1914 Jan 24 Scots Dinner

“In the words of Harry Lauder, it certainly looked like a braw bricht nicht at the New Commercial hotel last night, upon the occasion of the annual dinner of the sergeant’s mess of the 91^st Canadian Highlanders”

Hamilton Spectator January 24, 1914¹

It was the last peace time gathering to celebrate Robbie Burns day before the Great War changed many, many things.

It was a merry gathering and, judging from enthusiasm evidenced in his copy, the Spectator reporter in attendance, joined in the celebration fully:

“Mon but it was a grand affair! It started, ye hon, with later soop when Sergeant Bill Hunter hi’self tak the lid off the pat. Subsequently there came fish witho’t banes, also haggis, of course, and at this point – is anybody listening – the first wee drap of auld kirk

“Later still was the roast bubby jock wi’ sausages tilt and trimming  tam, tawties chapit an ither orra vegetables, hame brewed yill and ocegaura.”¹

¹ “Dinner of Sergeants’ Mess Merry Affair : Haggis Paraded in Time-Honoured Style : Praise From Officers For the Crack 91^st”

Hamilton Spectator. January 24, 1914.

The reporter seems to have indulged, not only in the food offerings, but also in the liquid refreshments as the events of the evening seemed to blur:

“This is about where the proceedings started. Just where and when they would up is verra, verra difficult to say at this writing. To get back to the beginning and the shank of the evening, there were all the non-com’s of the 91^st hobnobbing with the representatives of other regiments in city and out of town.”¹

As with most gathering of Scots, the presence of a bag piper was required:

“There, too, was Pipe Major Dunbar to see that the haggis was paraded around the room according to the time-honored custom, and to set the whole room astir with the lilt of pipes.

“The last notes of the pipes died away – and, well, after that everybody wanted to sing. There were songs, before, during and after each course, and more songs sandwiched in whenever opportunity afforded. At times, it was difficult to hold a fork and the air at the same time.”¹

Naturally, there were toasts at the dinner, toasts prompting speeches :

“Captain McCulloch was the first speaker, responding to the toast of Canada. He congratulated the regiment upon the position in which it found itself, and declared it to be second to none in the whole Dominion.

“He reviewed the conflicts in which Canada was engaged earlier in its history, and painted a particularly fine word picture of the death of Wolfe and Montcalm.

“ ‘ In old Quebec,’ he said, ‘there has been raised a common monument to these two brave men. It is the only monument in the world, I suppose, that does honor to he who lost and he won, and shows that we Canadians are generous enough to honor a brave man, even in defeat.

“ ‘I believe that we should develop our character as a people,’ Captain McCulloch continued. ‘We don’t want to be imitators of the Scotch or the Irish or of any other people, however worthy, but should instead, develop the national spirit in Canada. We are pretty well ever boasting of our size now, and beginning to think of higher things.’ ”¹

The next speaker was Col. Bruce, responding to the toast to the Canadian militia :

“Col. Bruce said, ‘I am sorry that our brigadier, Col. Moore, is not here to respond to this toast, as he was my commanding officer, when I went into the militia twenty-five years ago. I think Col. Moore is to be congratulated on what I consider the best brigade in Canada.

“When I went into the militia twenty-five years ago, things were not as good as they are today. We had no fine drill halls, no shooting facilities, and not even the rifles amounted to much. The country is now realizing that the militia is an asset. While the militia has been improving in other respects, the personnel has improved also. I feel sorry for the young men who have never put a term in the militia.

“It is an honor to belong to the Canadian militia, of which any man may well be proud, and of which the country may be proud.’ ”¹

Col. McLaren was the last speaker. In responding to the toast to the 91^st Highlander Regiment specifically, he credited the influence of the regiment for the successful lobbying of the federal government for the expanded armories on James Street North, and for helping cement Hamilton’s nation-wide reputation as a “military town.”

Within just a few months, the reality of war would be present. Many of the men present at the dinner would be among the very first to sign up for duty when war was declared in the summer.

Many would enter the armed forces later. Many would not return to militia duty, or even their home city.