 1946 when, standing on excellent German driver had one of the
the stairs of Grandfather’s house aged 5, most mournful faces imaginable and was
saying like thousands of other children of known, inevitably, as ‘Happy’.
that age, ‘Are you my Daddy?’ My father used to say, ‘a major’s work
In the late 40’s my father studied is never done’ which became a well-worn
Romanian and Bulgarian in London and family catchphrase. The same applied to
Paris, becoming interpreter (First Class) in the major’s wife, as they were both totally
both languages. After a spell in Hong Kong, involved in the life of the Regiment and
he re-joined the Regiment in time for a transmitted a strong sense of loyalty and
posting to Barnard Castle and subsequently duty to both of us.
moved in command of Dog Company to Following service in Edinburgh and the
Buxtehude. Persian Gulf (during which we remained
These are the moments of regimental at home) my parents moved to Bulgaria,
life that my brother and I remember best. where my father was military attache for
We spent all our school holidays in Barney three years in the middle of the cold
and Buxte and quickly developed a sense of war. We will never forget the pride he
pride in the Cams. Our memories include (and we) took in wearing his Cameronians
attendance at many sporting events, social dress uniform, which was truly distinctive
activities of many different sorts, initiation on official occasions in the rather grim
into the game of Canasta with the Brycesons, environments of Sofia at that time.
shopping in the NAAFI (paying in BAFVS In 1961, my father retired as Lt Colonel
(?)) and going to the pictures at Buxte and worked at The War Office as a retired
Barracks under the auspices of the Army officer until his premature death in 1973.
Kinema Corporation. During this final period of his life, both
my parents spent a lot of time with the
British Legion and my mother continued
to support this work actively until her 88th
birthday, when she handed over Poppy Day
collections to a younger friend.
Saddened, as we all were, by the disbanding
of the 1st Battalion in 1968, my brother and
I have a continuing sense of loyalty to the
Regiment which was so much at the heart
of our parents’ lives.
Nearly 50 years on from our direct
involvement, we would like to recall some
‘wonderful giants of old’, such as Gen. Henry
Alexander, Col. Sir John Baynes, Major Bill
Boddington, Major Peter Bryceson, Col.
Friendly family activities such as playing Duncan Carter-Campbell, Major Johnny
‘Are you there, Moriaty’ chez Henry and Gaussen, Col. David Jebb, Major John Law,
Maribel Alexander with their children and Gen. Eric Sixsmith, Col. Moir Stormonth-
others including the young Stormonth- Darling and Major (QM) Alec Quinn who
Darlings, Laws and our neighbour and great marked, with many others, our association
friend, John Quinn, son Alec and Maisy. with the Cameronians and influenced our
I learned to ride on Gentle Moir under upbringing.
the expert supervision of John Baynes (on With warmest good wished to all former
Tarquin, a challenging mount even for Cameronians and their wives and children.
a rider of his ability), Christine Riddel-
Webster and Molly Boddington. We also yours etc,
participated in getting-to-know-you sessions Michael Henderson
with German families, including the Weils.
My brother and I knew the husband as
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