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| Lt. Gen. James Moncrieff Grierson, KCB, CVO, CMG, ADC |
http://gordonhighlanders.carolynmorrisey.com/Volunteers.htm.
http://gordonhighlanders.carolynmorrisey.com/BoerWar.htm.
http://gordonhighlanders.carolynmorrisey.com/Volunteers-2.htm.
Being of Scottish ancestry, and as well a Gordon, what is truly a surprise is the uniformity in not wearing the kilt in the majority of the battalions. Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are the heart of Northeast Scotland, truly close to the Highlands. Another point of interest is the relatively austere (read frugal) nature of the uniforms, particularly when compared with the resplendent uniforms of the Yeomanry regiments of the same time frame. Attribute this to rank and file drawn predominately from the trades and farming community versus the landed gentry. See; http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/10/yeomanry-regiments-of-british-army.html. Although significantly preceding the span of history described in this blog page, the following insightful and colorful excerpt from The History of the Aberdeen Volunteers tends to reinforce this conclusion;
The activity of Aberdeen in preparing for defence against
invasion (possible invasion by France) at this period undoubtedly attracted more than local attention. The "Gentleman's Magazine" of
November 1769 contains the following : —
"ABERDEEN COURAGE.
Was e'er such martial courage seen.
As now appears in Aberdeen !
For, from the honourable Mayor
To Johnny Barker, scavenger.
Men both of high and humble station,
Who in the town have habitation
Conglobe, like bees, in numerous swarms.
To learn the exercise of Arms.
Early Volunteering in Aberdeen.
See the mechanics bold as troopers —
Wrights, bakers^ blacksmiths, barrel-hoopers ;
See Crispin's sons throw down their awls,
And cobbling Jobsons leave their stalls ;
See masons, carpenters, and brick-layers
Lay down their squares and perpendiculars ;
See butchers drop the ax and knife —
Two engines formed to hew down life;
See tailors leave their panic fears
At home, with needles, goose, and shears ;
See fiddlers, too, and common pipers
(Tho* generation called of vipers).
Quit fiddle bag and grumbling drone,
And put the death ful armour on.
And numbers more together draw
Of porters, scurs, et cetera;
All well equipped from neck to heel
With fortitude and glittering steel.
By war-worn invalid's direction,
The've now attained to great perfection.
Which fills the minds of all with wonder,
Who hear their military thunder.
Which from the crowd the tribut draws,
Of acclamations and huzzas.
Tis hoped they'll make a bold resistance,
And cause Monsieur to keep his distance,
Should he attempt to land his host
Upon the Aberdonian coast."
Please double click on any of the images to enlarge them.
The first two songs in the video are traditional favorites in Scotland and with Scots throughout the world. They will also forever be associated with the Gordon Highlanders. The first song is titled; "The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen", and the second, "A Gordon for Me".
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS OF OLD ABERDEEN
The Northern Lights of old Aberdeen
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS OF OLD ABERDEEN
The Northern Lights of old Aberdeen
Mean
home sweet home to me
The
Northern Lights of old Aberdeen
Are
what I long to see
I’ve
been a wanderer all of my life
Any
many a sight I've seen
God
speed the day when l' m on my way
To
my home in Aberdeen
When
I was a lad, a tiny wee lad
My
mother said to me
Come
see the Northern Lights my boy
They'
re bright as they can be
She
called them the heavenly dancers
Merry
dancers in the sky
I'll
never forget, that wonderful sight
They
made the heavens bright
The
Northern Lights of old Aberdeen
Mean
home sweet home to me
The
Northern Lights of old Aberdeen
Are
what I long to see
I’ve
been a wanderer all of my life
Any
many a sight I've seen
God
speed the day when l' m on my way
To
my home in Aberdeen
I've
wandered in many far-off lands
And
travelled many a mile
I've
missed the folk I cherished most
The
joy of a friendly smile
It
warms up the heart of a wand'rer
The
clasp of a welcoming hand
To
greet me when, I return
Home
to my native land
The
Northern Lights of old Aberdeen
Mean
home sweet home to me
The
Northern Lights of old Aberdeen
Are
what I long to see
I’ve
been a wanderer all of my life
Any
many a sight I've seen
God
speed the day when l' m on my way
To
my home in Aberdeen
A GORDON FOR ME
I'm Georgie McKay of the HLI,
I'm fond o' the lassies and a drappie forbye
One day when out walking I chanced to see,
A bonnie wee lass wi' a glint in her ee'.
Says I tae the lassie will you walk for a while,
I'll buy ye a bonnet and we'll do it in style,
My kilt is McKenzie o' the HLI,
She looked at me shyly and said wi' a sigh:
Chorus:
A Gordon for me, a Gordon for me,
If you're no' a Gordon, you're nae use to me,
The Black Watch are braw, the Seaforths an' a',
But the cocky wee Gordon's the pride o' them a'.
I courted that lass on the banks of the Dee,
I made up my mind she was fashioned for me,
Soon I was a-thinking how nice it would be
If she would consent to get married to me.
The day we were wed, the grass was sae green,
The sun was as bright as the light in her 'een,
Now we've twa bonny lassies who sit on her knee
While she sings the song that she once sang to me:
Chorus:
A Gordon for me, a Gordon for me,
If you're no' a Gordon, you're nae use to me,
The Black Watch are braw, the Seaforths an' a',
But the cocky wee Gordon's the pride o' them a'.
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