Culloden Anniversary Service 2022

Address by Allan Campbell – Chieftain Gaelic Society of Inverness 2022-23

 An dèidh cogaidh thig sìth!  Sin gnàth-fhacal a th’ againn sa Ghàidhlig nach robh idir fìor an dèidh a’ bhlàir dhuilich a chuireadh air an làrach seo air an t-siathamh latha deug den Ghiblean 1746, oir air òrdugh Dhiùc Chumberland chaidh saighdearan a shiubhal na Gàidhealtachd an dà chuid air tòir a’ Phrionnsa Theàrlaich, agus cuideachd gus dìoghaltas a thoirt air neach sam bith a bha a’ cur taice ris. 

Nuair a theich mo cheathramh sìn-seanair Iain “Dubh” Caimbeul às an seo air an latha sin ’s beag an dùil a bhiodh aige ’s e feuchainn ri a shlighe a dhèanamh dhachaigh gu ruige Gleann Dail san Eilean Sgitheanach, gum biodh na bheil an seo de shluagh cruinn 276 bliadhna air adhart ga chuimhneachadh fhèin, agus na chailleadh air gach taobh den bhlàr. Cha mhotha na sin a bhiodh fios aig Iain Dubh gus greis an dèidh sin gun robh Cumberland air binn bàis a chur air gach neach a sheas air taobh nan Stiùbhartach – binn a chaidh orra gun chothrom aig duine aca facal dìon a thagradh as an leth fhèin.

 Historical records tell us that it was bitterly cold here 276 years ago tomorrow when the traditional powers, and to an extent much of the cultural foundations of Scotland’s Clan system, were shattered in a short but bloody battle which had a long and equally bloody aftermath. Many believe that the Highlands and Western Islands are still suffering the impact of drastic and repressive British Government reaction to the battle of Culloden, not least through the generations of suppressive education policies, and general government neglect of Gaelic language and culture.

Intergenerational transmission of family history tells me that my four times great-grandfather John (Iain Dubh – black-haired John) Campbell was here, and somehow escaped with his life.  Sadly we don’t have any information on John’s physical condition as he fled this field, or how he made his way home to Glendale in Skye. That story will remain tantalisingly hidden from us for ever, but it is always tempting to imagine some of the challenges and dangers which post-battle fugitives like John might have faced on his journey. Today I can drive from here to Glendale in about 3 hours, but in April 1746 those 140 or so miles were a very long and hazardous journey, which, depending on the route taken, could have included at least three sea ferry crossings.

One wonders how soon John and his fellow survivors found out that the Duke of Cumberland had sentenced all the Jacobite supporters who had survived the battle to death – for the majority of those captured there would be no opportunity to speak in their own defence.  I wonder if John was travelling alone or whether some of his fellow Daileachs (as residents of Glendale are known in Gaelic) survived and were making the journey with him, but I do know that he made it home safely to the village of Fearann Mhic Guaire (MacQuarrie’s Land) now known in English as Ferriniquarrie, in Glendale.

Glendale was Macleod of Dunvegan territory in the west of Skye, but while the clan Chief didn’t rise to the Jacobite standard, apparently the then landlord of the Glendale Estate raised a detachment of his tenants to support the Prince. One of these was Iain Dubh Caimbeul – Black-haired John Campbell, my four times great grandfather.  It is irrelevant to wonder what John Campbell might have felt about the Stuart cause, he was ordered to war by his feudal superior and refusal was not an option. Such situations are equally common today – where so many are forced to combat in wars which they neither support nor desire.

According to our family tradition Culloden veteran Iain Dubh continued to live in Glendale for the rest of his life, but he was forced to spend extended periods hiding in caves on the moors to avoid capture by marauding groups of Hanoverian soldiers who were doggedly pursuing Culloden survivors. This was why my ancestor Iain Dubh became known as Iain Dubh nam Beann – Black John of the Hills.

The Acts of Proscription passed by the British government after Culloden were deliberately targeted to destroy ancient clan structures, with the carrying of any weapons forbidden; Highland dress outlawed; and playing of the bagpipes also banned.  Any defiance of these laws risked severe penalty, and possibly even exile. 

 How pleasing that so many of these so-called crimes are being legally celebrated  here today!

Suppressed people invariably suffer poverty but while their culture might also be targeted it can prove the most difficult possession for an oppressor to take from his victims, and the retention of culture sustains self-identity, self-esteem, and  hope.

Gaelic has survived despite concerted efforts through education and other policies over many years to eradicate it, but in the second half of the last century modest but very welcome official recognition of the importance of Gaelic language and its culture materialised, and that development process has continued.   I am proud to have been actively involved over the past forty five years with initiatives to revive interest in the language and its use. That challenging campaign for Gaelic continues, and while we appreciate cross-party political support and government funding initiatives, Gaelic needs much more support to enable it to grow naturally once more.

It is truly wonderful that there are now reported to be over 1 million active learners of Gaelic so if you are not yet a speaker you could set yourself a target of being able to use some Gaelic here at next year’s commemorative service!

The Gaelic Society of Inverness, of which I am honoured to be Chieftain for the coming twelve months, has a proud record of supporting the Gaelic language, its culture, and its people, for over 150 years, and since 1925 our Society has regularly commemorated the Battle of Culloden.

 Chan eil fios dè an t-slighe a ghabh Iain Dubh a’ tilleadh gu ruige a dhachaigh ann am baile Fhearann MhicGuaire ann an Gleann Dail san Eilean Sgitheanach – neo an robh duine eile cuide ris den fheachd bheag de mu cheud a dh’òrdaich uachdaran na h-Oighreachd èirigh a’ shabaid leis air taobh Theàrlaich. Cha robh MacLeòid Dhùn Bheagain ann, ach bha uachdaran Ghlinn Dail deònach taic a nochdadh agus cha robh roghainn aig luchd-còmhnaidh na h-oighreachd ach dèanamh mar a dh’iarradh e.

 Fhuair Iain Dubh Caimbeul dhachaigh,  agus ged a bhiodh e ’s cinnteach air-leth taingeil a bheatha a thoirt às a’ bhlàr a thachair an seo  cha robh a shaoghal ach gu math riaslach fad ùine mhòr as dèidh sin. Tha fios againn gun deach na saighdearan Hanobhairianach air feadh na Gàidhealtachd a lorg neach sam bith a chuir taic ris na Stiùbhartaich, agus le airgead brathaidh ga thairgsinn bha daonnan cunnart gun gèilleadh daoine bochda agus gum brathadh iad feadhainn a bha a’ falach.  Gu fàbharach cha do dh’èirich sin dha Iain Dubh, ach tha eachdraidh an teaghlaich ag innse gur e Iain Dubh nam Beann am far-ainm a bh’ air mu dheireadh leis gum b’ fheudar  dha uimhir a dh’ùine a chur seachad na fhògarrach a’ falach air na monaidhean, a seachnadh nan saighdearan.

 In 1883, roughly a century after John Campbell’s time,  red coated Royal Marines were back in Glendale when my Grandfather was about 8 years old – and he recalled them posted on every other hill as they supported court officers serving warrants on poverty stricken crofters who had engaged in a rent-strike as a last desperate resort for a measure of protective justice against barbaric landlords and their equally rapacious factors.

 31 years later, in 1914 the young men of Glendale were enlisted and suffered in another horrific war . Leaders promised that this was to be a war that would end all wars, but a mere 21 years after it ended in 1918 the same communities were ordered to battle once more, in 1939.

 On Remembrance Sunday each year many nations pray that sufficient lessons have been learned to ensure that world leaders will always favour diplomacy over strife, but as has been so sadly obvious recently in the Ukraine a fear of escalation to nuclear conflict can prevent humanitarian military intervention, and allow a tyrant to destroy a neighbouring state. For evil to flourish requires only that good people do nothing – and for the bully might will continue to be right!

Bidh còirichean air choireiginn nam mathair-adhbhar air gach cogadh – ach ’s e mo bheachd gun deach a mhòr-chuid de na rinn sabaid, agus a chailleadh anns gach cogadh, an sàs air sgàth ’s gun deach an òrdachadh ann. Tha fhios gum biodh fianais air gaisge air gach taobh, agus borbachd cuideachd, ach dha cus theaghlaichean agus choimhearsnachdan cha robh dìleab ann ach aonranachd bhrònach leantainneach, agus ainmean shnaidhte a’ crìonadh air cùirn-cuimhne.

Thòisich mi leis a ghnàth-fhacal gun lean sìth gach cogadh, agus ann a bhith a’ cuimhneachadh le urram air na bha ri strì is a’ chailleadh air gach taobh an seo aig Cùl-Lodair, agus anns gach blàr bhon uairsin, nach dèan sinn cuideachd guidhe gun toirear cothrom a-rithist dhan t-sìth!

The Court of Human Rights exists today to consider and  prosecute charges of “war-crime” as have allegedly taken place in Ukraine. Numerous such crimes  took place following Culloden on the order of the Royal Prince, Cumberland,  and it is always worth remembering that many of these crimes were actually inflicted by Gaelic speaking Highlanders.

All wars evolve around rights of various kinds – but probably a vast majority of those who died in these wars did so because they were ordered to battle. Of course there were acts of heroism on all sides, as there were acts of barbarity, but for many families and communities the only legacy is a lasting loneliness, and the names of loved-ones fading on memorials.

I started my comments with the proverb that peace always follows war – and as we honour the memories of all who fought and died, on both sides, here at Culloden, and in every other conflict since, can we also pray that the world might once more manage to give peace a chance!