Lonach Highland & Friendly Society Pages
(on the McHardy Family of Corryhoul Website)
The Lonach Men's March to Corriemulzie 1855 Page 1
Sir Charles Forbes and his two sons at the head of the Lonach Men marched from Strathdon to Corriemulzie on Deeside (where Mar Lodge now stands west of Braemar), the seat of John Duff, Esq., M.P. The contingent numbered 120 officers and men. The above picture is copied from the program for the 1936 Lonach Highland Games and is a reproduction of one of the 12 sketches made by William Henry Fisk. It illustrates Lady Agnes Duff, having handed to Sir Charles Forbes and to his officers, together with her friends, a glass of "mountain dew", this and other toasts were responded to with a hearty goodwill. No slight interest was felt as Sir Charles Forbes proposed the health of the Earl of Erroll and that of his devoted and courageous lady, now both returned to England, his Lordship having been wounded in the battle of Alma. The last brilliant gleams of the evening sun lit up this interesting scene - interesting, because one of those genuine expressions of affection and esteem which are ever a source of gratification and an earnest good will.
Lady Agnes Duff and friends inspecting the camp. The men paraded in full Forbes dress. The stalwart highlanders looking their best, while their pipers woke up the echoes of the hills.
A view of the camp kitchen. It was here the original drawing was made when preparations were being made for supper.
Orders of the Day
The following is reproduced from the records of the Lonach Highland and Friendly Society and was kindly provided by Mr George Hardie of House of Newe.
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Corriemulzie 15th September 1855 The Clan will parade in their review dress and order at 11 o'clock am, and after particular inspection will march, in Company with the clan MacDuff to the Castle of Braemar. Officers will be particular in seeing that the appointments of dress, particularly the plaids of the men are properly adjusted. The Laird, as Lieutenant of the Chief The Lord Forbes implores the whole to turn out in such a manner as may insure from himself to them on the part of his Lordship, that approbation and high character for orderly demeanour, and clean appearance for which the Men of Don have been so distinguished. He need not assure how anxious he is, that when such an occasion, when they are to be brought under the notice of their "Cousins" and beloved Sovereign, they should conform to the world of the Highlands and everywhere the fact that the men of Donside, far from deteriorating have steadily advanced in moral and social condition. Though still retaining the old feudal attachments of their ancestry which characteristic has, though often cruelly abused and taken advantage of by their superiors in times past, has in its effects, left in the Highland character everything to be admired and esteemed. After the return of the Clan to camp in the afternoon the men will partake of their dinner. By the invitation of Invercauld the men may attend the Ball of the Society at the Castle at 9 o'clock tonight. General parade at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning in undress without arms. The Clan will remain encamped during the day in consequence of an invitation from Mr and Lady Agnes Duff to a Gran Ball in honour of the Camp to take place at Corriemulzie tomorrow night to which all the men off duty will be permitted to go. |
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Corriemulzie 16th September 1855 9 o'clock am. An express having been received from her most gracious Majesty, intimating that Her Majesty will inspect the Camp and Clan at 2 o'clock - every preparation will be immediately made. |
The Clan assembled and marching must have been a wonderful sight to behold.
The above makes interesting reading in a social context. We see a 19th century landlord once more taking the part of the feudal overlord, and the tenants playing the part of the clan. All the more interesting is that it occurred over 100 years after the 1745 Jacobite uprising and the destruction on the clan system which followed the defeat at Culloden in 1746. How times have changed.
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