Linking Leuchars with Leningrad

Dundee-born actor Brian Cox discovers Russia and Scotland’s links in a new documentary, as Michael Alexander finds out

They may be at the opposite end of Europe from us but it seems we have closer links to the biggest country on Earth than we might think. New DNA evidence suggests one in every 600 Russians has Scottish ancestry.

In a new two-part documentary series which starts on BBC One Scotland tomorrow, Dundee-raised Hollywood actor Brian Cox embarks on a fascinating and at times very personal journey to discover how Scots have made a massive impact on Russia’s history.

For starters, there is the intriguing link between the last emperor of Russia, Tsar Nicholas II, and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (SCOTS DG), now based at Leuchars.

Russia also shares Saint Andrew as its patron saint.

Then there is the revelation that Russian romantic poet Mikhail Lermontov is descended from the Learmonths of Fife.

And the “great Bolshevic defender” John McLean, who organised miners’ strikes at Bowhill Colliery in Fife, was eventually honoured on a Soviet stamp.

Cox, who first went to Moscow 30 years ago to teach a series of Shakespeare workshops for young Russian actors, begins his journey at the Leuchars army base.

Here, commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Dom Coombes explains how in 1894, Nicholas II was appointed Honorary Colonel in Chief of the Royal Scots Greys – which later amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers to become SCOTS DG.

To this day the links are celebrated with a toast to the Tsar and the singing of the Russian Imperial anthem before formal regimental dinners, while a framed icon of the Tsar – presented by Nicholas as a gift – is carried by the regiment on overseas operations as it is supposed to bring good luck.

“Whenever we go on operations it comes with us and sits next to me wherever I am,” explains Lt Col Coombes. “We are very proud to have it here.”

Brigadier Mel Jameson, chairman of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum Trust at Edinburgh Castle, explains that the title was a wedding present from Queen Victoria during a trip to Balmoral, after Nicholas married her granddaughter Alix – a marriage she hoped would bring peace to Europe.

Just over 20 years later, however, as war raged and as the Bolsheviks took over, Nicholas and his family were imprisoned and executed.

The documentary also explores how in 1624 Scottish engineer Christopher Galloway constructed the original clock face of the Spassky Tower in the Kremlin.

Cox visits the Grand Kremlin Palace, which includes the “gobsmackingly beautiful throne room of the Tsars” – also known as the “St Andrews room” – chosen to host President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration in 2012.

The programme investigates the extraordinary story of Patrick Gordon, the Aberdeenshire-born soldier who, after fighting for the Polish Army, was captured and in the 1690s, ended up as the highest ranking general in the Russian Army and the right-hand-man of Peter the Great.

Cox also visits the non-profit RussoScots organisation the Moscow Caledonian Club, where he meets its president Vitaly Mironov – a former Soviet Army soldier recently featured in The Courier.

Brian Cox visits the Kremlin as part of a new documentary on Scotland and Russia’s close ties. Below, at Leuchars army base with the icon of Tsar Nicholas II, which SCOTS DG carry for good luck.