|
|
Post by Cameronian on Nov 8, 2002 1:42:32 GMT -6
Chris Doak's reference to those who died in the Highland regiments in the Great War, reminded me of another great poem by Dame Mary (Cameron) Gilmore written by her in 1940 looking back on the Great War, and being very aware of the new threat Australia faced at that time.
NO FOE SHALL GATHER OUR HARVEST
Sons of the mountains of Scotland,
Clansmen from correl and kyle,
Bred from the sons of the Highlands,
Lochaber, and Skye's rich green isle.
We stand four-square to the tempest
Whatever the battering hail -
No foe shall gather our harvest,
Or sit on our stockyard rail.
Our women shall walk in honour,
Our children shall know no chain,
This land that is ours forever
The invader shall strike at in vain.
Anzac! …Bapaume!…and the Marne!…
Could ever the old blood fail?
No foe shall gather our harvest,
Or sit on our stockyard rail.
So hail-fellow-met we muster,
And hail-fellow-met fall in,
Wherever the guns may thunder,
Or the rocketing 'air mail' spin!
Born of the soil and the whirlwind
Though death itself be the gale -
No foe shall gather our harvest,
Or sit on our stockyard rail.
We are the sons of Australia,
Of the men who fashioned the land,
We are the sons of the women
Who walked with them, hand in hand;
And we swear by the dead who bore us,
By the heroes who blazed the trail,
No foe shall gather our harvest,
Or sit on our stockyard rail.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ailean Glas on Nov 9, 2002 3:52:35 GMT -6
 Bhal a particularly appropriate selection given the recent tragic events in bali- we are bloodied but unbowed!
|
|
|
|
Post by Thomas Cameron on Nov 11, 2002 17:31:55 GMT -6
Hi Val, Great poetry contribution - can we add it to the Archives?? Thanks for the recent packet of photos and the letter. I have been swamped with some affairs regarding our local branch, which is planning a large celebration for this coming weekend, as well as the re-hab after my leg tendon operation 3 1/2 weeks ago. I do have some major thoughts and ideas regarding the subject of your letter, and will get back to you soon...interesting, very interesting... Oh, by the way, congrats!  You're the first member of the Message Center to reach the 25 post mark, and if you (and everyone else) will notice, the "New Member" rating next to your name as been replaced with "Lochaber Ghillie." |
|
|
|
Post by Cameronian on Nov 13, 2002 1:51:11 GMT -6
Tom, rather than adding this poem of Mary (Cameron) Gilmore's to the Archives, would it not be better to record her story, or even better still to create a separate section on our Cameron Webpage to record those of Clan Camerons who could be used as role models, similar to the "Camerons who have left their mark" chapter in the "History of Clan Cameron Book"?
I certainly take pride in reading of the 22 male members of the clan who are recorded in that chapter, the one single female entry is that of the Authoress and Bard Mary MacKellar, nee Cameron.
There would have to be a couple more females in the Cameron Clan who have left their mark over time…….? Val.
|
|
|
|
Post by Thomas Cameron on Nov 13, 2002 18:13:33 GMT -6
Hi Val,
Interesting idea. I can see a great deal of logistical work behind it though, so I would welcome a would-be volunteer to take on such a project. At this time I am focusing on maintaining the website and building the Archives, so I guess "helpers" would be needed...
We could also add a new message board, something on the order of "Cameron Role Models Through the Ages." That might help in getting some suggested persons to "profile."
There have been a great number of North American Camerons that certainly could stand out as role models, and I have recorded many of their stories in the book "The Camerons in America," which sadly is sitting on my hard drive, needing some additional time to finish and publish, and I am sure that Britain, Australia, New Zealand and other parts between have other Camerons of note that could be included.
In the meanwhile, I would love to include yet another female Cameron author to the Archives (Dame Mary) - my web-based attempt to begin restoring the male/female "lop-sidedness" in the book! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Cameronian on Nov 17, 2002 4:11:38 GMT -6
Tom I think a category titled “Camerons who have made their mark” would be appropriate …..it leaves it open to all interpretations .
Just give us another category in the Cameron Heritage Group and I’ll do the item on Mary Gilmore and her life…..then there’s
Archibald Galbraith Cameron, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Alexander Cameron .King of Penola, the Cameron settlements in South Australia
Camerons and Australia’s first Saint The Blessed Mary MacKillop
And that's without even thinking on the subject.......Val
|
|
|
|
Post by Thomas Cameron on Nov 17, 2002 22:36:00 GMT -6
It's in the works...  |
|
|
|
Post by Ailean Glas on Feb 1, 2003 0:06:59 GMT -6
We'll just keep Bhal's fine work up above the rest! Dia duit a Bhal! Alan.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ealasaid on Aug 12, 2003 2:14:07 GMT -6
Tom, rather than adding this poem of Mary (Cameron) Gilmore's to the Archives, would it not be better to record her story, or even better still to create a separate section on our Cameron Webpage to record those of Clan Camerons who could be used as role models, similar to the "Camerons who have left their mark" chapter in the "History of Clan Cameron Book"? I certainly take pride in reading of the 22 male members of the clan who are recorded in that chapter, the one single female entry is that of the Authoress and Bard Mary MacKellar, nee Cameron. There would have to be a couple more females in the Cameron Clan who have left their mark over time…….? Val. |
|
|
|
Post by Ealasaid on Aug 12, 2003 3:10:12 GMT -6
A'Bhal mo graidh,
Loved that poem by Mary Cameron Gilmour. Well, there was another poetess in the Cameron Clan. Mary Cameron MacKellar's grandmother, also called Mary Cameron, was one such. I quote from The Gaelic Soc. of Inverness - "Unknown Lochaber Bards" by Mary Cameron MacKellar. Quote:
"She (her grandmother) lost three fine young daughters one after the other, and they were buried in "Eilean Fhionain" in Loch Sheil, where she is also buried by their side. Shortly after the death of the last of the three, she was herself laid on her death- bed. She then composed the song of which the following is a fragment. The air of it is the old plaintive one"Tha mo run air a ghille" She might have been said to have died swan-like singing for she composed this on the day before her death." Unquote.
"Tha mo run air an nighinn,
Tha mo ghaol air an nighinn,
Chuir mi taobh ri taobh an triur;
'S tric snidh air mo ghruaidhean.
'S og a rinn mi, ruin, duit farair',
'N uair a shaoil mi bhi ri d' bhanais,
Chairich mi thu 'n Cnoc nan Aingeal
Rinn mi leaba bhuan duit.
Tha mo run etc.
Tha mi f*g
ail an t-saoghail
Anns an robh mi cuairt air aoidheachd,
S cairidh iad an sud ri 'r taobh mi,
'S och, a ghaoil, cha'n fhuir leam.
Tha mi run etc.
'N uair a thig an grothach dluth ribh'
Cuiridh fios gu Croc nam Fluran,
'S cinnteach mi gu tig an triur as*
De na fiuran uasal.
Tha mi run etc.
'S cinnteach mi gun tig gun dail as,
Iain mo ghaoil agus Archy;
'S gum bi Dotair donn nam blath-shuil,
Laidir fo mo ghuallainn.
Tha mo run etc.
*The three sons of Druimsallie.
Bith mi gad 'fhaicinn.
Ealasaid
|
|
Alans
Dedicated Clansperson
Posts: 197
|
Post by Alans on Sept 16, 2003 1:33:42 GMT -6
Tom I think a category titled “Camerons who have made their mark” would be appropriate …..it leaves it open to all interpretations . Just give us another category in the Cameron Heritage Group and I’ll do the item on Mary Gilmore and her life…..then there’s Archibald Galbraith Cameron, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Alexander Cameron .King of Penola, the Cameron settlements in South Australia Camerons and Australia’s first Saint The Blessed Mary MacKillop And that's without even thinking on the subject.......Val All the above were very feisty and firey people. Archie Cameron speaker of the Australian House of representatives for many years was renowned for his biting wit and fierce temper- not afraid to put Prime ministers in their place. An interesting man who converted from Presbyterianism to Catholicism. Alexander Cameron was married to the Blessed Mary Mackillop's maternal aunt( his 1st wife who predeceased him) and remarried siring 18 children altogether. She initally tutored some of her cousins and step cousins and was assisted by him in setting up the first of her many schools at Penola in South Australiain the 2nd half of the C19th. From this came the worlwide order of the sisters of St.Joseph. She was also famous for her constant disputes with Bishops. Both of her parents came from lochaber-her father from Roybridge. Late in her life she visited lochaber and was very hospitably received by eminent persons of all faiths such was the respect she was held in for her pioneering educational work in Australia. Great idea Bhal and great post! Dias Mhuire duit a Bhal an seannachie na Australia! |
|
|
|
Post by Cameronian on Sept 16, 2003 3:34:47 GMT -6
Moran taing mo Ailein,
It seems that I had forgotten that promised to profile all these powerful Australian Camerons, how about I make a commitment to do Archibald Galbraith Cameron, Speaker of the Federal Parliament of Australia......if you will do our First Australian Saint, The Blessed Mary MacKillop. by the way I have a copy of the Gaidhlig Mass that was said at the Beatification Ceremony if you would like me to forward it to you.....Bhal
|
|
Alans
Dedicated Clansperson
Posts: 197
|
Post by Alans on Jul 19, 2004 2:19:14 GMT -6
Bhal, I think this fine poem that heads this thread should be raised up. I am in the mood for it as I am currently doing a unit on Australia in WW2 with my year 10 History class. Hope your current "working holiday' in Alba is going well. Dia duit a Bhal na Camshronaich!
|
|
Alans
Dedicated Clansperson
Posts: 197
|
Post by Alans on Aug 19, 2008 5:08:23 GMT -6
Time for a pop to the top!
|
|
You're the first member of the Message Center to reach the 25 post mark, and if you (and everyone else) will notice, the "New Member" rating next to your name as been replaced with "Lochaber Ghillie."
