Halloween 1980
Buckingham Gate, London

THIS YEAR your reporter managed to obtain copy of the detailed timetable for the evening and, so, was able to keep a time-cheek throughout. Allowing for the fact that there were several hundred members and their guests to serve, it was a feat of organisation and control that by the time the Evening Hymn arrived, the programme was only ten minutes adrift.

Promptly at 6.55, the top table was piped into the Hall from the Officers' Mess by the Pipe Major, and the wreath was laid on the 1914-18 War Memorial by Pte Riley of "G" Coy. Following the Lament and Reveille, Grace was said by Colonel Niekirk, and everyone settled down to dinner of cock-a-leekie, haggis, steak and kidney pie, all of which was lavish. Around me, in true military fashion, plates were piled high, and even enormous second helpings accepted with alacrity.

By the time of the Loyal Toasts (20. 15 hrs, according to the programme), everyone was settled back with an air of contentment. Colonel Niekirk read the telegram of loyal greetings which he had sent to the Honorary Colonel, and Her Majesty's reply of thanks and best wishes for a happy Hallowe'en Reunion. He also thanked Hector Robertson and his Committee for their successful arrangements, the Cadets of 95 (London Scottish) Cadet Coy - Eltharn, and 235 (Westininster) Cadet Coy - The London Scottish, for their efficient stewarding, and Major and Mrs Meldrum for looking after the evening's lighting arrangements. The Colonel reminded everyone that bowler hats were not an essential requirement at Church Parade this year. He concluded his brief remarks by saying how delighted he was that our guest of honour, Major- General A. C. S. Boswell, CBE, the Director, Territorial Army and Cadets, was wearing the kilt.

After a short break, Hector Robertson read the greetings from London Scots and friends who were not able to be at "59". They had been received from Andrew Brand (Christchurch, New Zealand), Brian Adeock, (Auckland, New Zealand), James Eadie (Rockingham, Western Australia), William Crowe (Lagos, Nigeria), Louis Sanchez (Tenerife), Bernard Quandalle (Lillecal), Commander Schellekens, Mike Delisse, Colonel Derek Penman, Lt-Colonel John MacGregor, Dr Fraser McCluskey, Hamish Sutherland, Ronnie Macpherson, Andrew Gallatly, Hugh Price and The London Scots dining in Inverness, Lt-Colonel S. V. Bishop, Bill Murdoch, "Chick" Fettes, John Wilson (6665644), Major John Bannon, and Barbara and Vera.

The timetable allowed only two minutes for this reading, so the first entertainment by the Pipes and Drums started a few minutes later than the programmed 20.45 hrs. They began with a real feet-tapping Drummers' Salute under Mike Crowley, followed by the First Set comprising The Skye Gathering (slow march), 1st Bn London Scottish at Primosole Bridge (quick march), The Bracs o' Tullymet (Strathspey), Sleepy Maggie (reel), Pibroch o' Donald Dhu (quick march).

Major Richard Holliday said that it was his privilege to propose the toast to our guests, and thought it worthwhile to reflect upon what is behind a London Scottish Hallowe'en Reunion. "Informal Hallowe'en suppers have been held in the Regiment at least since 186 1, but the first large dinner with about 200 present, was in this drill hall in 1896, the year the Gazette started. Celebration of Hallowe'en was well established as a regimental function with guests before the 1st Bn embarked to France in September 1914. What happened on Hallowe'en 1914 confirmed the significance of the date in regimental history and on two subsequent Hallowe'ens at Beersheba in 1917, the 2nd Bn, and Teano in 1944, the 1st Bn, regimental troops were actually carrying out an operation.

Without doubt, the most famous is Hallowe'en 1914, where the operation was at Messines, near Ypres in Belgium. It is clear that the action there created some special bond amongst London Scots of all generations, and which is perhaps the chief reason why we are gathered here tonight. That action was important to the Territorials as well as to the Regiment, as it was the first commitment of other than regular troops to the line of battle.

Since the 1st Bn had landed in France in September 1914, it had been split up into independent coy groups. When the Army Commanders decided to concentrate the Bn with the prospect of letting it take its place in the line, it was with exhilaration that Bn complied. They were together again, bar a half coy, and they were glad.

After some uncertainty, the Bn finally occupied some existing, but rather basic, trenches on the Messines Ridge in the morning of Hallowe'en. Their task - to hold the defence line, which had been severely attacked on previous nights, and where the regular troops were exhausted. Few of the officers or soldiers had seen action before. The Bn had been under shell-fire, but not as a specific target. That night the Germans attacked three times, at 9 pm, 10 pm and 2 am. The first attack was beaten off with accurate rifle fire; in the second the Germans got closer, and hand-to-hand fighting in the forward trenches took place, but the enemy were driven off. The last attack was the most determined, and the Germans outflanked the Bn, and the reserve coy repeatedly charged parties of German soldiers in the rear of the positions. In the early hours the Bn was in danger of being surrounded, and was withdrawn about half a mile, where it regrouped. The German soldiers had been fought to a standstill, and they too retired, back to their original lines.

The all-important Ypres salient held steady; The London Scottish had been blooded in action.

But at what cost. The Gazette records the statistics one year later -

I would add that Hallowe'en dinner was not forgotten, and eventually eaten on November 6. Unfortunately the haggis was too old and had to be thrown away.  I would now like to introduce some of our guests, and will start with representatives of societies connected with the Regiment:

Gentlemen, you are all very welcome. I would also introduce:

Mr lan McCulloch, representing the Knights of the Round Table, and our Regimental Legal Counsel. With what is mooted, you could be very busy. We are all grateful for your work already.  Now Gentlemen, to our Military Guests.

Brigadier Alan Woolford, MC, Secretary of the T & AVR Association for Greater London. We see the Brigadier often at "59", and never cease to be amazed at the apparent case with which he solves TA problems. We are very pleased you can be with us.  Two of our three Gordon Highlander PSIs WOII Malcolm, who has been with us since camp. Welcome to "59" and good luck. Colour Sgt Norton who has been with us quite a while, and must be well on the way to his TEM. Super to see you, Colours.

Brigadier John Ghika, CBE, Chief of Staff, Headquarters, London District. Brigadier Ghika is responsible to the GOC for TA affairs in the District. The Scottish are not under full command, but only for certain administrative functions. A measure of Brigadier Ghika's enthusiasm for the job is that he is well known here; how much better known he must be to units under full command. He was awarded the CBE in the Birthday Honours, and I am sure that his work for the TA was well recognised by the award. Brigadier, we are grateful for your service to us, and delighted to have you with us.

Air Commodore Arthur Riall, CBE, Secretary of the National Rifle Association. The Regiment has long had close ties with the NRA, and we would like to acknowledge our debt to Air Commodore Riall at the last Hallowe'en Dinner he will attend before he retires.

And now to the Generals.

Major General Desmond Langley, MBE - Major General Household Division and General Officer Commanding London District.

I must reveal here that I serve on General Langley's staff, and must therefore be careful in how I express what I am going to say about him. I don't want a shortened tour of duty!

Gentlemen, when you watch a great state occasion, such as the Opening of Parliament, The Queen's Birthday parade or the visit of a foreign head of State, I'll be bound you feel proud of the troops taking part. Remember then that General Langley and his Regular Staff organise these parades, and how they contribute to our British quality of life.  I don't expect, Sir, when you were commissioned into the Life Guards, that you ever thought that you would, in effect, be responsible for one of our biggest tourist attractions and earners of foreign currency - The Household Division on Parade.  General Langley is the first Household Cavalry General to command London District, his predecessors having been Footguards. He commanded 4th Guards Arrnoured Brigade 1976-78, and immediately prior to his present post he was Brigadier General Staff of UKLF.

Sir, we are very pleased to welcome you here tonight. Gentlemen, I now come to our Guest of Honour, Major General Alexander Boswell, CBE, Director of the Territorial Army and Cadets.  General Boswell did his Regimental Service in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and is presently Colonel of that Regiment. Many London Scots, Sir, will recall happy times soldiering with the Argylls.

General, on the 1914-18 War Memorial behind us, are the names of five Argyll officers who fell while serving with The London Scottish. We are proud to commemorate them alongside our own fallen.

Prior to his present post he has at some time been CO of 1st Argylls, Commander of 39th Infantry Brigade in Belfast, Chief of Staff, 1st British Corps in Biciefeld, and immediately prior to his present post, GOC of 2nd Armoured Division. The post of DTA is now back in the career structure of the Army, after years as a 'final posting', and so we look forward to his future progress in the Army."

In his reply on behalf of the guests, General Boswell said that it was a privilege for him to spend an evening with The London Scottish. He spoke about the Territorial Army. this had to maintain the standards already set, but cannot live in the past, but had to meet the challenge of the future. General Boswell gave statistics illuminating the part played by the TA in the defence of the nation, and of its increase in strength during recent months, the most significant increase recorded for years. Recent exercises had given much publicity to the vital role the TA had to play. General Boswell wished "G" Coy every good fortune in the future, and expressed the hope that it would go from strength to strength. He then proposed the toast to The Regiment.

The reply to this toast was made by Major Patrick Layden, who as was customary for the Company Commander, reviewed the progress of "G" Coy, and its activities, during the past year. A new venture was the platoon now established at Eltham. Major Layden acknowledged the great debt owed to the PSI.  CSM Murdoch had left at camp, and he welcomed his successor CSM Malcolm. he referred to the recent death of L/Cpl Bill Kidd and extended deep sympathy to Mrs Kidd. On the next day, Sgt Split Waterman was retiring from the TA. As a tribute he presented Split (accompanied by great applause especially from the Coy members present) with a beer-making kit, as a mark of the Coy's appreciation. The winner of the Messines Trophy of 1980 was Pte Alan Pendleton who was unable to attend the dinner as he was getting married. At this point Major Layden remarked that he had heard that some members were speculating on the time he would take over his speech. He claimed to have won as the time he had estimated was 8 minutes 42 seconds, and sat down!

The time was now 21.40 (ten minutes later than planned) and the Pipe Band played its Second Set - The Mist Covered Mountains (slow march), and the Company Marches, The Black Bear, Blue Bonnets, Bonnie Dundee, Colonel Robertson and Cock o' the North, and the Regimental March. The fine playing was much appreciated and the Band received great applause.

With the Evening Hymn, of which the verses were sung by J. C. Turner, Major P. Layden, CSM G. Woodall, Cpl Baigrie and the Colonel, the official part of the evening came to a close - but as usual, the meeting of old friends carried on for a long time afterwards.