Scots in Rhodesia

[macwilkin]

I know it's a long shot, but does anyone know any "Rhodies" who were members of Scottish groups or organisations in Rhodesia? I recently read of a semi-official pipe band with 2nd Battalion, the Royal Rhodesia Regiment (re-named the Rhodesia Regiment after 1970) that was sponsored by the Caledonian Society of Bulawayo in Barnes' The Uniforms & History of the Scottish Regiments and wondered how active the Scottish community was in Rhodesia?

I've heard tell of a St. Andrew's Society of Salisbury (now Harare), but given the current situation on the ground there now, I doubt they're very active.

No politics here, just a request for information.

Todd

[NorCalPiper]

Hey Todd-
I spent 6 years tearing through the copper belt when I lived there in South Africa, and I NEVER saw one instance of anything Scottish while there. I met a gentleman in Zambia that had a set of bagpipes on his wall (Nice ones too), but never a mention of a band or society. I can't imagine Bulawayo having a society.......Definitely more whites in HArare. Thats just my experience-I wasn't necessarily looking for them either.

[BEEDEE]

Don't know about Scottish groups there, but think it very likely since a majority of original settlers were Scots.

This from the Clan Graham website:

James Angus Graham, b. 1907, was the 7th Duke of Montrose and was also Earl of Kincardine; Viscount Dunduff, Lord Graham; Aberuthven; Mugdock and Fintry. He became a farmer in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and was a cabinet minister in the Rhodesian Government of Ian Smith. He moved to South Africa and later returned to Scotland before his death in 1992.

Brian

[saxandpipes]

Don't know about Scottish groups there, but think it very likely since a majority of original settlers were Scots. This from the Clan Graham website: Brian

True. My family came through there, some ended up in NZ (my lot) and some in Rhodesia, a Great-Uncle of mine (John Wallace Downie) was a government minister and High Commissioner there. Anyway, they settled directly from Scotland (borders) there, and if they were anything like the rest of the family that ended up in NZ, you wouldn't even know they were Scottish- I think alot of people were just busy getting on with building a new life in their new country. After 1 generation, they were just Kiwis (or Rhodesians), now of course, we're so far removed, that we're all trying to link back to where THEY came from. Kind of off the topic, sorry, I'm also interested in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe as a country, and the history there, it seems that it was a very prosperous place. (Much like NZ a hundred years ago). The Scots certainly did a good job settling the world!

[macwilkin]

The late Ian Smith (may he rest in peace!) was the son of a Scottish immigrant; his father, John "Jock" Douglas Smith, moved from Hamilton in the 1890s during the Gold Rush in South Africa. They were Scots Presbyterians.

saxandpipes: I haven't forgotten about the Clan Gunn badge, btw -- I will send it you very soon!

T.

[saxandpipes]

The late Ian Smith (may he rest in peace!) was the son of a Scottish immigrant; his father, John "Jock" Douglas Smith, moved from Hamilton in the 1890s during the Gold Rush in South Africa. They were Scots Presbyterians.

saxandpipes: I haven't forgotten about the Clan Gunn badge, btw -- I will send it you very soon!

T.

Hey Todd,

No worries

Cheers

[CDNSushi]

Rhodesia? Haven't heard that term in a long, long time. I thought it became Zimbabwe back in the 1970s...

[macwilkin]

Rhodesia? Haven't heard that term in a long, long time. I thought it became Zimbabwe back in the 1970s...

1980, to be exact. There is limited information on the Scottish Community in Salisbury/Harare in Michael Turnbull's Scotland's Myth and Identity, but I was specifically looking for information about Scottish groups in activities in Southern and Independent Rhodesia.

T.