Hot under the collar

Ronnie Cramond

The day that made a strong impression on me was the day I escaped being court martialled!

During my two years National Service I was a 2nd Lieutenant in a Scottish Regiment. One night there was a formal guest dinner in the Officers Mess, when the Brigadier Commanding Lowland District and various other luminaries were present, including the Commandant of the local Womens Royal Army Corps (WRAC). The junior officers were being instructed in Scottish dancing by the Pope Major, and he had selected four of us as a team to perform demonstration foursomes and sword dances. The Commanding Officer knew this and decided to test our mettle by ordering us, after dinner, to do a demonstration for the entertainment of the guests.

We were a bit apprehensive as was the Pipe Major because we had not had enough practice and would have to concentrate very hard, which would not be helped by the amount of drink we had consumed. However the four of us formed up, the Pipe Major started to play, and off we went. ... (continues)