T H E C O V E N A N T E R
able to see plenty of him for their marriage the battalion and qualifying as a Chartered
was to endure for over 66 years; and they Accountant: his skills in both areas were to
spent many happy years in different parts prove of great value to the Regiment in the
of the world, particularly in the far east, years that followed.
Malaya, Hong Kong, Australia and Tasmania, From the start Gordon’s rumbustious
following Sandy’s various postings. spirit was in evidence and stayed with him as
Eventually they retired to Edinburgh and he became an Officer Cadet. Colin Donald,
he worked for a few years at the Castle, then Adjutant of the 6/7th recalls a Camp at
helping in the planning and running of the Millom in Cumberland “We had a barbecue
Tattoo. Thirty five years ago, they came to on the beach and I remember playing a rather
the cottage at Woodside, largely demolished drunken form of mess rugger and being heavily
and rebuilt it and have been there ever tackled and bundled into touch by Gordon,
since. Sandy’s interests ranged from fishing playing with his usual boundless energy”
- he used to go on regular trips out from The singular gusto which Gordon
Edinburgh - to his extensive and well-kept brought to his every activity continued
garden and greenhouse, to walking his dogs. into his commissioned service and his years
He was an elder of this church and took his as a young subaltern are remembered by
part in the running of its affairs until his George Ferguson, also in his time battalion
health and deafness forced him to give up. Adjutant.
Sandy was a gentleman in the best sense “Perhaps it was his service in the ranks of the
of the word, unfailingly courteous and 6/7th which kindled in Gordon the buccaneering
always retaining something of his military spirit for which he was so well known”. Its
bearing. I quite often used to meet him and certain that the words “Gung and Ho” would
his dog when I was out running round the be included in any account of his approach
road past his house and he would greet me to TA soldiering.
with a hearty “Well done! Keep it up!” so He was an absolutely perfect choice for the
that I always had a strong urge to salute as Nijmegen Marches Team, which performed
a I ran past and say, “Yes, sir! “ You will all with great distinction. Many will remember
have your own memories of Sandy; of the At Thetford the sight of the team as they
years you have shared, of the things you’ve trained, marching endless miles through
seen and done in the world together; of his countryside we later recognised as the
friendship; of his kindness and his goodness setting for “Dad’s Army”.
and his love. Gordon later commanded a sort of
All that is part of your tribute to him. “demonstration platoon” another role
Take your memories now and offer them to which required special training and practice
God in gratitude for Sandy’s life; and trust in field craft, movement, hand signals and
that he is safe with his God, his long life filed formations. His enthusiasm to lead
complete. from the front soon gave him the affectionate
nickname of “Arrow Head”. So “Arra Heid”
Captain Gordon McNeil he became and wore the distinction well, if
It is with great sadness we have to record at first unknowingly
the death of Gordon McNeil. Gordon, who A year or so later the 6/7th took part in
died suddenly on 1 July this year, was the a night exercise with Glasgow RMFVR and
son of Lt Col Gordon McNeil who served the Lowland Yeomanry at Garelochhead.
with the 7th Battalion for eleven years before The Cameronians crossed Loch Long by
moving to the 2nd Battalion following the night and swept up through thickly wooded
outbreak of war. countryside toward Arrochar looking for
Like his father, Gordon went to Glasgow Marines. They swept South looking for us
High School where, aside from his academic and the Lowland Yeomanry patrolled the
studies, he was active in the Army Cadets. perimeter in their little scout cars looking
His predilection for a hirsute appearance for both parties. It was of course pitch dark,
started early and he was ordered to remove cold and by then soaking wet since it rained
his first moustache whilst still at school. all night Came the dawn and with it the
After school he began his studies in news that no-one had seen anyone! With
accountancy and joined 6/7th Battalion everyone wet through and with patience
as a rifleman in 1958. Without allowing and endurance exhausted one might thinks
his studies to encroach too much upon that morale might be low but the vehicles
his interest in the Territorial Army he arriving at the RV at Arrochar met the sight
achieved his goals, being commissioned in of Gordon’s platoon marching with him at

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