A snapshot of history
Photograph donated to museum
A historic photo has been gifted to the Cameronians Collection at Low Parks Museum in Hamilton, by the grandsons of the two central figures in the picture.
Taken in 1946, the image shows the Bluidy banner and Cleland sword being presented to the Cameronians’ then commanding officer, Colonel Thomas Riddell-webster, by naval officer William Speirs in an open air ceremony at Douglas.
The banner and sword were carried into the Battle of Bothwell Bridge by the Covenanter, William Cleland, who later became the first commanding officer of the Cameronian Regiment.
For more than 250 years following the battle the two historic artefacts were in private ownership until, in 1946, they were presented to the regiment.
Fast-forward almost 70 years and Major-general Michael Riddellwebster became the new Governor of Edinburgh Castle in 2015, and press coverage of the appointment was spotted by Alistair Speirs.
Alistair said: “My father inherited the Cleland Sword and the Bluidy Banner from his aunt and I remember both being in the spare room of my childhood home. I think my father did not feel a strong connection to the sword and banner and felt the right thing to do was to give them to the regiment, which he did in 1946.
“Since then this framed photo of the presentation ceremony has been in my family’s possession. My father sketched the photograph on the back of the frame and labelled the individuals taking part in the ceremony, and it was because of those notes that I recognised the name Riddell-webster.”
Thomas Riddell-webster’s grandson, Major General Michael Riddell-webster said: “I was fascinated when Alastair contacted me about this picture featuring his father and my grandfather and a copy he sent me now hangs in my office.
“I am a trustee of the Black Watch Museum so my first instinct was that the original picture belonged with the Cameronian’s Collection in Low Parks museum as it recorded an important moment in history.”
Rather than present the photograph to the museum himself Alistair asked his son Sandy Spiers to represent the family, and Sandy said: “My father thought it would be appropriate Mike and I made this presentation as we are the grandsons of the two central figures in the photograph, my grandfather presenting the Cleland Sword and Bluidy Banner to the Cameronians Regiment and his grandfather Colonel Riddle-webster receiving them.
“It is interesting in this time of digital images and tagging pictures on social media that a hand-written note on the back of a photo frame gave my father the evidence to bring together the two families after 70 years.”
The Cameronian Collection is available to view at Low Parks Museum Hamilton between 10am5pm, Monday to Friday, and noon till 5pm on a Sunday.
Pictured (l to r) are Sandy and Alastair Speirs with Major General Michael Riddel-webster, Governor of Edinburgh Castle.