Victims of Glencoe Massacre remembered at annual service
It is 330 years since one of the most heinous acts of wanton brutality, even by standards of the 17th century Scottish Highlands, shocked Scotland.
The Massacre of Glencoe, which took place on a snowy and bitterly cold February 13, 1692, saw the treacherous slaughter of members of the MacDonald clan of Glencoe by soldiers of the Earl of Argyll’s Regiment under the command of Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon.
Many of the clan escaped into the freezing cold hills, but the chief, 33 other men, two women and two children were murdered.
The soldiers, who stayed with the MacDonalds for 12 days before turning on their hosts in the early hours of the morning, are particularly infamous because it was ‘murder under trust’, meaning the murder of those who had offered them hospitality.
More than three centuries to the day, homage was again paid on Sunday to the memory of those who perished so long ago when the annual church service and wreath laying took place in Glencoe village.
Last year’s event went ahead but with a much reduced party of only three people to mark the anniversary due to Covid restrictions on the number of people allowed to gather outdoors.
This year it was virtually back to normal with a good turnout of around 80 people on a reasonably dry day.
The parade up to the famous cross, normally due to take place at 11am, was delayed slightly after the church service over-ran.
An emotive pibroch was played by young piper Calum Macaskill and a number of wreaths were laid. There were wreaths on behalf of the Glencoe Heritage Trust - this year in memory of the late Mrs Elizabeth MacDonald of Arisaig, a very notable
Members of the Royal Oak Society of Scotland, led by the group’s piper, head for the Glencoe Massacre Memorial cross.
Highland historian and great friend to many - as well as those from Clan Donald Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland and the Royal Oak Society.
Rosalin MacDonald, secretary of Glencoe Heritage Trust, told the Lochaber Times: ‘There was a good turnout for this year’s event and we were lucky with the weather, which stayed mostly dry.
‘It was nice to see something more akin to normal than last year’s event which had to be restricted due to public health measures.
‘Despite it now being 330 years since those terrible events took place, the annual turnout at the memorial shows how much this dreadful event still resonates down the centuries and how important people feel it is to still commemorate all those who so tragically perished.’