All fool’s day saw the beginning of the annual pilgrimage north to the Bn Rifle Meeting in the gale swept wastes of Siberian Barry Buddon. The journey up was only marred by the forgetfulness of WOII Carter who navigated us to Euston instead of King's Cross and our train. The normal rush for ale ensued when the muskets and other smoke sticks had been deposited on the train, under guard.

Buddon Camp was its normal inhospitable self on our arrival, the bleakness of which was only enlightened by the cheerful way in which we were dealt with by RQMS Alan Morris and his efficient staff who were the only people to be seen before dawn.

Breakfast over and the teams were transported out to the ranges to compete against each other for the trophies. "JC" and Sgt "Split" Waterman, whilst talking with RSM Mahady, struck a wager, a bottle of the strong water distilled in those regions, as to who would win. The Pool Bull started the day with everyone firing a check group and trying to win a few bob, which is exactly what Pte Chris Clohessey did. (Bye the bye, the new Adjutant is a very good shot - he won a few bob on both the SLR and GPMG.)

G Coy's teams were quick to get on to the SMG Range, a good move as it turned out, and both teams were through before the rifle practices started. Practice 1, shot at 500, started the main series of events and even with the high cross-winds reasonable scores were recorded. Several mechanical malfunctions occurred, through no fault of the shooters, which appeared to put the firers off. One rifle refused to function even on the maximum gas-setting, and on another the body latch failed to hold, exposing the rat's tail and breech-block every time the weapon was fired; it was very quickly banned and the owner had to borrow a spare rifle to shoot with.  As the day progressed and the scores mounted it became apparent that the A team had a good lead in the SMG competition with the B not far behind. However, things did not fare so well on the SLR scores with the B team further up the listings than the A.

The last event for the Jocks was the falling-plates competition where the A team went through to the semi-finals and the B team were eliminated.

The final event of the day was the Officers v NCO's falling - plates match for the grand prize of a bottle of whisky. The Officers team, led by the CO, numbered ten men and the RSM's Merry Men 16, each man having one plate to knock down. The Training Major, Major Park-Weir, A&SH, borrowed Pte Steve Hirlehey's SLR but had to sign a receipt (visions of A40's) and also got a pair of expensive binos into the bargain. The pips beat the chevrons and received the prize, but a number of SNCO's were heard to mutter " fix ".

Saturday evening saw an interesting sight. One well-known Gordon Highlander dressed in the following rig: Brogues, by Cpl Micky Powell, shirt and 51 Highland Pipe Band tie by Dmr Tom Muir and trousers and blazer, courtesy of L/Cpl Arthur Fenwick, complete with London Scottish badge, was seen in and around the Sgts' Mess consuming ale.

After a very early reveille, bedding being handed in before breakfast, the day started badly.  No transport was available to take G Coy to the ranges and so WOII Carter, he who borrows clothes, decided that we should march out to the firing-point. With the tall men in the front, the squad moved out at a rapid pace into the teeth of a Barry gale. After a mile a V Coy four-tonner appeared to ferry us to the competition.

The first event to be settled was the falling-plates with the A team knocked out by HQ Coy, who eventually won.

The GPMG competition was the normal fun time with sheep wandering the range, and we nearly had roast mutton for dinner as they refused to move. When the smoke had cleared, V Coy had come top whilst the G Coy teams were half-way down the listings.

Although we didn't win we at least returned with two cups; the SMG Team Cup and the best individual SMG score.

Finally, mention must be given to the two non-shooting team captains, Sgt Waterman and L/Cpl Webb, who did all the running around whilst the shooters shot.