Culloden Commemoration 2008.

[ChrisDoak]

All members of the Clan,and their friends,are welcome to join us on Saturday 19th April,at Culloden Battlefield,for the annual Commemoration Service.We are expecting 40 or so Camerons,and would welcome any visitors to gather with us behind our banner.

We shall be getting together at approx.10.30,at the new Visitor Centre,for the Service which starts at 11.00.

Come early,and give yourself a chance to look at the new building - it is officially being opened the previous Wednesday,but as the Clan Cameron Association have not been invited to that ceremony,it is not considered to be one of our official events.We shall not be attending.(The National Trust for Scotland have their own "agenda" for the opening ceremony,presumably to avoid any potentially controversial incidents which might occur).

Look forward to seeing you there on Saturday.

[Cameronian]

Chris, I do appreciate you keeping us informed re the progress of the new Culloden Centre, many things sadden me re this Centre, one of which is relative to the Clan worldwide.

If a commemorative stone is to be laid at Culloden in remembrance of Camerons who fought on that day in April 1746, then this stone should carry the inscription indicating that it represents Clan Cameron, not any one particular branch/association or country, most Camerons descend from those who, because of that day were scattered into the Diaspora.

The Clan worldwide are connected into Drumossie Moor as closely as Camerons remaining in Scotland, and when the decision was made to lay a Cameron stone, then news should have been sent out to regional Clan members (this website would have been most appropriate) advising all to participate with Scotland in the recognition of the Cameron presence on that day.

This is one occasion, and one place, when if the Clan speaks, then it should speak as the one UNITED family

[Thomas Cameron]

All,

There was a great deal of debate and concern that the commemorative stones at Culloden were inappropriate. Speaking for the North American Association, no stone was purchased by our "national" denoting only our branch of the Association. There may have been chapters or branches of the North American Association purchasing stones on their own, but it was not an organzied effort.

Any effort to unite all international branches on a specific stone, and to use Clan Cameron Online to promote that effort, would have to receive approval from the top. None was given, nor was it ever proposed.

There are better ways to remember our ancestors, especially within Lochaber. Some are already being worked on, and our efforts are given to those.

[ChrisDoak]

Ouch - it was only the National Trust for Scotland that I was feart of getting a kicking from - how wrong was I!

I've been scratching my head,Val,but have no idea what you are referring to in your post.

During all my time connected with the Clan Cameron Association of Scotland over the past few years,the subject of erecting a commemorative stone at Culloden has never been raised or discussed,let alone implemented.There are already enough memorials at the battlefield site to the Cameron fallen at Culloden - the Monument,the Marker,and the Gravestone - we do not need any more.

I suspect that you have misinterpreted,or been misinformed,of the purchase by the Clan Cameron Association Scotland,of a Double Stone for the proposed Culloden Walk.This is one of hundreds (if not thousands) of setts purchased by individuals and groups to line the main entrance path to the new Visitor Centre,and hence contribute financially to it's erection.

The Double Stone is 200mm x 200mm in size (8 inches x 8 inches),is laid flat on the ground,and acts as a kerbstone to the path - continuous with the other stones.

I hope this puts everyone's mind at rest that the Clan Cameron Association of Scotland has not been involved in some activity of skullduggery,or underhand behaviour.

[Thomas Cameron]

Hi Chris,

This is turning into a mystery of sorts - perhaps some individual members of the various branches purchased stones on their own. Since that was a major group that the NTS marketed to, there is little doubt... Regardless, I think that it's pretty clear that the four international branches are unified in their plans and opinions on this one.

With the Cameron Clansmen's Oak Grove close to a reality now (Lochiel should be making an announcement to all branches soon) we will all have a very worthwhile project to rally behind in the coming months.

Chris - please check your e-mail, as I sent you something the other day...

[ianjonefan]

: I COULD BE WRONG : Some years ago , I don't know whether it was a book , or a video I came across , but the subject was about the Battle of Culloden Moor . What I remember is rthat one of the Scottish regiments that fought along side the British wore some leaves of their Clan's plant as the majority of them were illiterate at the time , and this was the only way the British soldiers could teel their Scottish allies from the forces that fought for Bonny Prince Charlie . Some of the British Scottish allies were on the verge of being killed by the British because they've lost their plant symbol , but were able to convince the British that they were allies . If anyone has any more details about this subject , or remember reading a book about the British , and their Scottish allies at the Battle of Culloden Moor ,
Iwould like to know which of the major Clans fought along side the British .

[ianjonefan]

If I posted this in the wrong link I apolagise . Couldn't figure out where to post it .

[SherbrookeJacobite]

Hi Jon,
Technically it would be wrong to refer to the "British" army and their "Scottish Allies" because in 1707 the Act of Union was signed, and England and Scotland became officially one Country. So - the forces on both sides were, in a sense, British. One side supported King James and the other the Hanoverian toadie, George.
Often when we speak of the battle (and I am as guilty of this as anyone) we refer to the English side (Hanoverians), and the Scottish side (Jacobites). This isn't accurate, as there were lots of Scots on the Hanoverian side, and the Jacobite side included Scots, Irish, and French troops.
To answer your questions - Clan soldiers did wear their clan plant badge as an identifier, but the way they were identifiable at Culloden was the fact that the Jacobite Clan troops wore a white cockade on their bonnet. The Hanoverian Highlanders wore a black cockade.
The only Clan represented, as a Clan regiment, on the Hanoverian side, were the Campbells.

Slainte,

John

[SherbrookeJacobite]

Aha! The auto censor has changed the flower on the bonnet to a thingyade! To find out what a thingyade is - have a look at these song lyrics - verse two, third line.
www.mysongbook.de/msb/songs/c/camyeby.html

For some info about Culloden, and the makeup of the armies, you may find this interesting.

www.highlanderweb.co.uk/bloody/culloden/home.htm

[gaelgal]

Very interesting link, John. Thanks for that! I got a kick out of the auto-sensor. (Sent you a PM, btw) There is so much to learn!

[Thomas Cameron]

Hi All,

As much as I hated to do it (since "Thingyade" is soooo funny) I've gone in and fixed the "censored words" filter. The original word in question is now allowed, when the bonnet flower is specifically cited. It's almost a shame that the Thingyade is now a thing of the past...

[gaelgal]

I laughed and laughed at the "thingyade" last night when John was posting about the cockades they wore at Culloden! Oh my, was that funny! Almost hate to see it go. Almost.

[ianjonefan]

Here's a poem about Culloden . Iwas thinking this would be a better place to post it than in Rhyme and Reason .
CULLODEN
To Lochiel we pledge our loyality ,
In support of Stuart Royality.
At Culloden we did battle ,
All around us we could hear death's rattle .
While death's bells ring ,
We would rise and fight again for our true and rightful king .

[ianjonefan]

For those in the U. S. that gets the Highlander , there's an article about Culloden someone might be interested in , and for those that don't maybe you can bottow the Highlander from a friend . The article can be found on pages 10 - 14 in the July / August 2008 issue of the Highlander .

[ianjonefan]

Maybe when I get my trifocals I will not be making as many mistakes as I'm making now .