Kilt-wearing Riflemen

[MACKAY]

Globe and Mail Update

May 27, 2008 at 10:34 AM EDT

BLAIR ATHOLL, Scotland — In this remote Scottish village, a band of kilt-wearing riflemen who claim to be Europe's last private army are on the march.

To the stirring sound of bagpipes and drums, the 150-strong regiment of Atholl Highlanders comes to a halt in front of Blair Castle to await inspection by their owner, John Murray, the 11th Duke of Atholl.

"I think we're probably the only armed body, men or people in this country who aren't required to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen," Blair Stewart-Wilson, Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, told Reuters.

"Our allegiance is to the Duke... He is loyal to the Queen and the Queen accepts that."


Follow this link to the entire story about the Atholl Highlanders ...
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl....wregiment0527

Aye,
Brian

[Jock Scot]

Sadly I missed the parade of The Atholl Highlanders this year. If anyone is in Scotland in the last couple of weeks of May they ought to find out which Saturday the parade is, it is rather special.Blair Atholl is just off the A9 road from Perth to Inverness and is RIGHT BY the House of Bruar.

[beloitpiper]

The entire article is interesting. So basically, they just parade around? I'm assuming they've never actually fought.

[macwilkin]

The entire article is interesting. So basically, they just parade around? I'm assuming they've never actually fought.

Quite the contrary. Many of the members of the Atholl Highlanders are ex-servicemen.

T.

[turpin]

I think he meant have the Atholl Highlanders fought as a military organization in the past.

[beloitpiper]

I think he meant have the Atholl Highlanders fought as a military organization in the past.

Exactly. It said they fought "those pesky colonials", but disbanded. But since they're re-formation in the 60's(?) they've only been in a ceremonial capacity, correct?

[Jock Scot]

I think I am correct to say that the Atholl Highlanders fought as mounted infantry in the Boer War. However, I think that the intention was that they were to be a Ceremonial unit, as they are these days.I would not wish to pick a fight with these chaps as most are ex servicemen and are full time deer stalkers who were born with a rifle in their hand.

[macwilkin]

I think I am correct to say that the Atholl Highlanders fought as mounted infantry in the Boer War. However, I think that the intention was that they were to be a Ceremonial unit, as they are these days.I would not wish to pick a fight with these chaps as most are ex servicemen and are full time deer stalkers who were born with a rifle in their hand.

Since one of the Dukes of Atholl raised the Scottish Horse, a yeomanry unit, I believe a number of Atholl Highlanders served with it.

Ceremonial, yes, but still the only "private military formation" in the UK.

T.

[Galician]

Interesting story. But did anyone notice that the author of the article had a Polish name? I hear that theirs is a growing presence in the UK and Ireland. I wonder how that will effect national identity down the road.

Kilts and kielbasa, anyone?

[Jock Scot]

Interesting story. But did anyone notice that the author of the article had a Polish name? I hear that theirs is a growing presence in the UK and Ireland. I wonder how that will effect national identity down the road.

Kilts and kielbasa, anyone?

We have had two "minor invasions" of Poles one after WW2 when Poles who had fought with the allies plus those that had fought for the Germans who were here as POW's. Many thousands stayed here after the war and were very welcome and were on the whole a very hard working bunch.The latest influx I am sure will fit in as did their forebears.