Winter Talk – ‘The Sacrifice of the Sutherland Highlanders’ – New Orleans – The True Story
Major Hamish Clark
Image shows 93rd Sutherland Highlanders King’s Colour. Original Colour when the 93rd was formed and carried at the Battle of New Orleans January 8th 1815
At New Orleans a hastily assembled mixed American force repulsed a larger, professional, British Army. More than thirty years after US Independence, and just months before the emergency at Waterloo, why were we yet again fighting Americans? Who was Old Hickory? What really happened at New Orleans?
New Orleans demonstrated that fighting spirit does have a breaking point. But among the chaos, American eyewitnesses watched as one regiment stood firm and immovable as a brick wall – the Sutherland Highlanders, the old 93rd. The regiment’s fine reputation was upheld by character and cohesion. For this the 93rd paid a terrible price. Yet they set a precedent for the future Thin Red Line.
In this fresh presentation, Hamish Clark draws upon American and British sources to tell of the plan that went wrong, but also of sheer endurance and courage. With colour and music he brings this unusual story to life.
The Speaker
Hamish’s service to Queen and Country spanned fifty years. Enlisting in 1963 he passed out from Sandhurst with a Regular Commission in The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. His service has been shaped by his generation’s UK Defence policy: the Cold War ‘watchful readiness’ in West Berlin and West Germany; operational service on the jungle frontier of Sarawak in Borneo, in Crater the crucible town of Aden, on the Hong Kong-China border, and in the streets and border country of Northern Ireland. His extended service continued on the full-time staff of the Territorial Army, and finally on the staff of the Army’s Military Secretary supporting the Chief of the General Staff. For many years he also served as an active Committee Member and Trustee of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum.
Through the fifty years’ service in The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and beyond, Hamish’s off-duty explorations have been into the hills – and into military history, not least that of the Regiment.
Ticket Application
Timings – All talks will take place in The Colours’ Room located in The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum, Kings Old Building, Stirling Castle. Lectures will begin at 11.00am, last one hour with refreshments from 10.30am and after the event.
Tickets – Tickets are £15 each and can be purchased at the bottom of this page. There is no need to buy an additional Stirling Castle ticket.
Parking – If you wish to park on the Esplanade you will have to purchase a parking ticket. We are not able to reserve any parking and this will be charged at £5 per car. Free parking may be available on Ballengeich Pass/Upper Castlehill Road – please note there are timed restrictions for these areas.
Further Information- If you require further information, please email the museum team at museum@argylls.co.uk
