Atholl Highlanders & the Duke come to Athol, Massachusetts!

**tulloch** · 5th June 12, 02:35 PM

It was a wonderful weekend. I live in the smallest city in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Several miles to our west is the town of Athol. That is Athol with one L. We are having a spate of celebrations of anniversaries. Athol has a connection with Atholl and they have been having a series of events to commemorate their 250th this year. One of the ideas they had was to re-invite the Atholl Highlanders. They were here 25 years ago but I was not in the area to see them. I found out about this some months ago and watched for it and attended it.

Some of the fellows are in the pipe band and some are just soldiers. Regulations being what they are they had to scare up rifles this side of the Atlantic for these men to drill with. They were able to find the appropriate weapons and fit them all out with loaners.

John Murray, the 11th Duke, was not scheduled to come but his son instead. As it happens the Duke died in May so his son Bruce Murray is the 12th Duke and was elegant in his presentation.

The rifles were all in good condition and those in charge of obtaining them had slings made for the occasion - white nylon with the event information woven in. It was a nice touch and it got a lot of guys in camo hunting outfits out who wouldn't ordinarily be interested.

When the time arrived for their presentation - a mini-tattoo - they formed up and marched around the tiny common. A note about the weather: the weather has been cool and rainy lately - not unlike Scotland. In the hour before it began we saw mist, drizzle, cool breezes. When it started so did the rain. It rained gently at first:

The colors were beautiful.

Their discipline was impeccable.

They performed and the heavens opened up.

We followed them the whole parade route to the town hall where they formed up in the street before marching in.

It is a nice old town hall with an auditorium that has a balcony. The audience was small but appreciative. The Highlanders lined up on each side of the hall and speeches were made and all the Highlanders were given a medal struck for the occasion. Our Usonian, as noted elsewhere on the forum, presented a gift the the Duke on behalf of the Masons.

It was a great day. I was deeply impressed and my wife and I really enjoyed it from start to finish. Rain? No worries.

**Chas** · 5th June 12, 02:42 PM

Fantastic! Excellent pictures.

Regards

Chas

**tulloch** · 5th June 12, 02:53 PM

This is the color guard complete.

Andy, (Usonian), has shown us his adventures in kilt making and here is the finished product:

I only got two front-on pics of him. It is a really nice kilt to see in reality. Great job and a credit to Barb's book.

**Macman** · 5th June 12, 03:42 PM

What a great set of pictures, and what a great way of commemorating the town's anniversary. Thanks for sharing the event and the pics!

**David Thorpe** · 5th June 12, 04:28 PM

What Macman said.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 5th June 12, 04:52 PM

I can't help but say again what I've said so many time. I love their red hose!

**usonian** · 5th June 12, 05:01 PM

It really was a nice day. The Duke and his men were very gracious and cordial, even though I can only imagine how tired they all were by that point between the Blair Atholl games the weekend before, the transatlantic flight, and their non-stop itinerary here in Massachusetts. On Sunday they led the local high school graduating class onto the field, and this morning they did another mini-tattoo at the Starrett Tool company. Tomorrow morning they're at the state house in Boston, and tomorrow night they're at Fenway Park!

Those are much better pictures than I managed to get while trying to keep my phone dry and participating in the reception. Thank you for sharing them! (And thank you for the kind words about my kilt! It can't think of a much better way to inaugurate it.) It was remarkable to see all of the old Wilsons plaids up close and personal... they look like they're in remarkably good shape for all they've been put through for the last 170+ years. A testament to the quality of Wilsons of Bannockburns' work.

It was nice to finally catch up to you in person - I think a mini kilt-night at the Gardner Ale House is in order someday soon.

(For those who haven't seen the other thread I started, I posted a video and a couple of photos here.)

**guardsman** · 6th June 12, 12:46 AM

real good pictures ,Have a good centenary Athol, and well done the Atholl Highlanders.Lovely looking tartan as well

**OC Richard** · 6th June 12, 03:51 AM

I love the uniforms of both the pipers and the soldiers of the Atholl Highlanders. They're archaeic in many ways, with several features popular in the 2nd quarter of the 19th century (and common in The Highlanders of Scotland) which were dropped by the Army as the 19th century progressed and no longer form part of Highland regimental uniform.

And a seemingly unique feature, the soldiers wearing kilts in modern tartan but full plaids in...what is it? Ancient Colours? Wilson's Colours? The plaids seem to have been around a long time, so maybe they have just faded from age and use.

The red socks are something I've not seen them wear before. I'm used to seeing the solders as well as the pipers in red & white diced full hose.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 6th June 12, 04:17 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

I love the uniforms of both the pipers and the soldiers of the Atholl Highlanders. They're archaeic in many ways, with several features popular in the 2nd quarter of the 19th century (and common in The Highlanders of Scotland) which were dropped by the Army as the 19th century progressed and no longer form part of Highland regimental uniform.

And a seemingly unique feature, the soldiers wearing kilts in modern tartan but full plaids in...what is it? Ancient Colours? Wilson's Colours? The plaids seem to have been around a long time, so maybe they have just faded from age and use.

The red socks are something I've not seen them wear before. I'm used to seeing the solders as well as the pipers in red & white diced full hose.

Richard, all their kilts are indeed new, but the majority of the plaids are from the nineteenth century and woven by Wilsons of Bannockburn. So yes, they are in "Wilsons' colors" but are not a modern recreation of such. They are the real deal. :-)

The red hose are not a new part of their uniform, I have noted them in just about every photo I have seen of the Atholl Highlanders. Do a google search and you'll notice them, I'm sure, now that you are looking for them. I think the deep red color works quite well with a blue/green tartan such as this, with a red stripe.