Will auld acquaintance be forgot as Scots go it alone?

The Times (London, UK) ^ | March 31, 2007 | Martin Fletcher

[Jack_Macca]

My friend, getting presents from posh public schoolboys born in Zimbabwe, pretending to be a Clan leader has as much cultural validity as wearing clogs in Holland or believing the English all wear bowler hats.

As for the racial slurs - lets clear this once and for all. Do you believe the American/Canadians of Scottish descent are genetically superior to Scots in Scotland? Yes or No?

[Jack_Macca]

Thanks, have you too noticed that he has tried to deflect the whole thread to something in his imagination, rather than what it was about?

His anti-Englishness is also shocking (I am not English), but worse is his ignorance on the relationship between Scotland, England and Britain as a whole.

It has also disturbed me that he thinks those who are of Scottish descent in North America are the genetically superior people compared to modern Scots who he hates. I think it’s because he is trying to hold onto an identity that never was. If he doesn’t who is he? His identity is what we call in Scotland of the “shortbread tin” variety. Bagpipes, kilts and regular watchings of Braveheart. LOL

[Churchillspirit]

Yes, he does have a bee in his bonnet about something.

25 years of experience running a Scottish store here in the US has been very enlightening as to how Americans view we Scots. Many knowledgeable folks, but many "Brigadoons" as well!

Slainte!

[mamelukesabre]

Yep. Just think, none of us would have any basements if it weren’t for the scots and their masonry.

[GMMAC]

"... he has tried to deflect the whole thread to something in his imagination ... "

Presumably, one of us is a liar & as I've posted more than one link (here, #19) to you saying precisely what you go on claiming I'm imagining ...

"Britain fought for two years against tyranny alone"

which quite plainly omits any acknowledgment whatsoever of the sacrifices of all the nations - not just Canada - who stood allied with Britain between 1939 & 1941.

Further, your other ignorant & disparaging comments, particularly to & about FRiend candor7, go along way to more than confirming my initial premise.

[fanfan]

Just so everyone knows, Candor7 did reply to this post, but it has been pulled by the mods.

To Jack,
I have to assume you came to FR to pick fights.
So far, so good.
BTW, what’s your DU name?

[Snowyman]

I know there is a Graham here and in my time I’ve known both Campbells and Drummnds.

Thinking of my G-G-Grandmother Graham I remember the following. :

From the greed of the Campbells,
From the ire of the Drummonds,
From the pride of the Grahams,
From the wind of the Murrays,
Good Lord deliver us!

I swear there’s definitely a Murray here.

Maybe two. :)

[Candor7]

Yes I did reply, and as far as I am concerned, these two slaggers are hardly worth the hassle of even writing to them. They are master baiters,and have no other purpose here on FR than simply to disparage its membership.

They will have to find other places to troll their bait, because the fish here are no longer biting.

This will be my last comment on the matter.

[kanawa]

This has been a lively,entertaining and educational thread.

It has taken on a more personal meaning to me though....
While debating the point that it wasn't just Britain that stood alone,
posters have mention some of the commonwealth nations that stood with her
but none have mentioned the Dominion of Newfoundland as being an early participant.
She declared war on Germany Sept 4/39.
Here's a small bit from Wikipedia about her invovlement.

Fearing that a German invasion of Newfoundland could be used as a prelude to an attack on Canada, in 1940 Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King and Newfoundland Governor Sir Humphrey T. Walwyn entered into negotiations regarding the strengthening of defense positions along the Newfoundland coast. Notwithstanding their separate political identity, the defense of Newfoundland and the Newfoundland Home Guard armed forces were integrated with the Canada military and both governments agreed to the formation of a joint coastal defense battery. As part of the Anglo-American Lend Lease agreement, the United States was granted military air and naval bases on Newfoundland territory at Argentia, Stephenville and St John's.

Newfoundlanders were encouraged to enlist in the forces of the United Kingdom and Canada. The Royal Navy enlisted some 3500 from the Newfoundland Naval Reserve of those whom Churchill called, "the best small boat sailors in the world." The Royal Artillery raised two regiments, the 57th (later 166th) Newfoundland Field Regiment which saw action in North Africa and Italy and 59th Newfoundland Heavy Artillery which began service as coastal artillery unit in England and later participated in the campaigns in Normandy and northwestern Europe. Another 700 Newfoundlanders served in the Royal Air Force, most notably with the 125th Newfoundland Squadron.

In all some 15,000 Newfoundlanders saw active service and thousands more were engaged in the hazardous work of the Merchant Navy. Some 900 Newfoundlanders (including at least 257 merchant mariners) lost their lives in the conflict and over 100 Newfoundland civilians were killed in the sinking of the SS Caribou by a German U-boat.

Newfoundland was the only location in North America to be subject to direct attack by German forces in World War II when German U-boats attacked four allied ore carriers and the loading pier at Bell Island. The carriers S.S. Saganaga and the S.S. Lord Strathcona were sunk by U 513 on September 5, 1942, while the S.S. Rosecastle and P.L.M. 27 were sunk by U 518 on November 2, 1942 with the loss of 69 lives.

My dad, who served, passed away in 2001.
He never spoke much about those times and now it is too late to ask him.
Anyway, your discussion inspired me to see if I could discover anything about him on the net.
In a very short time I came across this... Newfoundland Navy World War II

and found my Dad....

216781

Tilley, Samuel W.

Round Harbour, Notre Dame Bay

I can't tell you how happy this had made me...I miss him alot.
The first number in the listing is his service#
and should help me further my investigation.

[Candor7]

My Grandfather on my mothers side served at Vimy Ridge. His name was Charles Leonard Coy and his registration documents are in the Canadian Armed Forces Archives on line for WWI.I downloaded both his signed oath of service and his physical in gif format.

He was extremely skilful with horses, and could get them to do anything he wanted. The family myth is that he was a horse whisperer.Therefore he was assigned to be an ambulance driver with a team of horses and an ambulance carriage. He survived because the horses trusted him and obeyed his directions during the noise and clamor of battle, and they did not panic.

Maybe you might find some documents on your dad at:

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/index-e.html

I do not know if they encompass the Newfoundland data base before 1949. Perhaps there is a British data base that would have Samuel's info.

Curiously , I have been to Round Harbor on Notre Dame bay, having lived several years in the Gander Area in the late 1970s. I really liked the people, mostly fisher folk, kind and generous to everyone.

[GMMAC]

Unfortunately, the National Archives & Military are quite strict on the (sometime in 1920?) official WW1 demobilization date when it comes to furnishing these records.

As you may already know, I obtained my paternal grandmother's complete WW1 file (CAMC Nursing Sister, service in France, eventually Captain, etc) but can obtain nothing from her continuing post-war record as a brevet Major & Chief Matron of the Military Hospital in Halifax until 1928 or 29 - even with my father willing to sign any release required as both her only child & executor of her estate.