WORLD WARS I and II

Being born on ANZAC day; almost exactly mid-way between the two Great Wars, and having served with the RNZN; thoughts during the 50 years anniversary ceremonies this year reminded me of correspondence with an outstanding Australian ex-service man featured in our history - The Scrimgeours, Page 124.

I had read in the '50s of Jim Scrimgeour's successes, exhibiting Shorthorn Castle at Sydney Royal Show, and wrote to congratulate him. His reply, below, was difficult in the extreme to read, typed - on first sight atrociously - but on realising it was achieved by a totally blind person - miraculously well. It is a poignant souvenir of the cost of the wars. It will be placed in our Dudhope Castle archive.

P.O. Box 36. Telephone 430

Netherby. Warwick, Queensland

May 12th. 1954

My Dear Lieutenant A.M. Scrimgeour, R.N.,

Many thanks for your recent letter of congratulations on my Sydney Royal successes and penned whilst you were on loan to the N.Z. Navy at Auckland.

Thanks for your letter; like you I too take quite an intrest in the history of the family which originated in 1314at Bannockburn and where the family name was changed from Carron to Scrimgeour meaning a "Hardy Fighter" and this tradition I have always endeavoured to portray as did my late pioneer Pater W.T.S.

Our branch originally came from Dundee and Forfarshire and my Mater was a Miss M. McGregor of Perthshire and a lineal descendant of the immortal Rob Roy.

My Pater went to N.Z. in l862 and did much pioneering in the pastoral industry, related to the Dalguise branch of the Steuarts and Scrymgeours also of Perthshire.

Re a branch from Scone, which I personally visited as a boy and had relatives around there, mostly Waterstons and Steuarts, when I visited the Palace.

One branch with which perhaps I have more interest than most was the late Rev. Ronald Scrymgeour of Sibton Vicarage, Yoxford. Suffolk and he has relatives also interested in Suffolks and Shorthorns; only met two of those after World War I, but a son of the Rev. Ronald Geoffrey Scrymgeour. Lancashire Engineers, finally a Major won the M.C. and Bar, the D.S.O. and Bar and recommended V.C. in World War I. now retired and living in Chester the walled city on the Dee; and a son-in-law 1st Lieut. James Ashforth, R.N. was 2nd in command on the H.M.S. Kempenfelt when his commander was indisposed or sick, actually led the British Squadron into Hong Kong and took the surrender from the Japs on Stone Cutters Island in World War II - incidentally D.S.C.

One Captain Alex Carron Scrymgeour with Canadian R.A.M.C., fancy ex-Montreal, actually won the V.C. in World War I, but I missed him at Yoxford by a few weeks in 1920 and when on leave from St. Dunstan's. where I went after being badly smashed whilst serving with the Queensland 2nd Light Horse in Jordan: have endeavoured to 'CARRY ON' - blind - being the result, plus a few other injuries.

There was once a family of Scrimgeour, Alex S.. in Masterton. Wairarapa, North Island. Others Contractors in Dunedin; then also Uncle Scrim. of the "Open Road" broadcast but I understand the Rev. fell foul of the "The Cloth" and then descended into radio; no relative, nor do I know much about him and what I mention is of course in "camera".

Have met some Scrimgeours at Sydney Royal - live at Randwick, Sydney but do not know of any relationship. My Pater had relatives at Dumbreck Road, Glasgow, but most passed on. One William connected with Scottish farming and others, on the distaff side, owned the North British Agriculturalist in Edinburgh: but most of what my Pater knew and had records of unfortunately are lost or else in the hands of other members of the S. family.

Sorry you cannot make Brisbane or Queensland when in Australian waters. Someday we may meet and your idea of a Society for get-togethers may yet be possible and how wonderful to note the Old Family Titles resurrected in the person of Lord Scrymgeour. Earl of Dundee and Viscount Dudhope. The Pater had property (named) Dudhope in N.Z. and another here in Queensland named Carronvale.

Although it was a thrill to obtain 5,350 guineas for my Sydney Grand Champion, Netherby Mark Twain and my sales for 6 head to aggregate 8,550 guineas. it was nothing to the thrill of March 10th. When at Parliament House Brisbane, Her Majesty decorated the writer with the O.B.E. for service to the British Empire, lifelong service to the Beef Industry and for work for Ex-servicemen and for advancement to his own district court. Cutting enclosed. *

Snowed in with correspondence. my honour gave me over 280 letters and telegrams of congratulations.

Thanks for your letter. Somewhere near Brisbane also is a family of Scrimgeours; only heard of them, never personally met any but one was Flying Corps.

Now I must away to the bull yards as it's feed-up time and I still do much work.

St. Dunstan's in 1920 fin 21 gave me a new outlook on my blackened Life.

Cheerio. again my regards. and trust cuttings enclosed are of passing interest.

Sincerely yours,

James Tindal Steuart Scrymgeour.

"Stud cattle breeding is a family business with the Scrymgeours. There are two daughters, Diana and Patricia, both of whom have an expert knowledge of the industry and are good horsewomen as well.

Patricia married Mr Patrick Douglas Bate; a descendant of pioneer cattle breeders from the South Coast of N.S.W., who assists in conducting the Netherby stud.

Diana has almost a world-wide knowledge of Shorthorn stud breeding. On a recent tour abroad she visited practically every shorthorn stud in Scotland and England.

Ln his spare time at Netherby, when fancy takes him, Jim Scrymgeour sits down at his typewriter and works on a story of his remarkable life and experiences. He is writing an autobiography. He has already written 400 pages."

Now, Australians, it would be good to learn up-to-date news of surviving members of this family please! A likely source of information must be Peter Nicol, correspondence with whom featured on Page 6 of Skirmisher No.16 (1994). Was the autobiography completed, and if published, could we obtain a copy for Dudhope Castle, perhaps?

William Alexander Scrymgeour-Wedderburn, D.F.C., was fittingly remembered at the outset of this year's A.G.M. He was born in Fife on February 22nd 1919, son of Frederick Lewis, second son of Henry, de jure 9th Earl of Dundee and Grace, only daughter of Sir William Erskine of Cambo. He joined the RAF on a short service commission in January 1939 just before the outbreak of war. Following his basic training, he was posted to 101 Squadron at Ludford Magnor, Lincolnshire. From there he successfully completed two tours of operation flying Lancasters in the Battle of the Rhur. The first tour was particularly hazardous and in his recommendation for the award of the DFC his Commanding Officer states "this officer possesses a magnificent indifference to all forms of enemy opposition. Scrymgeour-Wedderburn is a quiet but natural leader of men and has proved himself to possess an unconquerable spirit of determination and devotion to duty". He was awarded a bar to his DFC in 1944.

As a civilian and until over 60 years of age, known affectionately as Will Wedderburn, he continued to pilot light aircraft both in the UK and in Australia. After the War he farmed firstly on the Island of Mull then later in Aberdeenshire before retiring to Morayshire. On Wednesday 7th May 1995, close by the banks of the River Spey, Will died. He was no less a hardy fighter than his brave ancestor who, in the spring of 1112, so the story goes, ... "a knight of enormous strength and armed with a great curved scimitar stepped forward, plucked King Alexander 1 of Scotland's Standard from the bearer's grasp and strode with it through the turbulent waters of the Spey." We all know the subsequent events! Will Wedderburn could have been cast from the same mould such was his physical stature and immense courage.

He is recalled as a keen historian and countryman and not withstanding an imposing presence as a man of great gentleness and courtesy.

He married Margaret Emily Innes, who predeceased him and is survived by their three children, Sarah, Johnny and Bumble.

Alexander.

These lengthy contributions are intended to mark this year's World Wars Anniversary, in a particular personal sense, for all of our name.

Editor.