Bedford Highlanders
Borough Recreation Commitee for the Troops - Hogmany and Highland Games
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The Borough Recreation Committee for the Troops was established by Bedford's Mayor, Harry Browning, the day after the Highlanders arrived in town. The Committee performed a sterling service not only for the benefit of the Highland Division, but for all the troops who passed through Bedford in the four years of the War.
The town's female population was prominent in the Committee's activities, galvanised by some powerful figureheads such as Miss Collie, Miss Stansfeld, Miss Walmsley and Mrs. Browning.
The Committee and some of the many volunteer helpers who worked tirelessly from August 1914 to November 1918 are pictured on the steps of Bedford Grammar School's cricket pavilion on the occasion of the Highland Games, held on Easter Monday 1915.
The story of the Borough
Recreation Committee for the Troops and the tireless
work of the hundreds of predominantly female volunteers
from the towns and villages in Bedfordshire is an
inspirational one of which the local community should
still be very proud.
In the knowledge that the Scots would wish to celebrate
Hogmanay in some style, the Borough Recreation Committee
for the Troops was determined to mark the occasion well.
£900 was raised towards the total cost of £1048 in
contributions from the main Scottish towns to which the
Highland Division was most closely connected.
Over
two evenings each man in the Division was treated to a
Hogmanay Supper which was provided simultaneously in
eighteen venues around the town, one of which was St.
Martin's Church Hall, Clapham Road and the programme for
the evening is shown here. On the first evening,
priority was given to the men who were living in
unfurnished dwellings. The suppers were presided over by
Bedford's civic dignitaries and the Lord Provost of
Aberdeen and the Editor of the 'Aberdeen Journal' were
also in attendance.
1000 suppers were sent to Howbury
Park where the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
were in quarantine, under canvas.
The evenings were
a triumph of planning and organisation, being hailed a
great success. Much to the relief of the towns folk
there were no major problems reported regarding the
discipline of the soldiers in the town.
(photo:
courtesy of Richard Galley)
From the Barrhead News:
"Dec 31st 1914 - January
1st 1915 Hogmanay at Bedford
A correspondence sends
us a copy of a report Bedford record containing a report
of the Hogmanay festivities in the town on the part of
the Scottish Soldiers stationed there. From the report
we make the following extracts:-
Since the warm
golden days of August when the kilt first came to
Bedford, there has been much to make its stay memorable
in the minds of the inhabitants of the old riverside
town, but nothing has aroused and interested us more
than the celebration of New Year's eve, or to give its
appropriate name Hogmanay. Had we known what
good-hearted and happy, unspoiled fun there was going to
be on the old market square at midnight all Bedford
would have been there to see. By half past eleven
o'clock the ringing of hand bells, shouting and sturdy
hoots and whistles showed that something was astir, with
or without the authority of the powers that be. The
Square was obviously the centre of attraction and a
large crowd in kilts and khaki were already there. From
every direction fresh processions and fresh batches
poured in; over the bridge they came singing "A song of
Bonny Scotland"; from somewhere else was a piper
swinging along in front, plaids and uniforms of every
kind mingling like their owners in agreeable concord.
Not at least was the charge of the Camerons, who arm
in arm, kilts and sporrans swinging and flashing, rushed
in a laughing, shouting, human whirlwind down the High
street. At quarter to twelve the square was as full as
on an election night and dancing was in full swing. How
Scotsmen dance! They fling themselves into it
whole-heartedly and their movements are as light and
easy as you could well wish to see. In the square an
enormous ring was formed, and everywhere, according to
Scottish custom, the Scottish lads were waiting hands
ready and linked to sing out the old and sing in the
new. The hands of the clock plainly visible, passed
slowly on, and as they touched midnight the vast crowd
started off with "Auld Lang Syne"so that the striking
of the hour was left to the imagination. The singing
over, such a hand shaking began as must have made the
moon smile and the cock on the spire wish to lose some
of its dignity and crow in sympathy"
"The piping and dancing competition's the one thing which above all distinguishes a Highland Gathering… the ladies and gentlemen in the enclosure and grandstand appeared very much to enjoy it. But no more than did a large white dog, which lay quietly between the judge and the performers for hours. At last it raised its head and howled, as only dogs can do and was then gently led away up the steps of the grandstand to the pavilion. This noble animal is the mascot of the 6th Gordons and always accompanies the battalion on its route marches, trotting along with the pipers."
(Bedford and Luton Archives and Records Service).
The photographer captures the finish of the 220 Yards Officers'Race. (Photograph: courtesy of Richard Galley)
The caber tossing competition took place near the
boundary with Pemberley Avenue. The Duke of Bedford
provided two cabers from the fir plantations on his
Woburn estate. After the Games, the cabers were made
into a fine set of garden furniture which was presented
to the Mayor Mr Harry Browning and his wife as a gesture
of thanks in recognition of the hard work they had put
into supporting the Highland Division during its time in
Bedford.
(photo: courtesy of Richard Galley)
"Victoria Cross Race
The Victorians had to run
out – presumably under fire – and fetch in a wounded and
unconscious comrade from about 100 yards out. Any
assistance in picking up by the "wounded"man
disqualified both. Private Tough, 7th Gordons, arrived
home easily first but was disqualified through his
comrade helping him."
Bedfordshire Times and
Independent
At the far right of the picture can be
seen the boy scout who was gainfully employed in picking
up any of the competitors'hats which fell off during
the race!
(photo: courtesy of Richard Galley)
Looking towards Pemberley Avenue and the School chapel,
this photograph captures the image of an Argyll and
Sutherland Highlander and an officer of the Gordon
Highlanders competing in the fencing competition.
(photo: courtesy of Richard Galley)
The Argylls versus the Gordons in the Highland dancing
competition. Highland Dancing is a centuries old
tradition within Highland regiments.
"Verily it
was a grand day and it was wound up with a distribution
of prizes by His Grace the Duke of Bedford, who was
accompanied by Her Grace the Duchess of Bedford, who
witnessed the sports with great interest. Major-General
Bannatyne-Allason spoke in terms of high appreciation of
the Committee's successful effort to provide amusement
and recreation for the Troops. A silver cup given by
Colonel Grant, for the unit which had most
prize-winners, fell to the 8th Argylls.
The profit
from this Sports Meeting was £211 2s. This provided
welcome sinews of war for the Committee's general fund."
'A Record of Four and Half Years Voluntary Work';
J.Hamson – pub. by Bedford Borough Recreation Committee
for the Troops May 1919
(photo: courtesy of Richard
Galley)
Page last updated: 15th July 2014