Britain’s only private regiment, The Atholl Highlanders, are about to commence an 11-day US tour marking the fourth time in its history it has embarked on a tour of the States. The Atholl Highlanders, raised and commanded by the Dukes of Atholl, and based at their ancestral home of Blair Castle in Highland Perthshire, have announced that they are honoured to be leading New York’s Tartan Day Parade.
In what is the fourth tour of the States undertaken by the Atholl Highlanders in its long and proud history, and having last toured there as a regiment in 2012, the 62 strong contingent of Atholl Highlanders, including its Pipe Band and support staff, will visit Washington, Boston, and the Massachusetts town of Athol, which claims a historical connection to the Atholl Highlanders, along with New York City itself.
Parade marches
Having performed parade marches many times in the States as part of other US tours, the Atholl Highlanders have never marched in the Tartan Day Parade before, and, as such, are honoured to be not only taking part, but to be leading the parade. Their band, which consists of ten pipers and nine drummers, will lead the colourful procession and will wear the Clan Murray Tartan. The following day will see them parade at the British Embassy in New York. Touring the East Coast of America, to coincide with New York Tartan Week, was the idea of His Grace, The 10th Duke of Atholl, who funded the very first trip in conjunction with the Murray Clan in 1987, visiting Boston, Athol, Concorde, the Loon Mountain Highland Games, New York, Washington, plus the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington and Williamsburg.
After the 10th Duke passed away, and the title moved to John Murray in South Africa, an Atholl Highlanders Council was created, which went on to operate a Tour Fund. It allocated money that the Atholl Highlanders received as payment for Duties at the Keepers of the Quaich, and through the Atholl Gathering, towards overseas tours, which usually had a link to the Murray family and/or Blair Castle itself. Subsequent tours followed, in 2000 and 2012, visiting other destinations such as Quebec, Toronto, and Bermuda, along with the Massachusetts town of Athol, an approximate 90-minute drive from Boston.
Athol
In the mid-18th century, Athol was chosen as the place to settle by an emigrating Scot, John Murray. Becoming a prominent businessman and landowner, he named the town Athol to remind him of his Scottish roots in Highland Perthshire. Although his connection to the Murray Clan remains unfounded in Blair Castle archives, the town, has, since the Atholl Highlanders first American tour in 1987, developed close links with the Regiment, and Blair Castle. Following the Regiment parading at The State House, Boston, during its 2012 tour, a ceremony officially recognised the town of Athol’s 250th anniversary, with June 6th declared “Athol Day”. On this forthcoming tour, local Athol families will host pairs of Atholl Highlanders in their own homes for four nights, before the Regiment returns to Scotland.
Started three years ago, as a result of a special Atholl Highlanders organising committee reaching out to the local community to foster even closer links between them, the hosting provides a more personal experience than a hotel, and enables all parties to gain a deeper understanding of each other’s culture. Kindly transporting the Atholl Highlanders to parades, and other trips and activities during their time with them, such as this year, the Girardi’s River Rat Race, a canoe race on the Athol-Orange River, the Host Families are instrumental in organising cultural and educational visits to local schools and businesses in Athol and the surrounding area. Once again, as on previous trips, the Athol Highlanders will take part in the State House Parade in Boston on the 11th April. Their packed itinerary also sees them parade at the British Embassy in Washington, attend a Black Rose Dinner in Athol, and enjoy a Legion Spaghetti Supper. With Atholl Highlanders often recruited through their family lines, there are presently six sets of brothers in the regiment and its band, together with three sets of father and sons.
Incredible trip
RSM Graham Jack, an Atholl Highlander since 1977, and a veteran of three previous USA tours, commented on the forthcoming trip: “We are all really looking forward to this incredible trip. Although many of our members have been on a US tour before, each one always offers something new. This time, it’s the honour and privilege to lead the Tartan Day Parade, which came about through our previous Adjutant, John Bullough, planting the seed of the Regiment leading the Tartan Day Parade in New York. It will be an amazing experience for us all, one that we will never forget, and particularly poignant and memorable for the Atholl Highlanders attending for the first time with their sons, and for our many sets of brothers.”
Graham, who can trace his family ancestry regarding the Murray Clan back to the Battle of Culloden, went on to say: “On behalf of the Atholl Highlanders, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank the extremely hospitable host families in Athol who look after us so well. Many of us have become firm friends, with visits taking place outwith official tours, something we are sure will continue into the future. This year’s itinerary in Athol will be particularly fun with some of our members taking part in the Athol Rat Race, a break from the formality of other tasks. We always welcome the chance to get right into the heart of the community through the school and business visits too.”
On a final note, Graham said: “We’d say to any of Americans who love their history, and who’d like to find out more about the Atholl Highlanders, to make the very worthwhile trip over to Scotland to visit us at Blair Castle. May is a fantastic time to come, as we have our annual Military Parade and take part in traditional Highland Games. It’s a true Highland spectacle not to be missed! The regiment was actually formed to fight American Independence on behalf of the Crown, which is another fascinating fact. However, they ended up in Ireland and never made it over to get involved in the conflict. Now, we are happy to say that we enjoy the best possible connections to the USA!”
Did you know?
-The Atholl Highlanders remain Britain’s only private Regiment, raised and commanded by the Dukes of Atholl, they are based at the ancestral home, Blair Castle, Perthshire where they parade every year on the last weekend of May. They wear Murray tartan, Murray being the family name of the Dukes of Atholl.
-The original Atholl Highlanders were a regular regiment in the British Army, the 77th raised in 1777 for service in America. However, after being stationed in Ireland, the war concluded before they had embarked for America and they were disbanded in 1783.
-The Atholl Highlanders, a band of local men, were first deployed in 1839, by Lord Glenlyon, later 6th Duke of Atholl, to participate in a tournament at Eglinton in Ayrshire, Scotland’s celebration for Queen Victoria. In 1842 the Duke entertained Queen Victoria on her first visit to Scotland and two years later she chose to stay at Blair Castle to rest after the birth of her second child. Throughout her stay the Atholl men provided her with a guard. In recognition of this service she granted them the Queen’s Colours and the right to bear arms the following year. This unique grant constituted the Atholl Highlanders.
-The Atholl Highlanders are primarily a ceremonial regiment, however during the two World Wars many of the men served in the regular British Army.
-During the first half of the twentieth century the regiment went into abeyance and was only revived by the 10th Duke of Atholl in 1966. Today, officers are drawn from the Duke’s relations and local lairds and the men are invited to join by the Duke, usually having an estate or family connection. They wear the Murray tartan kilt, plaid and juniper as a cap badge. Their present 12th Duke, Bruce Murray, hails from South Africa.