Keeping Robert Burns alive within The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)

Written by Captain (Retired) Alan McEwen MBE

Having never read or studied the works of Robert Burns throughout my early years at home or my public schooling years in Dundee, it was not until I joined 1^st Battalion The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) in 1979 at the age of 21 that I began to learn of the relevance and importance given to keeping the works of Scotland’s National Bard alive. This is done through education, study, and the delivery of recitals and songs at social functions – for me these were the annual Burns Suppers in both the Sergeant’s and Corporal’s Messes on or about 25^th January each year.

These Burns mess functions were/are big affairs and, in the case of the Sergeant’s Mess, lasting 4 days usually beginning with a Meet and Greet on Thursday night for members of The Black Watch and guests, closely followed by the Burns Supper on the Friday night, then a dinner and dance on the Saturday night with wives and partners, and finally a Kirk Service followed by a families lunch on the Sunday.  Although these were great social weekends, they could take their toll on both your wallet and your liver!

And so it was that as I earned promotion, firstly into the Corporals’ Mess (and later into the Sergeants’ Mess) I would attend the annual Burns Suppers and listen intently to the likes of Ian MacDonald, who inspired me to learn and recite Tam o’ Shanter, Peter Snaddon, who inspired me to learn and recite Holy Willie’s Prayer, Dennis Fieldston, who inspired me to learn and recite To a Louse, John (Jock) Gilfillan, Brian Gilfillan, Tam Henderson, David Morton, Norrie McKellican, who inspired me to learn and recite The Soldier’s Return, and globally renowned Burns aficionado Cameron (Cammy) Goodall, as they delivered their BAFTA award winning recitals and songs, always, always from memory.  Along with earning the right of passage into these exclusive clubs (messes) came the additional responsibility for social and personal development in the form of Burns self-education and stepping up to the plate (so to speak) at Burns Suppers.

The responsibility to Address the Haggis at the annual 1^st Battalion Warrant Officers’, Colour Sergeants’, and Sergeants’ Mess Burns Supper always sat with the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) unless he was unavailable. In this event, a deputy is requested (ordered) to learn and recite in place of the RSM. This was my case when Regimental Sergeant Major Arthur Keith ‘requested’ that I, as a Company Sergeant Major (CSM), deliver the address as a guest speaker at a Civil Servants Burns Supper in Hong Kong in 1993, a request I couldn’t refuse.

To this day all or most (Scottish Infantry Antecedent) SCOTS Battalions usually hold a Burns Supper unless operational commitments prevent them from doing so and I was delighted to attend The Black Watch, 3^rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Sergeants’ Mess Burns Supper on Saturday 20^th January 2024 in the British Legion at Inverness. All seven of Burns’ works recitals were faultlessly delivered with theatrical professionalism, enthusiasm, and passion.  In addition, both the Angus and Perth branches of The Black Watch Association hold their Burns Supper every year during which Black Watch officers and soldiers deliver the self-same inspirational performances.

Down through history officers and soldiers of The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) have and, I am sure, will continue to keep the works of Robert Burns alive and educate/encourage their successors to do likewise.