#London Scottish Regiment

[lifes-commotion]

Ronald Colman

[on-a-lucky-tide]

So, I've been doing some reading and I think John Price is based on John Thomas "Mac" McAleese. He was a Scottish soldier who fought with the Royal Engineers and the SAS.

He joined the Royal Engineers in 1969, and in 1973 passed the AACC, which earned him the green beret and a transfer to 59 Independent Commando, Royal Engineers. In 1975, he transferred into the SAS.

He was a lance corporal in 1980, serving in Pagoda Troop, 'B' Squadron, 22 SAS Regiment, when he led "Blue Team" in the storming of the Iranian Embassy in London during a hostage siege in May 1980 (his most famous contribution). The guy literally busted in with a submachine gun and a bunch of explosives. It was broadcast live.

McAleese was also involved in the Falklands War in 1982, and in The Troubles and served as a bodyguard for three Prime Ministers.

Oh, and the kicker? This is him. He died in 2011.

Maybe Macmillan is a dedication to his name and Price is a dedication to his... everything else?

[scotianostra]

The Scottish actor Archibald Duncan was born in Glasgow on 26th May 1914.

His father was a regimental sergeant major and his mother a postmistress. He was educated at Govan High School and afterwards and worked as a welder in the Glasgow shipyards.

It was at the Citizens Theatre Company that Duncan joined the training ground of many Scottish actors including, Molly Urquart, Duncan Macrae, Gordon Jackson and Eileen Herlie. He then made his Scottish acting debut in Juno and the Paycock, playing all three gunmen, at Glasgow’s Alhambra in May 1944.

Duncan went on to star in London’s West End with the likes of the great Scottish character actor Alistair Sim and the late George Cole. Film roles started to follow with , Floodtide , The Gorballs Story, The Elusive Pimpernel, Green Grow the Rushes, Henry V, The Lavender Hill Mob, You’re Only Young Twice and Walt Disney’s The Story Of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men as ‘Red Gill’ amongst many others. Duncan also teamed up with Richard Todd and James Robertson Justice in Disney’s Rob Roy the Highland Rogue as Dugal Mac Gregor.

One of Duncan’s first big TV roles was as Inspector Lestrade in the 1954 series Sherlock Holmes, but perhaps Archibald Duncan is best remembered for his second Robin Hood role, where 6'2" Duncan played Little John alongside Richard Greene in The Adventures of Robin Hood which ran for 143 episodes on ITV here and CBS in the states from 1955 to 1959. I just had a wee look and many of the episodes are on Youtube.

Duncan’s portrayal of Little John would be fondly remembered decades later for his combination of strength, skill and humour. It was during the filming this unforgettable series that this Scottish gentle giant proved to be a true hero and managed to prevent a runaway horse from hurtling towards a group of spectators, consisting of mainly children, watching close by. For this brave feat, he was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery and £1,360 in “damages”. But it also resulted in him missing the recording of eleven episodes of Robin Hood. So between times, a replacement was found in fellow Scotsman, Rufus Cruickshank.

Another great Scottish film he appeared in was Ring of Bright Water. Archie Duncan's career in television production carried on with parts in programmes like Z Cars, Hereward the Wake, Orlando, Black Beauty and Bootsie and Snudge.

In 1978 he suffered a massive stroke which caused paralysis down his right side, sadly he passed away at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, London aged 65 on 24th July 1979.

[ginandoldlace]

Stirling Castle (c.1934) by Christopher Clark (1875–1942). This was originally a poster for London, Midland & Scottish Railway. It depicts the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders marching into Stirling Castle, led by the Pipe Major and pipers. The poster had an accompanying text that read: “The grand old castle of Stirling, former residence of Scottish kings, has always been the key to the Highlands. Men said ‘Who holds Stirling holds Scotland’. The battered old facade, the heavily barred windows, speak of medieval wars; so that even today the quiet, time-mellowed beauty of the old pile is a fit setting for the glorious tartans of the famous Scottish regiment (the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders) which still garrisons it.” Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most famous castles and at one point the home of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders upon their creation in 1794. In Christopher Clark’s painting the Great Hall, for the holding of parliament and state ceremonies is on the right and the barred windows are those of the Queen’s Bed Chamber and the King’s Presence Chamber.

[aimeedaisies]

The Princess Royal’s Official Engagements in November 2024

01/11 As Visitor of Strathcarron Hospice, visited the Hospice. 🫂

As Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, visited the Headquarters at Edinburgh Castle. 🫡

As Patron of the Eric Liddell 100, attended an Awards Dinner at George Watson’s College, in Edinburgh. 🏃🏼‍♂️🍽️🏆

05/11 As Master of the Corporation of Trinity House, presented Merchant Navy Medals for Meritorious Service at the Corporation of Trinity House. 🎖️

As President of Racing Welfare, attended a Reception at Sladmore Gallery. 🏇🏼

06/11 On behalf of The King, held an Investiture at Windsor Castle. 🎖️

As Patron of the Learning and Work Institute, and as President of Carers Trust, this attended the “Driving Change” Conference at City Lit College. 📒

As President of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conferences, attended a Reception at Brunswick Group. 📚

As Patron of Shaftesbury, later held a 180th Anniversary Dinner at St James’s Palace. 🍾

07/11 As Vice Patron of the British Horse Society, attended the Annual Awards and Race Day at Newbury Racecourse. 🐴

Alongside the King and the Duchess of Gloucester, held a Reception at Buckingham Palace for medallists of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 🥇🥈🥉

09/11 With Sir Tim Was present at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. Also in attendance were, The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and The Duke of Kent were also present. 🌹

10/11 With Sir Tim Attended the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph. Laid a wreath alongside the King, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh. Also in attendance were, the Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent. 🌹

11/11 unofficial Sir Tim, as GWR Advisory Board member, visited Swindon train station with the Poppies to Paddington, then travelled to Paddington Station by train. 🚝

unofficial Sir Tim Attended a Service of Remembrance at Paddington Station. 🌹

12/11 Attended the HIV Drug Therapy Glasgow Congress at the Scottish Event Campus. 💊

Visited the University of Glasgow’s Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre. 🔬🥼

As Royal Patron of MND Scotland, attended a Supporters’ Reception at the MND Scotland Office. 🍾

13/11 Visited the College of Master Kilt Tailors’ Headquarters at Askival of Strathearn. 🪡🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Opened Letham4All’s Letham Community Hub. 🏢

Opened the YMCA Tayside Youth Centre in Perth. 👦👧

As Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, held a Chancellor’s Dinner at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. 🎓🍽️

14/11 As Chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands, attended the Nursing and Optometry Graduation Ceremony in Inverness. 🩺🎓

16/11 As Patron of the Scottish Rugby Union, attended the International Rugby Match between Scotland and Portugal at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇵🇹🏉

19/11 Attended a Reception at the Suffolk County Council Offices before opening the Gull Wing Bridge in Lowestoft. 🌁🎗️✂️

Unofficial Sir Tim presented the Billy Deacon SAR Awards during the Air League’s Annual Reception Ceremony at the House of Commons. ✈️

20/11 As President of the Royal Yachting Association attended the British Olympic Sailing Team Luncheon at the Royal Thames Yacht Club. ⛵️��

As Commandant-in-Chief (Youth) of St John Ambulance, attended the Young Achievers’ Reception at the Priory Church of the Order of St John in London. ⛑️🩹

As Chancellor of the University of London, attended the Foundation Day at Senate House, and conferred an honorary doctorate in Literature on Queen Camilla, for her public work in the field of literature and literacy. 📜🎓

21/11 As Patron of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, attended their Winter Symposium. 💉❄️

As President of the City and Guilds of London Institute, attended The Princess Royal Training Awards Conference at Goldsmiths’ Hall. 🏆 Sir Tim Laurence presented the Billy Deacon SAR Awards during the Air League’s Annual Reception Ceremony, held at the House of Commons, on 19 November 2024.

With Sir Tim As President of the British Olympic Association, attended the Team GB Ball at the Roundhouse. ✨

26/11 Opened the Hospice UK National Conference at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow. 🏥

27/11 As Chancellor of the Health Sciences University, attended a Graduation Ceremony at the Bridge Theatre in London. 🎓📜

As Patron of Transaid, attended the Annual Showcase at the Africa Centre in London. 🚛🚚

As Royal Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, attended a New Fellows’ Dinner at Drapers’ Hall. 🍽️

28/11 On behalf of the King held morning and afternoon Investitures at Buckingham Palace. 🎖️

29/11 As Patron of the Moredun Foundation, attended a Conference at the Moredun Research Institute in Penicuik. 🐖🐑🐄

Total official engagements for Anne in November: 43

2024 total so far: 414

Total official engagements accompanied/represented by Tim in November: 3

2024 total so far: 94

FYI - due to certain royal family members being off ill/in recovery I won't be posting everyone's engagement counts out of respect, I am continuing to count them and release the totals at the end of the year.

[herprivateswe]

Image: IWM (Q 53751) Troops of the 2/14th Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish) practice a bayonet charge during training, 1915.

[captain-price-unofficially]

A 3.7-inch AA gun of 97th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (London Scottish) bombarding enemy positions on the Gothic Line, 2 September 1944

[windsorburg0510]

The Queen and Members of The Royal Family attend Trooping the Colour 2023 💂🏻‍♀️💂🏽‍♂️💂🏼

Please watching my Video until the end!!

Today, The Queen and Members of The Royal Family attended the annual Queen’s Birthday Parade known as Trooping the Colour.

The event took place on Horse Guards Parade in London, and The Queen travelled down The Mall from Buckingham Palace in the Scottish State Coach.

The Parade was also attended by HRH Prince Peter,The Duke of Windsorburg, HRH Jame Prince Crown, The Duke of Edinburg, HRH Henry, The Duke of Wellington who rode out as Royal Colonels of various regiments.

HRH Princess Margrethe, The Crown Princess, HRH Princess Victoria,The Royal Princess,The Duchess of Edinburg and The Duchess of Wellington, attended and travelled and waiting to The Queen Arrival.

During her reign The Queen has attended Trooping the Colour every year, However over 1400 parading soldiers, almost 300 horses Cavalry took part in the ceremony today.💂🏻‍♀️💂🏼💂🏽‍♂️

The Colour of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Grenadier Guards were "trooped" at the Parade. The colours (flags) of the battalion are carried (or trooped) down the ranks.

The Queen’s actual birthday is 5 October but is officially celebrated in June with Trooping the Colour, which has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 350 years.

_______________________________________________

Thank you so much for watching my video or post until the end.

The Horse Guards Will release to download in the future soon!!

Thank you for great CC 👇🏻

gorgeous carriage @annadedanann

@felixandresims @thejim07 @the-regal-sim @themarblemortal @batsfromwesteros @goldensanctuarysims @awingedllama @bank42n @cliffou29 @dvqve-d-briga @happylifesims @itskingfalcon @melonsloth @normalsiim @royaltysimblr @sims4studioofficial @theroyalsims

[justapotatoeater]

🇬🇧 William Claude Rains took a hiatus from acting when WW1 broke out and volunteered to serve in the London Scottish Regiment. In November of 1916, he was wounded in a gas attack at Vimy. He lost 90% of vision in his right eye and suffered vocal cord damage. He never returned to combat, but continued to serve with the Bedfordshire Regiment. By the end of the war, he had risen to the rank of captain.

[spiritofnostalgia]

Remembrance Playlist 🪦

It’s Time For Every Boy To Be A Soldier, Charles H. Hart

Over There, Nora Bayes

It’s A Long Way From Tipperary, American Quartet

Til We Meet Again, Charles Hart & Lewis James

There’s A Long, Long Trail, John McCormack

A Letter From A Father (Instrumental), Jon Cohen

Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny Oh!, American Quartet

I’m Always Chasing Rainbows, Charles Harrison

Will You Remember, Alice Green & Raymond Dixon

The Last Post, James Morrison

A Letter From Father (Instrumental), The Central Band of the Royal British Legion

Keep The Home Fires Burning (feat. Laura Wright), The Central Band of the Royal British Legion

Nimrod, Sir Edward Elgar

Isle of Beauty: I. David of the White Rock, II. Oft In The Stilly Night, Best Irish Guard

Flowers of the Forest, Pipes and Drums of the London Scottish Regiment

For The Fallen, Karliene

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

Do you remember when SH mentioned buying a pair of Scottish 22-bore flintlock all-metal belt pistols from the mid-18th century?

The pistol SH used yesterday while filming Outlander season 8 at Eglinton Country Park is not the same style that SH bought in London, but it is from the same period in the mid-18th century. As a historical fiction series (actually, it’s more of an alternate history) I don't think he owns the pistol.

The image is not sharp and details are not clear but the pistol looks like a replica of the 1759 Light Dragoon Flintlock Pistol, often called the "Eliott Dragoon Pistol”. These are named after General George Augustus Eliott, an officer of the British Army, the man who made this design. Born in Scotland he rose through the ranks to become Aide-de-Camp to King George II by 1756.

In 1759, he raised and commanded "The Kings's Own Royal Light Dragoons", the 1st Light Horse and thus began the concept of Light Dragoons in the British Army. He was responsible for raising and training the regiment, as well as procuring their armaments. At the time, commanders of irregular forces could outfit the men as they chose, and Elliot went about designing improved weapons and gear for his Troop of Horse.

This marked one of the first times that the British Board of Ordnance worked with leaders of men in the field to design new weapons, which would be better suited to their needs. The flintlock pistol was introduced into the service of the British Light Cavalry in 1760 to correct perceived defects in the models.

His legacy is the Elliot Light Dragoon Pistol, the Elliot Light Dragoon Carbine, and the Elliot Light Dragoon Saddle.

Pattern 1759 Elliot's Light Dragoon pistol with walnut stock, round barrel, rounded brass mounts and straight-bottomed regulation lock for the pattern. Regulation cast brass mounts and reproduction brass tipped wood ramrod. This is a light, handy pistol with a good feel to it when aiming. The barrel is 9" long and usually 62” calibre. They vary in bore diameter at times. The overall length is 16 1/2". The furniture is all brass and very similar to the civilian pistols of the era.

During the Jacobite Rebellions, and after the Battles of Prestonpans and Falkirk, Dragoons played a significant role at the Battle of Culloden by charging both flanks of the Highland army.

Inspired by Prussian designs of the time, this model of Dragoon pistol was common amongst Britain's mounted troops throughout the 18th Century, the pistol was used by British officers during the American Revolution, and it likely would have been seen used on both sides during the conflict.

These pistols represent an important step in the way that firearms were designed and procured in the British armed forces.

General George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield, was mentioned in Robert Burns's cantata “The Jolly Beggars” as an inspiring figure. The old soldier singing the air "I Am a Son of Mars" says: "Yet let my country need me, with Elliot to head me, / I'd clatter on my stumps at the sound of a drum."

By Robert Burns

#Outlanderseason8 #EglintonCountryPark #Scotland #Elliot'sLightDragoonpistol #pistol #BritishArmy #BritishLightCavalry #18thcentury #1stBaronHeathfield #TheJollyBeggars #GeneralGeorgeAugustusEliott #RobertBurns #LightDragoonFlintlockPistol #cantata

Posted 20th August 2024

[johndpg]

SPANKING ON TV #5

The Drum (1938) d. Zoltan Korda

We’re off to the British Raj this time. 14-year-old drummer boy Bill Holder gets into trouble when he’s caught smoking in the barracks. He’s been warned before, so the Sergeant Major bends him over the end of his bed, turns his kilt back and whacks his bare backside with one of his own drumsticks. Pretty hefty whacks too by the sounds of it!

Publicity stills:

The basic plot of the film is jingoism of the highest order, with the Brits trying to track down smuggled shipments of arms on the Northwest Frontier of India to head-off a full-scale rebellion. When the peace-loving ruler of Tokot, a key kingdom in the region, is assassinated, his son Prince Azim goes into hiding. Somewhere along the way he meets and befriends Bill who teaches him how to play the drums. Later Azim is therefore able to bang out a danger signal that saves the British forces from an ambush.

The film went down well with British audiences of the time, no doubt fondly remembering the days of Empire with a tear in their eye, but caused near riots when shown in Bombay and Madras (as they were then called).

It is unknown exactly when the practice of wearing no undergarments under the kilt began. The earliest reference to the tradition was during Waterloo in 1815, but underpants were certainly forbidden by the time of the Raj in India. Indeed, during the First World War, Scottish regiments were inspected by a senior officer who used a mirror to look under kilts; any soldier found wearing underpants was sent back to take them off! We can be confident, then, that the intention is that poor Bill gets his bare arse spanked by the Sergeant Major.

Prince Azim was played by Sabu, a teenage Indian actor who found success in Hollywood during the 1930s and 40s. He was 14 at the time.

Desmond Tester played Bill. He was 18 but had a reputation for playing younger. Previously he was cast by Alfred Hitchcock in Sabotage (1936) as a short-trousered schoolboy called Stevie even though he was 16. He doesn’t get spanked in that film but he is blown up on a bus after being tricked into carrying a bomb by an enemy agent planning a series of attacks on London. Although somewhat slow by today’s frenetic standards, the film was considered shocking at the time. If only they’d known what was coming.

Here's the link to The Drum. Fast forward 9 mins to see the Sergeant Major going Phil Collins on Bill's backside.

And here's another link to Sabotage. It doesn't end well for Stevie at the 54 min mark.

And finally here's a bonus Black Watch soldier giving everybody an eyeful in Hong Kong in 1997.

[scotianostra]

On 19th January 1919 The Sunday Post - home of the 'Broons' & 'Oor Willie' made its first appearance.

The Sunday Post, the Scottish family newspaper was once named the most successful in the world by the Guinness Book of Records.

The paper was the creation of DC Thomson, the family firm behind the third J in Dundee's famed trio of jute, jam and journalism.

It was born out of a thirst for news brought on by the outbreak of World War One, as many local men headed off to fight on the front lines.

The Thomson family had made their fortune in the international shipping industry before branching out into publishing with the purchase of the Dundee Courier and Argus in 1866.

In 1884, 23-year-old David Coupar Thomson was put in charge of the family's growing publishing interests, and in 1905 DC Thomson and Company was set up to publish newspapers.

Although it was home to the daily Courier and Evening Telegraph titles, at the outbreak of war DC Thomson didn't have a Sunday paper.

So to serve the insatiable daily appetite for news of the war effort, a special Sunday edition of the existing Saturday Post was established in 1914.

The fourth battalion of the Black Watch was Dundee's own regiment, and was made up primarily of men who had worked in the three Js - including hundreds from DC Thomson.

With many of their own men serving in the trenches, the firm's newspapers were ideally placed to report on the war, with eye-witness accounts from the "fighter writers" sent back from foreign battlefields.

Even David Thomson himself took his chauffeur and car across to France to visit the front and send back reports.

The "Sunday Special" edition was intended to last for the duration of the war.

But the strength of its journalism and appeal was such that it continued on as a fully-fledged paper of its own, with the first edition of the new Sunday Post hitting the streets on 19th January 1919.

Despite falling out with some socialists when Thomson cracked down on trade union membership after the General Strike of 1926, the Post grew to become one of the country's most popular papers.

Perhaps in response to the collapse of the jute industry at the turn of the "Hungry Thirties" and a depression which saw unemployment in Scotland soar to 28%, the Post launched a "fun section" which produced the paper's most enduring characters.

Created by artist Dudley D. Watkins, Oor Wullie and the Broons made their debut in the first fun section in March 1936, and have been there ever since.

Every Scot was/is aware of Oor Wullie, through the Post, through his Christmas annuals, everybody knew it, 'Jings, crivvens, help mah boab' became part of the Scottish language, part of the dialect. How many of us have used the words ourselves? It is as much a part of our language as the age old favourite "Och Aye the Noo!"

The characters even got involved with the war effort when World War Two broke out in 1939, with Wullie setting up a shy featuring images of Hitler and other Nazi leaders instead of coconuts and Hen and Joe Broon enlisting.

Throughout the war, the Sunday Post became known for giving equal prominence to the headlines of the day and stories and appeals from local people.

Examples include a plea from a Clydeside mother of four for a safe place to take her children during the Blitz, and letters from wives and mothers trying to track down their loved ones.

The paper also campaigned fiercely on behalf of its readership - one long-running campaign targeted large stores of whisky in built-up areas, which it was feared could cause huge explosions if hit by a bomb.

Eventually the editor of the paper was called to London to talk to ministers, and the warehouses were moved to outlying areas. A lot of the whisky was actually moved to Canada, and one of the ships carrying it ran aground off Scotland, and became the source of Compton Mackenzie's famous 'Whisky Galore' - so you can thank the Sunday Post for that.

By 1935 the paper's circulation had grown steadily to 350,000, but in the post-war years it exploded - by the turn of the 1980s it was estimated six out of ten adults in the country were readers.

At its peak the paper was named in the Guinness Book of Records as the most-read paper in the world in its circulation area, with more than 1.7m copies sold every week in a country of five million people.

However, those glory years are long gone. Competition from television, the internet and an increasingly saturated newspaper market have seen the Post's circulation dropping to just under 143,000 in December 2016, with a year-on-year fall of 13.5% recorded for 2016.

In 2014 a weekly magazine supplement was reintroduced. Called IN10, it features entertainment, food, homes, gardens, travel and books as well as The Sunday Post's man in Hollywood, Ross King.

And despite sales being a shadow of their 1980s heyday, the Sunday Post is still as relevant as ever, although newspapers in print all over the country are in decline and I wonder how long some can survive......

[notwiselybuttoowell]

In the past two years Glasgow has become the first UK museum to repatriate objects to India. Newcastle and the Horniman in south London followed an example set by Aberdeen and Cambridge by returning looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria. Exeter handed sacred regalia to the Siksika Nation in Canada. Oxford returned the remains of 18 indigenous people to Australia.

Earlier this month Manchester completed a landmark return of 174 objects to the to the Anindilyakwa community, who live on an archipelago in the Gulf of Carpentaria, off the northern coast of Australia.

The scale of repatriation – or rematriation as it was proudly labelled by a Scottish national museum returning a totem pole to Canada – is unprecedented but missing from all this, campaigners say, are the nation’s London-based national museums who look increasingly isolated.

“Regional museums are so far ahead of national institutions,” said Lewis McNaught, who runs the not-for-profit Returning Heritage project.

“It has been led by Glasgow and it really just remains for national collections to wake up to the trend which is, actually, now global. The UK is really falling behind quite dramatically.”

Dan Hicks, a professor of contemporary archaeology at Oxford University as well as curator at the city’s Pitt Rivers Museum, said repatriation has become part of the “fake culture wars” with some on the right seeing it as “wokery”.

“What that means, sadly, for our national institutions is that they are being forced into a position of inertia and making themselves increasingly irrelevant with every week that goes by and every restitution that we see from the regions and elsewhere around the world.

“Everyone else is getting on with it.”

The big reasons for the two different narratives is that the London-based national museums are hamstrung by legislation.

The British Museum Act 1963 specifically forbids the museum from disposing of its holdings. The National Heritage Act of 1983 prevents trustees of institutions, including the V&A, Science Museum and others, from deaccessioning objects unless they are duplicates or beyond repair.

Regional museums, whether they are run by local authorities, universities or are regimental museums or private, don’t have the same issue.

But the picture is more complicated, said Hicks, and repatriation is also not a new issue or debate.

“There is a deep and long history to restitution in this country. Edinburgh university was returning human remains two generations ago, never mind one generation … there are scores if not hundreds of stories over the past 40 to 50 years.

“It should be part of what museums do. It’s a part of the job.”

Glasgow is seen as a leader in the repatriation conversation since an agreement in 1998 to return a Sioux warrior shirt acquired at the end of the 19th century from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

The return of the Lakota Sacred Ghost Dance Shirt to the Wounded Knee Survivors’ Association established criteria that have been widely adopted in the museum sector.

Duncan Dornan, the head of museums and collections at Glasgow Life, said repatriation should be seen as a two way process and recalled the joy at the signing ceremony last year for the repatriation of artefacts to India.

“It was a very emotional event and Glaswegians of Indian heritage were very emotional. Their response was that they were very proud of their city.

“We see repatriation as establishing a relationship of equals and emphasising Glasgow as an outward-looking modern city.

“This is about a 21st-century relationship rather than a historic relationship.”

The recent Manchester Museum return of objects was seen as important because they were not giving back things that had been looted. They were everyday objects, including dolls made from shells, baskets and boomerangs.

“We believe this is the future of museums,” said Esme Ward, the director of Manchester Museum. “This is how we should be.”

Unesco hopes that Manchester will be a model for other museums to follow. Krista Pikkat, Unesco’s director for culture and emergencies, said: “It is a truly historic and moving moment. This is a case we have shared with our member states because we felt it was exemplary in many ways.”

The UK government has no plans to change the law that could then lead to movement in some of the most high-profile repatriation debates such as the Parthenon marbles and the Benin bronzes.

Campaigners say the UK is looking increasingly isolated and there is a growing movement for a change in the law.

Lord Vaizey, a former long-serving Conservative arts minister, has said the 1983 act “makes it almost impossible for UK museums to establish themselves as outward-looking, modern institutions fit for purpose in the 21st century”.

There are ways of getting around it. The V&A announced last year that it was returning the Head of Eros, a life-sized marble carving dating back to the 3rd century AD, to Turkey to be reattached to the famous Sidamara sarcophagus.

It made good a promise made by the British government in 1934 but the return is essentially a long-term loan, not an unconditional return.

Across the world, from the US to France to Germany and the Vatican, countries are repatriating objects. “Almost everywhere you look, items are being returned,” said McNaught.

In July, for example, the Netherlands repatriated nearly 500 looted objects to Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

The objects going to Sri Lanka include the famous and fabulous ruby-inlaid Cannon of Kandy dating from 1745, one of six objects from the Rijkmuseum that represented the very first return of colonial items from the museum’s collection.

The Vatican has also voiced willingness to return indigenous artefacts. “The seventh commandment comes to mind: If you steal something you have to give it back,” Pope Francis said in April.

The London-based national museums are undoubtedly hamstrung by law but that does not stop the regular calls for the return of objects.

Some cases are indisputable, say campaigners.

McNaught pointed to Ethiopian tabots that have been in the British Museum’s stores for more than 150 years.

The wood and stone tabots are altar tablets, considered by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as the dwelling place of God on Earth and the representation of the Ark of the Covenant.

“They have never been exhibited and they never will,” said McNaught. “They have never been studied. They have never been photographed. The only people who can release these items are trustees and they can’t see them either.

“So if you are a trustee and you say, ‘Let me see what all the fuss is about,’ then you can’t.”

[aimeedaisies]

The Princess Royal’s Official Engagements in February 2024

01/02 Visited ReBoot (Moray Computer Recycling) in Forres. 🖥️

As Warden, opened the Queen Elizabeth II classrooms at Gordonstoun School. 🏫

Visited Lossie Community Hub at the Warehouse Theatre, in Lossiemouth. 🎭

Unofficial Sir Tim, as Chair of the Board of Trustees, attended the opening ceremony of the Zimingzhong 凝时聚珍: Clockwork Treasures from China's Forbidden City exhibition at the London Science Museum. 🐉🧧🕰️

03/02 With Sir Tim As Patron of the Scottish Rugby Union, attended the Six Nations Rugby Match between Wales and Scotland at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏉

05/02 Visited Dressability Clothing Alterations Charity in Swindon, to mark its 25th Anniversary. 👗🪡🧵

As Commandant-in-Chief (Youth) of St John Ambulance, attended the dedication of a new Community Response Unit in Devizes, Wiltshire. 🚑

06/02 Held an Investiture at Windsor Castle. 🎖️

As Patron of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, attended the launch of Nottingham West Primary Care Network’s Interactive Group Therapy at Plumptre Hall. 🩺

As President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association Limited, visited GH Hurt and Son in Nottingham. 🪡

With Sir Tim As Royal Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, attended the announcement of the winner of The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering at the Science Museum in London. ⚙️🥂

07/02 As Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Logistic Corps, visited the Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Munitions and Search Training Regiment at St George’s Barracks in Bicester. 💥

As President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, visited the Commission’s Headquarters in Maidenhead. 🪦

As Patron of Catch22, visited the Commissioned Rehabilitative Services at Community Links in London. 🔗

08/02 As Vice Patron of the British Horse Society, visited Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre in West London. 🐎

As President of the Royal Yachting Association, attended the Annual Luncheon at Trinity House in London. 🛥️🥪

09/02 In Wales, Princess Anne; 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

As Royal Patron of the National Coastwatch Institution, visited Worms Head Station in Rhossili, followed by a Reception at South Gower Sports Club in Scurlage. 🔎🍾

Visited Newport Medieval Ship. 🚢

Visited Newport Transporter Bridge which is undergoing maintenance. 🌉

10/02 With Sir Tim As Patron of the Scottish Rugby Union, attended the Six Nations Rugby Match between France and Scotland at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. 🇫🇷🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏉

12/02 As Patron of Swinfen Telemedicine, attended a Meeting at the Royal Society of Medicine. 💊

As Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, held a Dinner at Buckingham Palace. 🎓

13/02 Held an Investiture at Windsor Castle. 🎖️

As Master of the Corporation of Trinity House, chaired the Quarterly Meeting of the Court at Trinity House. 📆

14/02 As Royal Patron of the National Coastwatch Institution, visited Hengistbury Head Station near Bournemouth. 🌊

As Colonel-in-Chief of the Intelligence Corps, visited I Company at Hamworthy Barracks in Poole. 🕵️‍♀️

15/02 Visited the Ordnance Survey National Mapping Agency in Southampton. 🗺️

With Sir Tim Attended Evensong and the James Caird Society’s Dedication Service followed by a Reception in Westminster Abbey, to mark the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Sir Ernest Shackleton. 🔭🧭🇦🇶

16/02 Visited knife crime community group ‘Off the Streets’ North Northamptonshire in Wellingborough. 🚫🔪

20/02 As President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association, visited Laxtons Limited in Baildon near Bradford. 🧶

As President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association, visited Marton Mills in Otley, West Yorkshire. 🪡

21/02 In Doncaster, South Yorkshire, Princess Anne;

Visited Agemaspark Precision Engineering Company. ⚙️

Visited Haith Group Vegetable Processing Machinery Company. 🥕🥦

As Patron of the Butler Trust, visited HM Prison and Young Offender Institution Doncaster. 🚓👮‍♀️

As Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Carmen, attended a Joint Services Awards Dinner at Painters’ Hall in London. 🍽️

22/01 Visited London South Bank Technical College and Lee Marley Academy. ✏️👷

As Patron of Save the Children UK, visited Mary’s Living and Giving Shop in Wandsworth. 👚

23/02 unofficial Departed Heathrow Airport for Namibia 🇬🇧✈️🇳🇦

24/02 unofficial Arrived at Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport in Namibia. ✈️🇳🇦

Representing The King, Princess Anne called upon Mrs Monica Geingos (widow of Dr Hage Geingob). 🖤

Unofficial Sir Tim represented Princess Anne, Patron of the Scottish Rugby Union, at the Six Nations Rugby Match between Scotland and England at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏉

25/02 Representing The King, Princess Anne attended the Burial Service for Dr Hage Geingob at Heroes’ Acre. 🕊️

Later attended a State Luncheon given by The President of Namibia at State House. 🍽️

26/02 unofficial Arrived at Heathrow Airport from Namibia. 🇳🇦✈️🇬🇧

With Sir Tim Attended the British Horseracing Authority’s Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards at Ascot Racecourse. 🐎🏆

27/02 With Sir Tim Attended a Service of Thanksgiving for the late King Constantine II at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle with members of 🇬🇧, 🇬🇷, 🇩🇰 and 🇪🇸 royal families.

28/02 As Patron of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, attended the Emergency Medicine Trainees' Association Annual Conference at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead. 💉💊

As Royal Patron of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, attended a Rugby League Reception at Leeds Rhinos Rugby Club, in Headingley, Leeds. 🦽🏉

29/02 unofficial Departed from Heathrow Airport for the United Arab Emirates 🇬🇧✈️🇦🇪

Unofficial Sir Tim, as President of Never Such Innocence, attended a 10th anniversary celebration for the charity at Edinburgh Castle. 🏰

Total official engagements for Anne in February: 44

2024 total so far: 85

Total official engagements accompanied by Tim in February: 6

2024 total so far: 23

FYI - due to certain royal family members being off ill/in recovery I won’t be posting everyone’s engagement counts out of respect, I am continuing to count them and release the totals at the end of the year.

[herprivateswe]

Image: IWM (Q 323) Troops of the 1/14th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish) on the march, Mont. St. Eloi.