MacFarlane’s Lantern Newsletter of the Clan MacFarlane Society, Australia, Inc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No.125 March 2013 Website: http://www.clanmacfarlane.org.au

The Scottish Parliament honours victims of H.M.Troopship Lancastria.

Cunard Liner ‘Lancastria’ Photo: Courtesy of Wikipedia

On 12 June 2008 at a special ceremony in Parliament House Edinburgh, ’s First Minister, Mr. Alex Salmond presented the first batch of medals to survivors and relatives of victims from Britain’s worst maritime disaster. Inscribed on the rear of the medal are the following words :“In recognition of the ultimate sacrifice of the 4000 victims of Britain’s worst ever maritime disaster and the endurance of the survivors –We will remember them”. The incident in question was the si nking of the British troopship Lancastria by German bombers in 1940. This is a true story which the UK Government has been forever re luctant to acknowledge, let alone make public. The Lancastria (pictured above) was a Cunard liner requisitioned in 1940 by the military to be used as a troopship. She was first used to assist in the evacuation of troops from Norway. However, on the 17 th June 1940 she was anchored eleven miles south -west of St. Nazaire, France, as part of Operation Ariel, the evacuation of British nationals and troops from France. This was two weeks after the famous Dunkirk evacuation of thousands of retreating French and British troops. Under normal conditions the 16,243 ton Lancastria could carry 2,2 00 passengers including the 375 crew. Acting on Royal Navy instructions, it appears that Captain Rudolph Sharp was told to “load as many men as possible without regard to t he limits laid down under international law”. But, by the mid-afternoon of the 17 th June, she had already taken on well over the legal capacity (estimates ranging from 4,000 up to 9,000) civilian embassy staff and other refugees, plus numerous Army and RAF logistical personnel. However it appears that Captain Sharp had been cleared to leave the area but he decided to remain due to a lack of available naval escort to give protection against possible German U-boats . (Continued next page).

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(Continued from Page One) to present to all those who were aboard the At 4.00 pm a fresh air attack took place ship that day. during which Lancastria was bombed and The number of lives lost on the Lancastria struck three times, causing her to roll over and far exceeds the combined totals lost on the sink. A great quantity of fuel oil leaked into Titanic (1,517) and the Lusitania (1,198) – the sea, parts of which caught fire. Many making it the worst maritime disaster in were drowned or choked by the oil and others British history, yet the UK government in were killed by strafing aircraft. Some Whitehall seems content to prevaricate over survivors were taken aboard other vessels. Of the 2,447 survivors, there were still 100 alive in 2011. Details of the sinking were suppressed by the UK government, and many families of the dead knew only that they died with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France; but the death toll from this one ship alone accounted for roughly a third of the total losses of the BEF in France. Such was the loss of life, the UK Government chose to the issue in the face of growing public suppress news of the concern. Whilst refusing to declare the event. Nevertheless, ‘Lancastria’ wreck site recognition as an five weeks later the officially designated war grave, the same UK ‘New York Times’ government, in 2006, granted just such an and ‘The Scotsman’ honour to some fourteen warships sunk published the story, during the Battle of Jutland off the coast of followed by other Denmark in 1916. Meanwhile, the Lancastria British newspapers. Association of Scotland has erected a But, due to the memorial (Photo above) on the site at government-imposed Dalmuir where the ship was built. cover up, survivors Whilst the surname MacFarlane (however and crews from the spelt) does not appear listed among the dead other ships remained or survivors, it would be interesting to learn Lancastria Medal silent in fear of court of any Australian connection with this tragic martial. event; especially among expat British migrant Strangely, however, the UK government has families. Certainly, any Aussie relatives of continually refused to declare the wreck a victims would be advised to research the recognised war grave under the Protection of matter via: www.lancastria-association.org.uk Military Remains Act 1986. In contrast, the And Scotland: www.lancastria.org.uk/home French government has since placed an The events of that fateful day were largely exclusion order around the wreck site. overshadowed by the sombre news that After the war, a Lancastria Survivors France had capitulated to Hitler’s Germany. Association was set up by a Major Peter Petit, Thus, Premier Winston Churchill, on hearing which lapsed on his death in 1969; but was news of the Lancastria disaster, immediately reformed in 1981 as ‘The HMT Lancastria placed a D-notice on it forbidding any Association’ which continues to hold periodic knowledge of the sinking reaching an already remembrance services in London. ‘demoralised public’! Although only some 400 Scots are believed As the 100 th anniversary of the Titanic to have been on the ill-fated liner at the sinking took place in 2012, fresh calls for full sinking, The Lancastria Association of recognition by the UK Government were Scotland was founded in 2005. In addition to made – meanwhile, we wait and wonder! this, the Scottish Government struck a medal

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Sale. This video will be the third part of a series. ¬¬ ¬ Root Lines ¬¬ ¬ The first two parts, created over several years can be seen at: (Members’ Genealogy Page) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfuJ13SR3j8 In these videos, you will see references and back-grounding to Robert’s previous employers Part of a message from our SA (Sir Adam Ferguson and the Dunmore Lang member Norma Lock, after family). I am proposing to do likewise with the returning from a two-week visit MacFarlane connections. to the ‘Auld’ country last year. Any advice, information and assistance you “We saw so much of the can provide would be greatly appreciated (and beautiful countryside. Stayed acknowledged). . .with thanks Richard Balsillie.” in Edinburgh, Crianlarich, We have responded to Richard and offered him Ballachulish, Perth. Aberdeen, Glamis district. every assistance along with our available data on Also, very lucky to find good B&Bs, with the Omeo MacFarlanes – and we look forward to interesting hosts… … seeing the results of his interesting project. …We had a modern diesel car to travel with mile Meanwhile, if any of our members has after hundreds of miles through the autumn information concerning Wallace descendants in colours of the forests and those magnificent the Gippsland area, we would love hear of it. mountain ranges. We saw them all. Even the Post Script (18/01/13) Having written the above snow-topped Cairngorms. And we took the ski- report we are now saddened by the current news lift to the top of Glencoe… of serious bush fires threatening people and …We discovered several districts where our properties in the Glenmaggie and Heyfield areas family had lived, and took photos of the ruins of of Gippsland our thoughts are with the residents Balquhidder church where my g.g.grandparents and brave fire-fighters in their struggle. had been married -- they were the folks who came out to Australia. in 1854… * * * * * …I came home rather weary but thoroughly UK Passenger Lists enjoyed all the sights and sounds of that lovely Now available online, are the UK Outward country, with those narrow winding roads, the Passenger Lists for the period 1890 to 1960 . sheep which didn't even stop their feeding along The records have been digitised by the history the road verges as we drove by them, very snooty, website Ancestry.co.uk in partnership with the the picture-postcard scenes around every curve National Archives. in the road, the history in the towns I had read so The passenger lists contain the name, age, much about. My regards, Norma! profession, home address and intended destination * * * * * of each person leaving Britain during this great period of emigration. More on MacFarlanes in Omeo, Victoria The United States was clearly the more favoured The following letter (dated 28/12/12) is from an destination with 9.9 million Brits crossing the Australian who is interested in the MacFarlanes in Atlantic. Another 5.2 million went to Canada, Omeo, Victoria. whilst 1.9 million came to Australia and 1.3 “My name is Richard Balsillie. I am currently million to South Africa. Likewise, half a million researching for a video I am making about my people moved to India, with a similar number Wallace forebears. Robert Wallace was employed ending up in New Zealand. by James MacFarlane in driving cattle from There were however periods when the yearly Monaro to Omeo Plains (1841-1846). In his last numbers fell. The onset of WWI in 1914 saw drive he was accompanied by his two sons, emigration numbers drop from 494,000 to just William and Ferguson, then aged 14 and 12. 150,000 the following year. Robert was later employed by Malcolm A similar pattern appeared in 1939 when WWII MacFarlane at Heyfield Station before selecting started: numbers fell from 238,000 to just 87,000 his own land near Sale in 1860. For several in 1940 – although thousands of British children years Robert’s son, William, managed Omeo B were evacuated to Canada and Australia. before suffering pneumonia and having to leave WANTED! the mountains. More family news! Who’s getting wed? Who’s In February (2013), I will be visiting the Omeo doing well at school? Who’s retiring? Who won area and will travel by 4wd to film some of the the Lottery and didn’t let on? We know you’re country they would have traversed, as well as oot there somewhere! Talk tae us – we are really Omeo Station and the Omeo Plains. At a later interested! date, I plan to do more filming at Heyfield and 3

Chit-chat and other Havers! A Message from our new Piper

Dear Glenda I am sorry that, due to prior commitments, I was unable to attend the 2012 AGM, however I wish to thank the Management Committee and Members of Clan MacFarlane Society Australia, Inc., in nominating me for the position as an Official Clan Piper. Can I just say that it will be with great pride and, indeed, be an absolute honour for me to accept this responsible position within the Society. Although I am currently a regular member of the City of Elizabeth Pipe Band in South Australia, I shall always look forward to future happy MacFarlane engagements, and every chance to wear my MacFarlane . Sincerest thanks, Jason Moore, (The ‘Pooraka’ Piper! ).

* * * * * * * * * * Our Clan website attacked! During January this year, our humble website was almost totally obliterated by an unidentified hacker who appears to have some kind of ethnic/religious bee in the brain and a hatred of the Jewish community. When our member Andrew Macfarlane, New Zealand, attempted to enter the Clan website he was confronted by a short message “F**k Israel” – everything else missing! Thankfully, our intrepid technical boffin Robert Millar, although on holiday in Queensland at the time, managed with the help of colleagues in Japan to have the site restored fully within a week. Well done, indeed! It is difficult to fathom the reason for the attack on an essentially Australian/Scottish organisation. Is it possible that the pea-brain culprit mistook ‘Rabbie Burns, for ‘Rabbi’ Burns? * * * * * * * * * * Archaeology at MacFarlane’s Mill postponed. In our December 2012 ‘Lantern’ we reported on a possible ‘dig’ at MacFarlane’s Mill site, Tarbet, by Clan MacFarlane Worldwide. In a letter from Peter McFarlin, CMW Heritage Committee, we are told that the project is being postponed due to lack of support. However, Peter has written a seven-page article on future research in the area, and which we hope to place in our website for general reading. He will also have the article placed in the March edition of CMW newsletter ‘Loch Sloy’. There will also be some reference to King Haco's Viking expedition of 1263 into Loch Lomond. Meanwhile, Peter plans a 7 to 9 day visit to Arrochar to take part in the Hidden Heritage project on the Tarbet isthmus in early May this year. He will also scout out the four MacFarlane fortified sites; Ardleish, Ellan Vhow, Inveruglas, and Tarbet -- along with the Mill site, all for possible ‘digs’ in 2014. Details to be announced later. * * * * * * * * * * NSW praises friendly SA clans. We received the following letter from Donald McDonald, Commissioner for SA, who writes on behalf of his opposite number in NSW, Lachlan Macdonald – letter was address also to John McNeil, President of Clan MacNeil Australia. “Hi John & Malcolm, I have a favour to ask. Whilst attending Clan Donald annual luncheon last October Lachlan Macdonald (NSW) was impressed that all Clans supported each other here in Adelaide. I suggested to Lachlan that I could ask you both, being the National Presidents, if it could be arranged that a Gathering of the Clans dinner or luncheon be held in Sydney. The reason being that it would start a Clan revival which would expand the Scottish traditions in Sydney. If you think it could be "on the cards" and NSW members are interested in a Gathering of the Clans function Lachlan would get Clan Donald NSW revved up.” The idea was immediately passed to our NSW Councillor, Roy Nash, who is in agreement. We have some 20 members in NSW -- it would be nice if they got in touch with Roy with some constructive ideas. * * * * * * * * * * Found in a Church magazine. “Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use the double doors at the side entrance!”

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nd 52 Mount Barker Gathering South Australia, 2013

In January 1839 one Duncan MacFarlane, a hardy soul from the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond, with two partners, took out the first special land survey in South Australia, which also included the very site on which the modern annual Highland Gathering is staged. Strangely, however, it was not until March 2009 that a Clan MacFarlane banner was unfurled for the first time at Clan tents at Mt. Barker the same oval – and in March 2009 we had our first display tent in situ. The 2013 event took place in temperatures in the mid 30s C. but some relief came in mid-afternoon when several clouds formed overhead. In spite of otherwise calm weather, there were two occasions when small localised whirlwinds lifted a couple of tents from their moorings. But nothing prevented the Border Celts from staging their mock battles, or the strong men from doing their thing, much to the amusement of the spectators. Our display tent this year was manned by Anita Renfrey (Membership Secretary) and Malcolm Lobban (President). Sadly, our SA Councillor Janet Marsh was indisposed due to illness and recent surgery to a damaged shoulder muscle. The other Clan tents in attendance this year included the MacLeods, Keiths, MacDonalds, MacNeils, Macleans and, happily making an appearance for the first time, we welcomed Clan Lamont. Mt. Barker Caledonian Society did a nice job in organising the event. Anita is poised for action! Their Chief, Peter Stewart, made a point of visiting each display tent and offering his personal welcome to the Gathering – moreover the Society laid on communal water coolers, which were most welcome due to the heat of the day. Tent sites were clearly marked this year and there was ample convenient car parking around the oval. All in, it appeared to be a hassle-free day and, in spite of the heat, there seemed to be smiles and laughter all around. We enjoyed many visitors during the day – and some possible new members. Malcolm got involved in lively chat with visitor Jimmy MacBain from Edinburgh who just happened to be a fellow ex- & Sutherland Highlander – needless to say that the dialogue went at a fast pace, as two ‘auld sodjers’ recalled regimental notes, old mates and past adventures. Poor Anita, listened intently, but later admitted to being completely baffled by the conversation! There was however some concern among the piping fraternity. It seems that all the bands suffered from dried reeds due to the excessive heat of the day. Bagpipes are not really suited to hot climates, and are generally at their best in the northern hemisphere – so we are told! Nevertheless, speaking from a less experienced viewpoint they sounded okay to us in the MacFarlane tent – moreover this year we were able to see many of the bands competing without having to leave the tent. We are not sure if drums are badly affected by heat? Years ago the old style skins suffered on rainy days, but modern design has largely eliminated that problem. Nevertheless, the lot of the drummer is never always worry free. Our picture (left) shows tiny drummer boy Wlliam Skirrey, all set to go – if only he knew where the devil his band had disappeared to! Aye, it all happened at Mount Barker, 2013 5

luxuries, and at one time it seemed that National Wartime Memories Dried Egg Powder and, later, American Spam on the Scottish Home Front (short for spiced ham) dominated the culinary scene in most homes. The powdered egg came in khaki-coloured cardboard cartons, which were The early weeks of World War II saw a great coated with a substance like candle wax. Thus, influx of emergency legislation, affecting every while the contents made tasty omelettes, the household in Britain, not the least of which was empty cartons made excellent firelighters! food rationing, to be followed later by shortages of many other necessities of life. A Ministry of Food was quickly brought into action, the minister in charge being Lord Woolton, whom some might say was the only man to achieve success by telling women how to make the best out of scraps. Meat rationing was announced in January 1940, and in the same month the said Ministry notified all farmers to the effect that after the 15th, the MoF would become sole buyers, at fixed public prices, of all “fatstock for slaughter.” The farmers were thus guaranteed a market.

Ministry of Food document

Part of the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign Vegetables were generally plentiful; especially roots and greens, but tomatoes and some fruits Meanwhile, the Milk Marketing Board was were hard to come by. Canada provided some of asking us to “Rely on Milk”, suggesting ways of the best eating apples I have ever tasted, and I making vegetable soup with milk; milk with remember eating some lovely, giant Jaffa oranges. boiled spuds; milk with a few biscuits; not But there were occasions when a glut of certain forgetting straight bread and milk (saps). food items hit the shops. At one time, every Actual food rationing began during March, the grocer’s shop in the district had its window filled adult meat allowance being one shilling and ten with oranges. The problem was, they were for pence (18p) worth per week and eleven pence (9p) making marmalade and quite unpalatable on their worth for young children. It should be noted that own. The second problem was that few folk had the ration was not calculated by weight, so what enough sugar to make marmalade. you got from your ‘registered’ butcher for your Wartime preparations and related activity money depended on how much meat he had to progressed through the early part of 1940. Men share among his customers. Generally, though, the were being called-up for the armed forces every system was reasonably fair. day. More and more people wearing various Strangely, however, no coupons were required uniforms began to appear in the streets. Soldiers for liver, kidney, tripe, heart or oxtail. This rule wore a variety of regimental badges; airmen; also applied to poultry and game. Likewise, sailors with only ‘HMS’ on the cap tally; Land sausages and meat pies or anything containing Army girls; Air Raid Wardens; and Home Guard. less than fifty per cent meat were also off the Frequently, we would see long convoys of ration. Whether or not some of the foregoing military vehicles trundling through the town, with items later became rationed, I cannot recall. motor cycle dispatch riders in close attendance. We were constantly being reminded by But the strangest sight I recall was a young man authoritarian slogans that “Rationing Is Part Of marching smartly down the centre of our street National Defence”. wearing a cavalry uniform, complete with riding To obtain most of the staple food items, it was breeches and spurs! I often wondered what necessary to be registered with a particular grocer became of him, and did he have a horse? and butcher. In school, air-raid practice drill became a regular However, in spite of wartime rationing, I do not classroom ritual. When the alarm bell rang, we put recall ever being really hungry. There was always on our wee gas masks and crawled under our something on the hob, although there were few desks. That was it! I was never too happy with the 6 claustrophobic sensation induced by the gas mask, carefully on her apron; they were red from the and in later years I often pondered over the effects of caustic soap. With trembling fingers, probable effectiveness of the thin steel frames of she carefully opened the letter. Inside was a those school desks against a fallen ceiling. photograph showing a group of British Prisoners of War, my father included. He looked quite fit, but parts of the message, in his unmistakable handwriting, were blacked out, obviously the result of censoring. I think we spent the rest of that day re-reading and examining that strange letter which was, in fact, a photocopy, and the first we had ever seen. Although baffled by the seemingly unintelligible German words, I was nevertheless intrigued, and secretly marvelled at German technology and ingenuity. Until the arrival of his letter, my father had been Wartime government morale booster! listed among the numerous servicemen ‘Missing on Active Service’. It was my mother who Late 1940 was also the time of the British actually informed the military authorities that he Expeditionary Force’s retreat to Dunkirk, and the was a P.O.W. in Stalag VIIIB. The story was also subsequent rescue of many soldiers off the published in our local press. beaches by a motley armada of naval and civilian The German Luftwaffe began its night attacks craft. In the ensuing days, I recall seeing groups on British cities around November 1940. Their of women standing by the bus stop at the head of primary targets were the cities of London, our street, all eagerly watching to see who arrived Coventry, Birmingham and Liverpool. In on the buses from Glasgow. Occasionally a December, Sheffield and Manchester were added service-man would alight, and be questioned by to the list. Suddenly, the whole idea of blackout anxious women concerning the latest situation, regulations, sandbag barriers, air-raid drill, and did he know the whereabouts of any other wardens, searchlight batteries and barrage local men who had survived? balloons took on a new and serious meaning. It has to be remembered that communication facilities were less than perfect in those days. Up- to-the-minute wireless communiqué was non- existent by today’s standards. Censorship was rife, few houses had telephones, and urgent messages were passed via Post Office telegrams. Civil messages via the latter were often delayed in preference to important security and military matters. Thus, rumours were common. In fact, the ordinary members of the public were always the last to be told any real news. My mother was one of those who waited for Part of Dalmuir after the Blitz 1941 news of my father’s whereabouts. For a while, she too joined the bus stop vigil. We had received During March 1941, the Germans paid attention no letter since his departure in September 1939. to Glasgow and Clydeside. The first Blitz came However, one morning, while she was busy during the nights between 13th and 15th of the down in the communal washhouse, a strange letter month. About this time, I recall being with other fell onto the highly polished lobby linoleum of our children in the basement of Levenvale Primary wee single apartment flat. The first thing that School. caught my attention was the, by then, well-known We could hear the distant noise like thunder, German Eagle and Swastika motif, and a very and the sound of aircraft flying overhead. An long, unpronounceable German word, followed by adult, who had ventured outside, reported seeing a reference to “Stalag VIIIB”. It was a single glow in the sky towards Clydebank. Searchlights sheet of shiny paper, folded over twice in the criss-crossed the night sky searching for the manner of a modern letter gram, but with stitching Heinkel and Junker bombers. up each side. We drank hot cocoa, and one of the teachers I raced downstairs flourishing the strange organised a singsong. We belted out such document excitedly. My mother dried her hands favourites as (Continued Page 10 ) 7

and again sat down on the dead body, claiming So much for Legends two men’s worth. The chief of the Mackenzies, (By Calum) by now probably weary of Duncan’s start-stop The word ‘legend’, according to routine, urged him: “Do your best and we shall the Oxford Dictionary, refers to a not be reckoned with you!” – whatever that ‘story (true or invented) handed down from the means! Duncan is said to have responded with: past…’ If so, Highland history has more than a “Am fear nach biodh og cunntadh ruim cha fair share of legendary tales, most of which vary bhithinn ag cunntadh ris!” (He that would reckon with each telling! with me, I would not reckon with him!) – more Take, for instance, the case of that obscure clan Celtic logic! conflict known as Battle of the Park (Gaelic: Blar- He thereafter rushed into the thick of the battle na-Pairc) circa 1491, fought near Contin, Ross- like a man possessed and began cutting down shire, between the main antagonists, the Macdonalds one after the other. This went on Mackenzies and Macdonalds. until he was confronted by Lachlan Maclaine of The battle arose when Sir Alexander Macdonald Lochbuie (Lachlainn MacThearlich) who, seems of Lochalsh mustered a sizable force during one to have offered stiffer opposition to the Wild of several attempts by Clan Donald to regain the Macrae – but who nevertheless also ‘lost his head’ earldom of Ross. On this occasion he was in the struggle: an act which appears to have supported by Mackintoshes, Camerons, Macleans marked the downfall of the Macdonald force, and others. Having captured the town of which was then routed. The Macrae hero forever Inverness, he marched north into Easter-Ross, more would earn the praise of his clan, and he where he was confronted by an opposing force led came to be known as “ Donnchadh Mor na by the powerful Clan Kenneth (Mackenzies), who Tuaighe” or Big Duncan of the Axe. had the support of MacLennans and Macraes. The events of the battle vary according to which clan historian tells us! However, there was one alleged incident which highlights the problem when romantic legend get confused with reality. It concerns the extraordinary achievements of a particular clansman, who wreaked havoc among The point about the foregoing piece of Gaelic the Macdonalds. bravado, is that it appears to follow a well-used The Mackenzies tell of a somewhat ‘glaiket’ theme which runs through tales attributed to other soul of a youth named Duncan Macrae, who was clan battles. seen wandering about the field in a confused state. In the New Statistical Account for the parish of When reproached by the Mackenzie chief for not Fodderty, Easter Ross-shire. The Rev. John Noble engaging with the enemy, the youth complained: gives a local version of the Battle of the Park, in “Mar a faigh mi miabh duine cha dean mi gniomh which the Mackenzie victory is attributed to the duine!” (Unless I get a man’s esteem, I shall not valiant actions of a little man wearing a red perform a man’s work!). This protest appears to nightcap, who suddenly appeared to assist. The have arisen from the fact that the poor soul did not wee fellow thereafter slew several Macdonalds have a proper weapon to fight with! (much in the same manner as said of Duncan of The Mackenzie chief told him that he could only the Axe). He is said to have uttered the earn a man’s esteem if he actually did a man’s declaration: “Don’t reckon with me and I shall not work, whereupon the reluctant warrior procured a stint thee!” – which has a familiar ring to it! rusty old battleaxe and charged headlong into the However, once the Macdonalds were routed, the fray. But, having decapitated his first Macdonald, wee man calmly disappeared beneath the cool he then sat down on the corps for a wee rest, as it waters of nearby Loch Kinellan! were! Yet another version alleges that the Mackenzie The Mackenzie chief again enquired as to why victory was down to a MacLennan, who bore the he had stopped fighting, to which Duncan replied: nickname ‘Suarachan’ and who, on being “Mar a faigh mi ach miabh aon duine cha dean reproached by Kenneth Mackenzie himself for not mi ach gniomh aon duine!” (If I only get one “pulling his weight” in the conflict, enacted a part man’s due, I shall only do one man’s work!). At similar to that of the Macrae hero. Indeed, the late which the Mackenzie chief – yes you’ve guessed Chief Ronald MacLennan, in his “The History of it! – encouraged Duncan to do two men’s work the MacLennans” (p.68) refers to Suarachan and he would earn two men’s reward. MacLennan, using the same dialogue. i.e. “He that Not wishing to bore the reader, suffice to say will not reckon with me, I will not reckon with that the Wild Macrae slew yet another Macdonald, him!” (Continued Page 9 ). 8

Other Odds ‘n’ Ends! Glenbarr Highland Ga thering Saturday 26 th October 2013 One for our members! William Miller (1810-72) was a poet born in Glasgow, also known as the ‘Laureate of the nursery’. He was a wood-turner by profession, having relinquished a medical career due to ill health. In 1863, urged on by friends, he published a collection of poems which brought him some fame. But, today, he is remembered only as the author of ‘Wee Willie Winkie’, one of his numerous dialect poems about children and childhood. Wee Willie Winkie rins through the toon, Up stairs an' doon stairs in his nicht -gown, Tirlin' at the window, crying at the lock, This very important and exciting day will "Are the weans in their bed, for it's now ten commence at 10.30am with the o'clock?" Official Opening at 11.30am. * * * * * * * * * * OUR CLAN MACFARLANE will be there. ‘The Kelly Gang Unmasked’ A chance for South Australian members to By Ian MacFarlane come and hae a guid blether wi us! This recently published book Contact person: Kay Dobrilla on 0405 is likely to become a source of 498312 or email: kaydobrilla@ bigpond.com considerable heated debate * * * * * * * * * * within Australian society ( Legends: Continued from Page 8 ) more especially among many The Rev. John Noble, refers to Sir Walter diehard Aussies. I an MacFarlane is a former Scott’s “Fair Maid of Perth” in which a similar journalist, public relations consultant, radio incident is recorded during the equally obscure broadcaster and musician. clan battle at the North Inch of Perth (1396). In During twenty-one years at Public Record Office this instance the reluctant hero is a warrior name Victoria (Victoria's State Archives) he co -edited Gow (or Smith ). It is suggested that Scott the Historical Records of Victoria series, a discovered the story during his lengthy research primary sour ce documenting pioneer European into Highland folklore. settlement in Victoria. He later became familiar We have no update on the story of Blar -na- with the extensive archival records about the Ned Pairc, but in researching the nickname Kelly Gang. His research does much to wash ‘Suarachan’ we find, in Edward Dwelly’s away years of ‘romantic’ folklore which has ”Illustrated Gaelic-English Dictionary” he gives attached itself to the true character of the famous ‘suarachan’ as ‘a worthless person.’ But a similar 19 th century bushranger. Published by Oxford word ‘suire’ relates to fairies, nymphs and University Press it comes in at $29.95. mermaids! * * * * * * * * * * Perhaps it is best if the legend is not further tampered with, and left in peace. However, as a

Granny Mac final comment, it has been mu ted that perhaps the When I was a wee lassie and locals around Fodderty got just a wee bit weary our dog was getting a bit on the of hearing the oft-repeated stories of the Macraes nose, we sprinkled bicarbonate and Maclennans – with each clan giving its own of soda and rubbed it into her version of how they ‘saved’ the fortunes of the coat, left it for a while and then brushed it out. proud Mackenzie clan. Thus, in order to deflate This saved using water, and the bicarb absorbed over-blown egos, the locals concocted the the doggie smell. Of course changing her bedding alternative tale of the wee man in the red at least once a week also helped to keep the dog nightcap! Somehow it fits in better with Gaelic smelling fresh. humour! End, Found in a Church Magazine (Note: Gaelic dialogue used in the foregoing is “Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale next taken from “History of the Ma cKenzies” by Friday. It’s a chance to get rid of all those things Alex. MacKenzie, 1894 Extended Edition). not worth keeping. Bring your husbands .” 9

Flowers of the Forest Our Man in Japan It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Elsie Bonehill, beloved wife of the late David McFarlane, and mother of our Vice-President, Christine Culling. Elsie, died on the 23 December 2012 aged 97, whilst in care at ‘Bupa Donvale’, Victoria. The following eulogy is in the words of her daughter Christine. “Mum was the eldest daughter of Albert John Bonehill and Ada Bonehill (nee Reynolds). She was born in Tavistock Road, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne (1915). She had three sisters, and one step-sister: her own mother died prematurely when Mum was only twelve -- she left school at a very young age and got an apprenticeship as a dressmaker with a Jewish lady. For the benefit of our members who have never She then went to London where she learned to make met Committee Member Robert Millar, the above fur coats, but later returned up north and trained as a photograph shows him drinking a toast to the nurse at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle. Clan whilst surrounded by military memorabilia She had many wonderful experiences doing ‘general’ of his late grandfather Julian Millar, founder of training and midwifery and delivered many babies our Society here in Australia. during wartime in London, which she described as Robert has business interests in Japan, where he being “just a little bit dangerous!” lives with his lovely Japanese wife, Masako, and it After the war she got a posting to Cyprus where she was he and his colleagues in Japan, who rescued met my father. He was standing knee-deep in water our Clan website back in January this year after it photographing – he was, in fact, a meteorologist was destroyed by a hacker. Well done, Robert. attached to the RAF – they got married after a * * * * * * * * * * reasonable time and went to live in Lagos, Africa. They ( Wartime: Continued from Page 7 ). travelled quite a bit Roll Out The Barrel and Under The Spreading Dad was born in Coalburn, Lanarkshire, I was born in Chestnut Tree . Likewise, the infamous Siegfried Khartoum, Sudan, when Dad was working there. Later, Line received above average attention, and it we returned to UK, where my sister Helen was born in mattered not that none of us really knew what or Cambridgeshire, 1954 – when we were old enough, my where the hell it was, anyway! The lyrics of Mum went back to work and was also in the WVS part- several popular songs were sometimes altered to time. include disparaging remarks about ‘Addy’ Hitler In 1971 we emigrated to Melbourne, where Mum took and his cronies. Such was the spite aimed at the up nursing again in several places, but finally settled at wee man with the funny hairstyle and Charlie the Jessie McPherson Hospital in Lonsdale Street, Chaplin moustache! Comic though he may have Melbourne – she worked there until retirement. During appeared, this same wee fellow was at that time this time my Dad died very suddenly aged 54. giving the British Empire and much of Europe one After her retirement, Mum was kept busy, playing hellish fright. piano, gardening, attending church activities, her clubs, The United States had not yet entered the and travelling mainly to UK to visit family and friends. conflict. Its fright came on my tenth birthday, 7th But whilst at home, she loved to see her grandchildren, December 1941, with a Japanese bomber attack Samantha, Debbie, Peter, Claire, Kelvin and Elsie. She on Pearl Harbour in America’s Pacific state of missed having time with her great-grandsons, though Hawaii. Hitler and his Italian sidekick Mussolini they did meet her. Mum never took out a driving licence were then joined by yet another wee obnoxious and often walked for miles to stations and shops. She character, Hideki Tojo, Japanese general and led a very full and busy life, until one day she fell and premier from 1941-44. It then became truly a broke her hip which never really mended properly. world war. In 2003 she went into a temporary nursing home and In the days that followed, the full horror of the a few months later finally moved to ‘Bupa Donvale’. We first Blitz became evident. Although damage had were very grateful for the excellent attention they gave been slight to the main Clyde-side industries, a her until she finally slipped away. She was cremated at considerable amount of bombs had fallen on the Springfield Cemetery and where her ashes were higher ground at Clydebank causing widespread scattered .in the Rose Garden – so she is again back damage to housing, resulting in death, injury and a with Dad! She is survived by a large family scattered large section of the population being rendered worldwide” homeless. And there was a lot more to follow! Beannachd Dhé leat! Calum Curamach. 10

EDITORIAL Clishmaclavers! From a Court of Law Recent reports based on Attorney: Doctor, before you performed the comparison studies of the autopsy, did you check for a pulse? 1901 and 2011 UK census Witness: No. tell us that many old and Attorney : Did you check for blood pressure? respected surnames in Witness : No. and Wales are quickly becoming extinct. Attorney : Did you check for breathing? Indeed, the once-common surnames Temples, Witness: No. Hatman, Rummage, Nithercott, Raynott, Attorney: So, then it is possible that the patient Southwark and Woodhead have already died was alive when you began the autopsy? out. The survey, by Ancestry.co.uk shows that Witness: No. many other surnames have suffered an alarming Attorney: How can you be so sure, Doctor? fall in the past 100 years. Top of the list is Witness: Because his brain was sitting on my William -- the 374th most common surname in desk in a jar. 1901 but 12,500th today – followed by Cohen, Attorney : I see, but could the patient have still Ashworth, Brook Sutcliffe, Clegg, Crowther, been alive, nevertheless? Kershaw, Butterworth and Greenwood. Witness: Yes it’s possible that he could have Some names which have vanished since 1901 been alive and practising law. were anglicized by their immigrant owners in a bid to fit in or avoid complications with spelling. From the Book of Scottish Anecdote Thus, Dame Helen Mirren was born Helen “The brigade of Scots in the service of Gustavus, Mironoff before her Russian father changed it. King of Sweden, contributed greatly to gain the Now 50 people or fewer share the name with the decisive victory at the battle of Leipzig by using famous actress. platoon firing, which had never been known The First World War was responsible to a large before, to the ‘Great amazement’ of the extent. People from particular areas with common Imperialists.” surnames tended to serve together, and when a battalion suffered heavy casualties many of the On Patriotism same names were lost. “Show me a true patriot and I will show you a A consequence of this appears in the current lover, not merely of his own country, but of all trend where many people with rare surnames are mankind. Show me a spurious patriot, a bombastic now adopting double-barrelled names that were at fire-eater, and I will show you a rascal. Show me one time the preserve of the upper classes. a man who loves other countries equally with his However, I think we can safely say that the own, and I will show you a man entirely deficient proud surname MacFarlane (by whichever in a sense of proportion. But show me a man who spelling) is in no immediate danger – even respects the rights of all nations, while ready to although many of the name died in both world defend the rights of his own against them all, and wars. Which, nevertheless, raises the question of I will show you a man who is both a nationalist the many Clan names? and an internationalist.” * * * * * * * * * * Andrew Fletcher, 1707. The recent Mt. Barker Games went quite well for our Clan. It was the third year our display tent Just Warming Up! has been in place among the other clans – it was “The court was told that, soon after the party also the third time that I personally toted and came into Maloney’s Bar, Milligan spat at erected that damned tent with no MacFarlane O’Flaherty and called him a ‘stinking Ulsterman’. brawn to assist – but on each occasion our O’Flaherty punched Milligan, and Rourke hit him MacDonald friends have given this old guy a with a bottle. Milligan kicked O’Flaherty in the hand. Of course I enjoyed doing it, even when my groin and threw a pint of beer in Rourke’s face. old car was so loaded with MacFarlane This led to ill-feeling, and they began to fight!” paraphernalia that there was no room for wife and County Lough (Eire) newspaper. family members. The main point of this gripe is that unless some Quotable Quote younger volunteer muscle power comes to the Why does someone believe you when you say fore, there will be no display next year – or there are four billion stars, but check when you indeed any intermediate occasion where said tent say the paint is wet? might be required. I rest my case! Ed. 11

Committee of Management 2012/13 PRESIDENT/EDITOR/HISTORY RESEARCHER: Malcolm Lobban, 9 Davies Place, Pooraka, SA 5095. Tel: (08) 83590578, E-mail : [email protected]

VICE-PRESIDENT : Chris Culling, 81 Farnham Road, Bayswater, VIC 3153 E-mail : [email protected]

SECRETARY/TREASURER: Glenda Dickson, 23 Blamey Drive, Melton South, VIC 3338 E-mail : [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY: Anita Renfrey, 579 Military Road, Largs North, SA 5016 E-mail: [email protected]

STATE COUNCILLORS: NSW: Roy Nash, 1 Sale Street, Grenfell, NSW 2810 E-mail [email protected] Tel: (02) 6343 1085.

QLD: Louise Piper, 126 Curtis Road, North Tamborine, Qld. 4272 E-mail [email protected] Tel: (07)5545 2107

SA: Janet Marsh, 648 Burbridge Road, West Beach, SA 5024, E-mail : [email protected] Tel: (08) 8356 7785.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS : Leona Job, 21 Spruzen Avenue. Kew East, VIC 3101. Barbara Nash, 1 Sale Street, Grenfell, NSW 2810. Robert P. Millar , [email protected]

Clan Merchandise for Sale

MacFarlane crest teaspoon/s (unboxed) $10.50 each Or ~ at $8.00 each ~ the following:

MacFarlane crest lapel badge (butterfly clip) MacFarlane crest lapel badge (brooch fitting) MacFarlane crest tie pin Macfarlane crest key ring

(Please note the above prices include postage and are subject to availability of current stock).

Please make your cheque/money /order made payable to Clan MacFarlane Society, Australia, Inc. and post to the Membership Secy., 579 Military Road, Largs North, SA 5016. Badges are approximately 2cm in diameter. Welcome New Members New members in South Australia are Lee McFarlane and his two young sons Koby and Zane born in Australia.2002 and 2004 respectively. Lee was born 1971 in Manchester, England, and knows very little about his family forebears beyond the fact that his father Norman McFarlane was born in Glasgow and that his grandfather who was called ‘Jock’ (possibly Iain or John)was born somewhere in Scotland. Lee and his boys enrolled during their visit to Mount Barker Highland Gathering in February this year. Welcome aboard, lads. We will be in touch.

P.S. Please remember the forthcoming Ringwood Highland Gathering on Sunday, 14th April , Jubilee Park, Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood, Victoria. Our Clan tent will be there and we want members to march with us in the Parade of the Clans event. “Clann Pharlainn gu Brath!”

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