#Royal Scots Greys

[illustratus]

Gordons and Greys to the Front at Waterloo by Stanley Berkeley

[confusedbyinterface]

I just watched Waterloo, and given the critique that Ridley Scott gives Napoleon RTS powers, its interesting how Waterloo uses the realities of command and communication for dramatic effect.

The charge of the Union Brigade is a great example.

At 2:50 in the video, the French lancers are charging out to attack the Scots Greys. Wellington and Uxbridge see them, and realising the Scots Greys are in danger Uxbridge orders their retreat. The trumpeter sounds the order but they can't hear him. He keeps playing over and over as Wellington gets more anxious until he finally shouts for him to stop, knowing there's no way to save Ponsonby and his men now.

Napoleon and Wellington can't just magically make people do what they want, they have to actually tell them. Their officers have their own opinions and talk back, or are already too far to be reached, or like Grouchy were given very clear orders by you and have no way of knowing you changed your mind until they get a letter too late to make any difference. There's tension and drama in that, and if Ridley Scott ignored it it's a real missed opportunity.

[horses-in-art-history]

The Royal Scots Greys was a cavalry regiment in the British army known for their grey horses. In WW1 they were ordered to dye their mounts dark chestnut so they would be less conspicuous and make the regiment harder to identify. While they were in reserve the horses were allowed to have their natural colour.

Scots Greys (1918) by John Singer Sargent  (1856–1925). Watercolour paint on paper. (picture source)

Studies for "Scots Greys" (1918) by John Singer Sargent  (1856–1925). Graphite on wove paper. (picture source)

Royal Scots Greys on a road in France (1914-1918) a photo from The Dutch National Archives. (picture source)

[monkeyssalad-blog]

The Royal Scots Greys postcard by Harry Payne by totallymystified

[herprivateswe]

A British soldier and dog at the officers' mess kitchen of the Royal Scots Greys at their camp, October 1916.

[blackswaneuroparedux]

The reward of one duty is the power to fulfil another.

George Eliot

HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent is one of the most underrated members of the Royal Family, always stoic he’s always been dependable and never flusters, the world needs more 'Steady Eddies'.

There’s no question that the Duke of Kent’s dedication to serving the crown and the country is beyond reproach. For over 50 years, the Duke of Kent has been performing royal duties and on behalf of the monarchy. HRH Prince Edward at a young age filled a huge role vacated by the untimely death of his father in 1942. Since then, the Duke of Kent has ceaselessly spent much of his time performing ceremonial functions, attending charitable causes and supporting various organisations on behalf of his cousin Queen Elizabeth II and the British Monarchy. He has represented Her Majesty in the independence celebrations in the former British colonies of Sierra Leone, Uganda, Guyana, and Gambia. Most recently he has attended the 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration of Ghana. He has also acted as Counselor of State during periods of the  Queen's absence abroad.

What is often forgotten is that HRH Prince Edward was a fine soldier. Much like the late Duke of Edinburgh’s naval service was subsumed by his royal persona, the Duke of Kent has never let his royal duties interfere with his army career.

Prince Edward attended Ludgrove in Berkshire for his preparatory education. He then proceeded to Eton College and later in Le Rosey in Switzerland. After school, he attended the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, where he won the Sir James Moncrieff Grierson prize for foreign languages. After graduating from Sandhurst in 1955, the duke joined the Royal Scots Grey as Second Lieutenant. That was the start of a military career that spanned over 20 years, one which took him to various places around the world.

In 1961, he was promoted Captain; Major in 1967; and Lieutenant Colonel in 1973. In 1970 the Duke commanded a squadron of his regiment serving in the British Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus, part of the UN force enforcing peace between the Greek and Turkish halves of the island. The duke also spent time commanding a unit in Northern Ireland shortly after the Troubles in the 1970s broke out, but was recalled early on grounds of security.

The duke now maintains his link with the services mainly through honorary rank, which includes that of Colonel of the Scots Guards. He was personal aide-de-camp to his cousin Queen Elizabeth II who promoted him supernumerary Major General on her official birthday in 1983. He was later made a Field Marshal in 1993.

HRH Prince Edward is the longest-serving royal colonel in history. Not just of the Scots Guards but of any regiment in the British Army.

[charlotte-of-wales]

The Duke of Kent receives an 89th birthday treat from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, who have performed 'Happy Birthday' outside Kensington Palace. The Duke served for over 20 years in the Royal Scots Greys | October 9, 2024

[bestiarium]

Am Fear Liath Mór, or the Big Grey Man of Ben MacDhui [Scottish cryptid]

The high passes of Ben MacDhui – the second largest mountain in Scotland – are haunted by tales of a mysterious creature that supposedly stalks hikers. Usually it is described as an impossibly tall, grey spectre, thereby earning it the name ‘Am Fear Liath Mór’, meaning ‘the big grey man’.

The story starts in 1891 with professor Norman Collie of the Royal Geographic Society, who happened to be a passionate hiker as well. The professor had just climbed the cairn on the summit of Ben MacDhui when he heard something that vaguely sounded like footsteps. I should mention that this area is notoriously misty, so you can imagine how easy it is for a lone hiker to get anxious when hearing strange noises.

The footsteps continued, but they were oddly spaced: for every ‘step’ the professor heard, he himself took three or four. It was as if this mysterious spectre was taking giant leaps or had huge legs. Eventually the professor was overtaken by panic and fled. Much later, in 1925, he recounted his tale and shared it with the newspapers, who were eager to publish and often exaggerate the story of a supposed monster or cryptid living in the Scottish mountains. At the time, the mystery creature was dubbed ‘the Ben MacDhui Ghost’ in the media.

Afterwards, multiple people came forward with claims about the mountain ghost, some of which were believable (hearing unidentified sounds) and some were more fantastic (Richard Frere and Peter Densham claimed to have had a conversation with an invisible, psychic creature).

Richard Frere would later claim that while he was hiking on the top of the Ben MacDhui, he had an unshakeable feeling that someone else was there with him, and he would hear a strange high-pitched noise that seemed to come from the soil beneath his feet.

Frere also gave a physical description of a creature he claimed to have seen (but it is difficult to verify whether this is the oldest actual ‘sighting’ of the supposed ghost): a large, brown creature was seen swaggering down the mountainside. It stood about 20 feet (6m) tall, was covered with short brown fur and had a disproportionally large head supported by a thick, muscular neck. It had broad shoulders but walked upright and did not resemble an ape.

Interestingly, only a single sighting happened on a nearby mountain, rather than on the Ben MacDhui itself: in the 1920’s, Tom Crowley, the president of the local Moray Mountaineering Club, claimed to have seen an apparition while descending from Braeriach to the Glen Eanaich. It was a very tall, misty grey figure with a humanoid shape, albeit with long legs that ended in strange talons (described as resembling fingers more than toes) and a head with pointy ears.

Dr. A. M. Kellas, himself a famed mountaineer, also claimed that a giant grey humanoid creature haunted the mountain. Among the many supposed sightings, I am uncertain which one is actually the oldest description of the ‘Grey Man’ as a tall, grey spectre, but it is certainly the most popular one. The grey apparition had cemented itself as a local cryptid and urban legend and many more supposed sightings followed.

Though it is often claimed that the creature is connected to ancient Scottish or Celtic mythology, this is most likely false. Gray Affleck, the author of ‘The Big Grey Man of Ben MacDhui’, attempted to research this link but could not find a single connection with actual Highland mythology.

In 1958, the June edition of ‘Scots Magazine’ told the story of Alexander Tewnion’s 1943 expedition to the mountain. While he was descending the mountain, a giant grey shape suddenly loomed over him. Having none of this bullshit, Mr. Tewnion immediately pulled out his revolver and fired three bullets at the thing. The mysterious apparition seemed not to notice, however, and kept walking towards him, upon which Tewnion fled.

Sources: Barrie, A., 2005, Sutton Companion to the Folklore, Myths and Customs of Britain, The History Press, 480 pp. Gray, A., 2013, The Big Grey Man of Ben MacDhui, Birlinn, 183 pp. (reviewed edition, first edition published in 1970) (image source 1 : Attila Nagy on Artstation) (image source 2: ManthosLappas on Deviantart, ©Fear Liath)

[aimeedaisies]

Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, Katherine, the Duchess of Kent, Lord Nicholas Windsor and Prince Michael of Kent watched three pipers from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) play outside Wren House, Kensington Palace to mark Prince Edward's 89th birthday, on 9th October 2024.

The Duke is Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and served as an officer in the Royal Scots Greys between 1955 and 1971. The regiment was subsequently amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales Dragoon Guards) in 1971 to become the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

[scotianostra]

The memorial erected to the Fallen Heroes of the Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons) on Princess Street in Edinburgh was unveiled by the Earl of Roseberry, K.G., P.C., on 16th November 1906.

The memorial is opposite the junction with Frederick Street and is an equestrian statue in bronze, of a trooper of the Scots Greys in full review order of 1899.

The statue is mounted on a pedestal of rock which bears the bronze plaque containing the inscription and Regimental badges. The sculptor was Mr William Birnie Rhind; the models for the statue were *Sergeant-Major Anthony James Hinnigan and his horse called “Polly”.

Anthony James Hinnigan was born in Jedburgh in 1866 and in 1882, at the age of 16, he joined the Royal Scots Greys. For the next 17 years he served with the Greys on home duty but in September 1899, by now with the rank of Sergeant-Major, he went with the Greys to South Africa when they were mobilised for service in the Second Boer War.

On his return from South Africa in 1904 Sergeant-Major Hinnigan and his horse Polly were selected as the models for Rhind’s Memorial.

Sergeant-Major Hinnigan was discharged from the army in 1911 and became landlord at the Railway Inn at Irvine in Ayrshire.

*Please note I had a look around the net when researching this and relatives of many people who served in the regiment also claim that it was their relative in the statue, although most sources give Hinnigan’s name.

I would say with it’s prominent position on Princes Street in front of Edinburgh Castle, it is one of the most photographed statues in Edinburgh, and possibly Scotland. More on the Scots Greys Regiment in just over a week.

[captain-price-unofficially]

Sherman tank of the Royal Scots Greys carrying troops of the 1/6th Queen's Regiment during mopping up operations in Torre Annunziata, Italy. 1 October 1943

[barbucomedie]

"Ferguson" Breech-Loading Rifle from Aberdeen, Scotland dated to 1776 on display at the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum in Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

These rifles were invented by Lieut-Colonel Patrick Ferguson of Pitfour, Aberdeenshire. Ferguson's improved quick thread breech-loading rifle was an improvement on an earlier invention. He served as a subaltern in the Royal North British Dargoons (Scots Greys) from 1759 to 1762. Ferguson was killed in South Carolina at the Battle of King's Mountain in 1780 during the American Revolutionary War.

Photographs taken by myself 2023

[officalroyalsofpierreland]

The Emperor & Empress of the French Arrive in Scots

Edinburgh, Kingdom of Scots

Arriving head of the wedding festivities of HRH Prince Oliver, Duke of Rothsey and HIH Madame Hortense of Francesim, Emperor Napoleon V of Francesim along side his wife, Empress Charlotte, and mother, Madame Mere, have arrived in Scots for the first visit of a French monarch in centuries.

The soon to be in laws were greeted by TM King Alexander and Queen Marie Christine, along side the future bride and groom. This is the first official visit of the Simparte family to Scots though there are reports that the Emperor was in the Highlands with the Duke on his bachelor weekend.

The Emperor then proceeded to review The King's Highlanders, one of Scots most unique regiments before the two families went into Holyroodhouse for a more relaxed conversations.

The next day, The Emperor joined the Duke and Prince Magnus of Argyll in the Duchy of Argyll to tour the Royal Scotch Distilleries that are on the properties of the Duke of Argyll. The visit was a relaxed affair with the public seeing the Emperor quickly adopting the relaxed dress code that King Alexander advises for the Highlands of collared shirt and kilt. The products of the Royal Distilleries were reportedly what Prince Oliver gifted the Emperor prior to his own nuptials and coronation, which has raised the popularity of the brand in Francesim.

Later that day, Emperor Napoleon and the Duke of Rothsey went to the Royal Naval College, donning their respective naval uniforms, to be the guests of honor at this year's officer passing out parade.

A couple of days later, the two families closed down historic Edinburgh to conduct their wedding rehearsals at St. Andrews Cathedral.

Arriving first was Prince Oliver and Madame Hortense, with this sweet moment being caught on camera.

The pair walked to the top step, with both of them wearing their respective family tartans though it is not Madame Hortense's first time in the iconic Scots fabric.

Next to arrive was Emperor Napoleon, Empress Charlotte, and Madame Mere. The Simpartes also donned tartan with the Empress opting for a sleeveless knit top to go along with the skirt while the Emperor went with a light grey suit along with his kilt.

After the arrival of the King and Queen, the families went inside the cathedral to conduct a wedding walk through and look at the wedding decor.

After the rehearsals, the couple went to speak with the crowds that were waiting outside the cathedral. The pair went down the line to taken in their well wishes.

@empiredesimparte

[legend-collection]

Am Fear Liath Mòr

Am Fear Liath Mòr is the name for a presence or creature which is said to haunt the summit and passes of Ben Macdui, the highest peak of the Cairngorms and the second highest peak in British Isles after Ben Nevis.

Pic by mlappas on deviantart

Although there have been many purported encounters with the Big Grey Man, few eyewitnesses have actually seen the creature. It is reported to be very thin and over ten feet tall, with dark skin and hair, long arms, and broad shoulders. Most often, the creature remains unseen in the fog of the mountain, with encounters limited to the sound of crunching gravel as it walks behind climbers and a general feeling of unease around the mountain. Tangible evidence of its existence is limited to a few photographs of unusual footprints, so the majority relies on the credibility of eyewitness encounters.

The figure has many similarities with the Brenin Llwyd (English: Grey King) of Welsh mythology, this figure is also semi-corporeal, silent and uses the mists as a cloak to prey on unwary travellers. Unlike the Am Fear Liath, Brenin Llwyd is found in mountainous locations across Wales, and is particularly noted to prey on children.

In 1925, J. Norman Collie gave the first recorded account of a Grey Man encounter. A noted hiker, professor, and member of the Royal Geographical Society, Collie recounted a terrifying experience he had as he hiked alone near the summit of Ben Macdui years earlier in 1891.

"I was returning from the cairn on the summit in a mist when I began to think I heard something else than merely the noise of my own footsteps. Every few steps I took I heard a crunch, and then another crunch, as if someone was walking after me but taking steps three or four times the length of my own. I said to myself, this is all nonsense. I listened and heard it again but could see nothing in the mist. As I walked on and the eerie crunch, crunch sounded behind me, I was seized with terror and took to my heels, staggering blindly among the boulders for four or five miles nearly down to Rothiemurchus Forest. Whatever you make of it, I do not know, but there is something very queer about the top of Ben Macdui and I will not go back there again."

Collie's account was reported in the local press, which started a debate between sceptics and believers within the community. Other climbers came forward with their own encounters, which they had previously been afraid to share. One climber, Hugh D. Welsh, said that he hiked the summit with his brother in 1904, where throughout the day and night they heard "slurring footsteps, as if someone was walking through water-saturated gravel." Both felt "frequently conscious of something near us, an eerie sense of apprehension."

In 1945, Pete Densham was participating in rescue work in the Cairngorm mountains during World War II. One day, he reported hearing strange noises, mist closing in on his location, and increasing pressure around his neck. He fled before seeing anything concrete. A friend of his, climber Richard Frere, wrote about his sense of "a Presence, utterly abstract but intensely real" on the mountain and heard "an intensely high singing note" a few years later in 1948. Frere also presented the encounter of another mutual friend, who wished to remain anonymous, while he camped on Ben Macdui. He reported waking up feeling an inescapable feeling of dread, and looked out of his tent to see a large figure with dark hair standing in front of the moon in silhouette.

In 1958, naturalist and mountaineer Alexander Tewnion published an article in The Scots magazine about an encounter with the Grey Man in 1943.

"I spent a 10-day leave climbing alone in the Cairngorms. One afternoon, just as I reached the summit cairn of Ben MacDhui, mist swirled across the Lairig Ghru and enveloped the mountain. The atmosphere became dark and oppressive, a fierce, bitter wind whisked among the boulders, and... an odd sound echoed through the mist – a loud footstep, it seemed. Then another, and another... A strange shape loomed up, receded, came charging at me! Without hesitation I whipped out the revolver and fired three times at the figure. When it still came on I turned and hared down the path, reaching Glen Derry in a time that I have never bettered. You may ask was it really the Fear Laith Mhor? Frankly, I think it was.

No photographs of the Big Grey Man have ever been taken. Photographer John A. Rennie supposedly found a series of footprints in Spey Valley, measuring 19 inches (48 centimetres) long and 14 inches (36 centimetres) wide. These were published in a book, but he later discovered that they were a natural phenomenon caused by rainfall eroding the snow.

[ginandoldlace]

1896 Balmoral - A image of Emperor Nicholas II in the uniform of the Royal Scottish Dragoons. An icon depicting the monarch canonized in 2000 hangs in the regiment headquarters in Edinburgh and accompanies it during military operations, while the band of this military unit plays the anthem of the Russian Empire, ‘God Save the Tsar!’, at ceremonial events.

The Royal Scottish Dragoon Guards Regiment is, indeed, the elite of the Armed Forces of the country. It was formed in 1971 by combining the 3rd Carabinieri Guards Regiment (Prince of Wales Dragoon Guards) and the 2nd Dragoon Regiment (the so-called ‘Royal Scots Greys’).

Both military formations have a long history (since the 17th century) and many glorious victories are credited to them, but it is the ‘Greys’ that have a special bond with Russia. In 1894, Queen Victoria, in honor of the engagement of Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich (future Emperor Nicholas II) with her favorite granddaughter, Princess Alice of Hesse (future Empress Alexandra Feodorovna), appointed him to the honorary post of Chief Colonel of the 2nd Dragoon Regiment.

On November 19, 1894, in St. Petersburg, in the presence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Nicholas, who had already become tsar, accepted the honorary patronage over the regiment and, two years later, Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Welby officially represented the Dragoons at his coronation.

In 1896, Emperor Nicholas II made his first foreign visit after his coronation to Great Britain. For a meeting with Queen Victoria at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, he arrived in the red uniform of the Royal Scots Greys and it was these soldiers who accompanied him on his journey through the country.

In 1902, Nicholas II commissioned his portrait in the uniform of a colonel of the Dragoon Regiment from famous Russian artist Valentin Serov and presented it to his charges. Today, it is in the Royal Scots Greys Museum at Edinburgh Castle.

[herprivateswe]

The Royal Scots Greys by a roadside at Brimeaux, 25 May 1918.