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Murrayfind1
Wed, 10/17/2018 - 22:53
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Hello!

This is a photo in the Museum in Kowloon of The Prince of Wales accompanied by Governor R Scrubbs inspecting the Guard of Honour at Government House in April 1922.

My mother was born in Hong Kong in 1927 when my grandfather was on a Tour of Duty with the KOSBs. I wonder if the KOSBs were at Government House that day in 1922? It certainly seems to be a Scottish Regiment judging by the Glengarries the men are wearing.

Also, would anyone know where the families of that regiment would have lived? I seem to think my mother talked about The Peak/Kennedy Road.

Regards

Yvonne

Date picture taken
1920s
Tags
Government House; Army
Author(s)
Y Hardwick
Gallery
1920s Hong Kong
Shows event(s)
1922 Prince of Wales visits Hong Kong

Comments

An article on page 7 of Hong Kong Daily Press, 1926-04-15, says that the Kings Own Scottish Borderers were due to arrive in Hong Kong at the end of the year. The same article says, "It is nineteen years since a Scottish battalion was stationed in Hongkong." So the 1922 photo wouldn't have been of the KOSB.

Regards, David

PS Do you have any photos of Hong Kong from the 1920s you can share with us?

Only the pipers of the KOSB wore kilts, the officers, NCOs and rank & file wore trews, so not that battalion. 

The sporran pattern is definitely not that of the Black Watch, Argylls or Camerons, but could be that of the Seaforth Highlanders or Gordon Highlanders.

I suspect that the unit in the photo may actually be the 2nd (Scottish) Coy. HKVDC as they wore uniforms modelled on that of the Gordon Highlanders including their unique pattern of sporran. 

Thank you David.

So that means the KOSB arrived in 1926.That's very helpful- thankyou.

I've only just seen your reply so forgive me for not responding sooner.i will see if I can dig out any photos.

Kind regards

Yvonne

Many thanks for your help.

I ķnow now that my Grandad' s Battalion arrived late 1926 so it will have been a different Regiment probably.

I would love to find a photo of the correct Battalion at the correct time!

Regards

. Yvonne

The Pipe-Major of the 2nd Bn. KOSB as of 1927 was Pipe-Major William Craigie Keith Mackie who had been born in Edinburgh in 1885.  He served in the 2nd Bn. Seaforth Highlanders from 1901 until 1913 when he transferred to become Pipe-Major of the 3rd Bn. KOSB.  Remained there until transfer to the 2nd Bn. KOSB in 1916 and remained in post until he retired from the army in 1929. 

Subsequently became time-keeeper at the navy dockyards in Hong Kong and Pipe-Major (Serjeant-Piper) of the 2nd (Scottish) Coy. HKVDC.  Last seen and heard alive on Christmas Eve 1941 purportedly playing the pipes in the vicinity of Stanley, when the Japanese attacked.

He had won the gold medal at the Northern Meeting in Inverness in 1909 (the top solo piping competition in the world at the time) whilst A Corporal-Piper in the 2nd Seaforths.  Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for WW1 service. 

He had been married twice, his first wife (Janet McNeill) passing away in 1915.  His second wife (Amelia Muir) survived WW2 emigrating to Sydney, Australia  He had five children.