Kilted "Regiment" at Reading Air Show

[BobsYourUncle]

I am a member of a reenacting group that portrays the 7th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders as they fought in WWII, at this event in North Africa during 1943. We have a very active contingent of bagpipers. Our Argylls combine with three other reenacting groups to form a larger entity we call "B Coy Commonwealth Forces". B Coy consists of the 7th A & SH, the 7th Bn Black Watch (UK), the Black Watch of Canada (Royal Highlanders of Canada) and the Queens Own Rifles of Canada. We camp together, drill together and "fight" together at tactical events, and together have enough men to comprise at least a section, and if enough attend, we approach platoon size.

This past weekend we participated in the Reading Air Show put on by the the Mid Atlantic Air Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania. This is the largest gathering of flying WWII aircraft in the world. There were P38s, Mosquitos, Spitfires, B-17s, B-25s, and many others; the public attended, the planes took off, and narrators told their story, deployment & function, technical and operational specs, etc. The planes performed maneuvers and demonstrated various flying formations for the public. Many WWII veterans attend the event, some of the fellows from Band of Brothers and the Pacific made appearances [Sidney Phillips was there selling and autographing his new book]. In the grassy areas between runways, reenacting groups with WWII era impressions set up camp and displays about their units for the public to visit.

Two highlights for our group were [1] a surprise visit from an Argyll veteran. As we were talking to visitors, we looked up and saw a very old gentlemen in a wheel chair, wearing an Argyll glengarry and cap badge. We nearly fell over ourselves coming to attention. We greeted the worthy gentlemen and made him our special guest, giving him water and shade under our regimental fly. He is a very spry soul, with a wry and sharp sense of humor. He was as surprised to see us as we were to see him. Lightning had truly struck. Not only is he an Argyll who served in the Second War, he is an Argyll who served with the 7th Bn, the very battalion we portray. I was able to have him sign a copy of the official battalion history. He had many stories to tell. One of the first things he did, some 65 years after ending his service, was rattle off his service number. I am withholding any personally identifiable information to maintain persec.

His sense of humor came through when I showed him a display board populated with Imperial War Museum photos of the 7th in its various campaigns. He looked it over and said "But there's no photo of me here!" He also took several opportunities to make fun of the Black Watch folks--the 7th Bn Argylls and 7th Bn Black Watch were brigaded together in 154 Brigade for service in North Africa. During the ribbing, he made sure to let us know that the units respected each other and had affection for one another.

We spent some time with him, and determined to find a way to honor him. We formed up around the corner on the company street, struck up the pipes, and did a march past, giving him an "eyes right salute". He snapped to attention in his wheelchair, and returned our salute. Our high emotion made it very difficult to maintain our composure. We took down contact information for him and his son, and will keep in touch with them.

(2) The other highlight had to do with a Lancaster Bomber that was present at the air show. This Lancaster is operated by the RCAF, and is one of only two still operating--the other is in Duxford, UK, I believe. Of course, it was the only Commonwealth bomber present, and was of great interest to us. Our pipers attracted the attention of pilots and crew--the pipers played in between band sets at the Hangar Dance on Saturday night. The Lancaster flight engineer collared them after they played and asked if our group could pipe them down the taxiway when they left the airport the next morning. Then the Flight engineer found our camp and shared a little conviniality with us and a singer from the USO show later that night. On Sunday morning, we formed up underneath the open bombay of the Lancaster, piped it out as the tractor pushed it down the taxiway, and stood at Present Arms while it hit the runway.

Photos and video follow.

B Coy forms up for arms drill.



B Coy Marching Behind the Pipes



Argylls On the Tarmac with Theresa Eaman, 1940s vocalist who performed at the event. Her website is here: http://www.theresaeaman.com/



Argylls in Service Dress Order for the Hangar Dance on Sat Night



B Coy formed up in the Lancaster Bombay

[BobsYourUncle]

Argylls check out the Lancaster





The Lads



Argyll Veteran: He was with the regiment from 1939-1946. He had joined as a Boy Soldier, and was a Vickers gunner.



Argyll Vet observed our Honorary March Past and Salute



Our pipers play for our Argyll Vet



Video of B Coy Piping Out the Lancaster

[BobsYourUncle]

In B Coy, we take very seriously our role of honouring the traditions of the Regiments we represent. We do not give ourselves rank or decoration--we do not have any officers, our group is led by a Sergeant and we are all Other Ranks. No one is allowed to wear any decoration unless they won it through actual service. Several of our members have been in active service for several different countries, some in combat, and some have decorations to wear if the occasion warrants. Here is a quote we display that conveys our feelings on the matter.

Honoring the Private Soldier

We strive to honor the private soldiers who served in WWII, of every Allied armed force. The Commanding Officer of the 1st Bn Argylls, who also fought in North Africa and Italy, summed it up in concluding the official 1st Bn history. His words apply as well to the gallant men of the 7th Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders:

“All had played their part—-cooks, drivers, batmen, signalers, and many more; but the men who bear the brunt of all warfare, who endure the worst conditions and the greatest dangers, and who in the end keep the honor of the Regiment in their hands, are the private soldiers in the infantry sections. The great mass of them do not win decorations; they go about their duties quietly, confidently, and cheerfully, expecting no reward, and receiving none except the respect and admiration of those who associate with them.
It is men like these who, fired by the Argyll spirit, have caused the name of the Regiment to be honoured by friend and foe alike. In the sands of the desert, in the mountains of Crete, in the olive groves of Sicily, and the vineyards and orchards of Italy you will find their names upon the simple crosses adorned only with the badge of the Regiment which they so faithfully served.”
NE OBLIVISCARIS

History of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 1st Battalion, Lt.-Col. F.C.C. Graham, D.S.O., Thomas Nelson & Sons, Ltd. London, 1946; as quoted in The Mirror of Monte Cavallara, an Eighth Army Story, Ray Ward, Robin Ward, ed.,Birlin, Edinburgh, 2006, p. 370.

Our group's website is here: http://home.roadrunner.com/~argyllsutherland/index.html

[L. Ramsay]

Wow! Sounds like a great event. I've done a bit of reenacting in my time, mostly Civil War. But I have dabbled with Eastern Front before. I'm afraid most WW2 impressions don't work out for me, I refuse to shave my beard (I'm rather fond of it).

But I suppose what I want to say is "Awesome! Looks like you have a great unit with your hearts in the right place!"

[thescot]

Great photos. Thanks for posting those. I especially enjoyed seeing the "real" uniforms rather than just the kilts. We rarely see the non-kilted uniforms from those days.

[BobsYourUncle]

The Lancaster is based out of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario.

[BoldHighlander]

A great set of photos & a truly wonderful experience! Thank you for sharing it with us

At one time I attempted to organize a unit recreating the Argyll's 2nd Bn on the western front (WW1), but alas, health issues shortly thereafter curtailed that one

[cessna152towser]

Wow! Kilts, bagpipes and warbirds, I wish I could have been there.

I recognise that Lancaster btw

[BobsYourUncle]

Wow! Kilts, bagpipes and warbirds, I wish I could have been there.

I recognise that Lancaster btw

Yes, the very bird! You would certainly have enjoyed all of the warbirds--very magnificent. Some quite good flying as well--of course, the Missing Man formation, but many others not as obvious. It was great fun. Here's another shot of the Lancaster, banking into a Photo Pass.

[BobsYourUncle]

B Coy Pipers at the Hangar Dance on Saturday