It is with sadness that we report the death of Frank Mathews in Dorset on Monday 19 July after a long illness..

Frank was commissioned into the Regiment in December 1964, joining the 1st Battalion in Edinburgh.  He served then until disbandment after which he transferred to the Royal Corps of Transport.

His Funeral will take place on Tuesday 3 August at 1430 at St Nicholas Church Silton, Bourton, Dorset. Silton is about 5 miles east of Wincanton, just south of the A303.  The church will be sign-posted.

Major Brian AS Leishman MBE

This REGIMENTAL WEB BLOG is designed to provide a platform for contributions from members of the Regiment and friends following the publication of the final  Regimental Journal - The Covenanter.

In the initial stages those wishing to post notices should send their proposed item to the former Editor of the Regimental Journal - The Covenanter at: brianleishman@blueyonder.co.uk  OR to Major Brian AS Leishman MBE, 61 Northumberland Street, Edinburgh, EH9 6JQ.

Individuals wishing to post questions rather than notices may do so at www.cameronians.org OR from this site at the web link (bottom left)

It is with sadness that we report the death of the last in a long line of Regimental Bandmasters to wit Majors Dunn, and Quinn, Captain Pike and now Tom Charlton.

Tom, the final holder of that position, was the Bandmaster of our Regimental Band at disbandment in 1968. He was more of a jazz man than any of his predecessors and a very good trumpet player, but his arranging was a boon to the Band. He continued with music when he left the Band and settled around the Oxford area. He will be cremated at Headington, Oxford on Friday 16 July”.

I am indebted to Band Sergeant Major John McEwan for this notice.

Major Brian AS Leishman

It is with sadness that we record the death of Ian McBain on Tuesday 8 June 2010 after a long illness..

He was committed at a private cremation and there was a memorial service for him at Fairmilehead Parish Church Edinburgh at 11.30am on Tuesday, 15 June.

Major Brian Leishman

“THE BLACK HACKLE” - NEWSLETTER OF THE WITWATERSRAND RIFLES REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION

Second  Quarter 2010

GREETINGS

Greetings to all our members, friends and their respective families.

The Association remains very active, particularly during this middle part of the year and we welcome your attendance and participation in the events.

REGIMENTAL NEWS – From the Officer Commanding, Lt Col Cobus Valentine

Every three months I receive a request from the Secretary of the Regimental Association, to provide some inputs for the “Black Hackle”. Sometimes this request comes at a time when I am so busy that I very little time available to do it or in some instances have very little to report on. I have however from the start committed myself to always provided inputs for the newsletter as I see this as an excellent opportunity to inform our Association members and friends of our Regiment’s activities.

Several activities are planned with the emphasis being placed on Continuation training. One of the directives received from the General Officer Commanding SA Army Infantry Formation in his Short Term alignment guidelines is that the Regiment must provide the following Combat ready Force Structure Elements; one [1] Tactical Battalion Headquarters Force Structure Elements; one [1] Tactical Battalion Headquarters, one [1] Sub-unit and one [1] Fire Group Anti-tank and one [1] Fire Group Mortars. The Regiment is well on its way to conform to this directive and as such it will be the first time in a few years that we will be able to field such a capacity taking into consideration that the Force Structure will be trained in the core function of the Regiment being  Mechanized Infantry.

The coming year will definitely be a very challenging one for the Reserves and the Regiment in particular. Due to various reasons the Reserves will no longer deploy externally. Our only hope for deployment now rests on deployments on our borders as part of the SANDF’s commitment for Borderline protection. The Regiment will prepare one Sub-unit for deployment to be Combat ready towards the end of September 2010. (more…)

From: James Brennan:

I am in the process of publishing, for family only, my fathers diary from 20th October 1944 until they reached Bremen in 1945.

I have a few photo’s of individual Cameronians and some casual group shots along with two unit photo’s, sadly there are no names to go with the photo’s which I post here.  I wonder if any one recognises the people in them.

My Fathers details are 3254183 Rfn J Brennan, Mortars (Signals Attached) Sp Coy, 7th Cameronians SR.

His call sign was Jig Baker
Replies please to: Major Leishman at +44 131 557 0187 OR brianleishman@blueyonder.co.uk

Photo I/2/3 - My father,  on the motor bike and sitting in the Bren carrier behind the dog.
Photo 4 – My father is second from the right.  I am interested in finding out the others in these photos. Photo 5/6 - Head and shoulder shots of two people who we think may have been special friends.

Subscriptions to the Covenanter should have finished with the 2008 issue.

Clearly some Bank Standing Orders have yet to be cancelled.

Given that it is not intended to refund overpayments, it is in individuals interest to cease payment forthwith

New Publication “From Rattray and Back”

The late Freddy Patterson who served with the Regiment as a Chindit in Burma recalls the purported somewhat chilling briefing they received from General Orde Wingate before setting off  “You are going into Burma to do what you have been trained for and if any of you come back out you  haven’t done your job”

The diary Freddy kept entitled “From Rattray and Back” has been published by his family and is available from his widow Mrs Terry Patterson, 37 Ardblair Road, Blairgowrie, PH10 6QA, priced at £8.50 including postage and packing.”

16th May 2010 - Annual Commemoration at Douglas
09.00 Regimental Flag Raised
10.00 Morning Service in St Brides Church
13.00 Presentation of a Japanese Samurai Sword to the Douglas Heritage Trust from the family of the late mr Fred Patterson who was gifted this sword after the hostilities in Burma in 1945
14.00 Conventicle at the Disbandment Cairn by Castle Dangerous
16.30 Buffet and Social Evening at Douglas Bowling Club
(Admission by Ticket £3.00 at the door)

25th May 2010 - Standard Bearers Competition.
At 11.00hrs Drill Hall, Jardine Street, Maryhill, Glasgow.

June 2010 - Lanimer Day Parade - Lanark
Form Up St Leonard Streets 09.30 for a prompt March Off at 10.00
Date and time to follow

20th June 2010 - Next Meeting at the Olde Club Tannochside 1400hrs

26th June 2010 - Meeting & Armed Forces Day
13.00 hrs Form Up at John Street.
March Past Glasgow City Chambers.
March To George Square.
14.15 hrs Service in George Square.

26th November 2010 - Officers Luncheon
The Army & Navy Club, St James Square, London
Gathering from 12 noon
Contact Col J.N.D. Lucas

This new award has been created to provide national recognition for the families of Armed Forces personnel who have died on operations or as a result of an act of terrorism.

The Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll are granted to the Next of Kin of UK Armed Forces personnel who have died on operations or as a result of an act of terrorism in national recognition of their loss and sacrifice. The Elizabeth Cross is not a posthumous medal for the fallen but an emblem demonstrating tangible national recognition for Service families for their loss. Not all deaths of Service personnel are included in this scheme.

Full details at www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/Veterans/Medals/TheElizabethCross

See also our Regimental website LINKS PAGE