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Beverley Bainton, born in Britain but now living in Australia, has sent in some details of her Australian grandfather who served in a Scottish regiment during the Second World War.
My grandfather, Joseph ROXBURGH, was born in Sydney. Before World War II he was in the C.M.F. which I think must have been the reserves for the army in the '30th Scottish'. His first wife's grandfather (surname Robertson) was from Aberdeen which is why perhaps he was connected with the Scottish link.
During World War II Joseph Roxburgh served in the A.I.F. (Australian Army) and was sent to Singapore in July 1941 and subsequently became a POW in Changi. He survived but died in 1975.
At the moment I am transcribing his diary and thought you might be interested in the following entry as it is a Scottish regiment. You may have several entries but perhaps not many from an Australian point of view.
Monday, August 25, 1941
This afternoon we were marched over to the barracks of the Gordon Highlanders, which is 'just across the main road' from where we are camped. They have been here four years but their barrack life seems to agree with them.
The barrack square is about 170 yards long by 100 yards wide. On each side are 3 x three storey white buildings, the ground floors of which have the orderly rooms and Quartermaster store, and the floors above are the sleeping quarters of the men.
On one end of the square are another two buildings the same size as the others, which have the cpls and o/rs mess rooms on the ground floor. The other end had a nice large lawn and another white building.
We were brought over to the Gordons to see their Ceremonial change at Retreat and we are the first A.I.F. men to have the honour of seeing it. The pipe band marched into the square at 6 p.m. dressed in kilts the same as I used to wear in the militia, except they had yellow stripes through them and they wore white jackets.
The drum major had a sword to wear as well as carrying his mace. They marched the length of the square and back in quick time and when turned about, halted.
There were 25 men in the band, 8 of whom were buglers as well as being drummers. These 8 men marched to the front of the band, took their places and played Retreat. It was wonderful to hear them as there
was not another sound elsewhere.
When they had finished they marched back to their places again. The band then did a slow march the length of the square and then broke into a quick march, with the pipes and drums playing full blast. They returned to the other end of the square, and after the drum major saluted in the direction of the officers the band was dismissed.
The 30th Bn militia band is just as good as this band, but the Gordons' drum major would be very hard to beat. Every movement he made was clear and snappy and he was wonderful to watch.
After the band was dismissed our companies formed up again and weremarched back to our camp by C.S.M.s. The officers stayed behind and were probably guests of the Gordons.
I believe the Scottish officers were very surprised at the way we marched off and praised our discipline.
From a quick Google search I found that the Gordon Highlanders are based in Aberdeen. The diary entry is so descriptive of what the parade was like, it sounds as if they would have performed the same moves many times and perhaps would have practiced it on their home parade
ground in Aberdeen.
Beverley Bainton, New South Wales, Australia, 2002
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