A Personal Commemoration to the Condorrat Radicals

A while back I mentioned that the Dark Harvest Arts Group had borrowed my camera. Their founder, Max Von Denizen, returned it to me this morning and sent me the following post.

Naturally I have no knowledge of what transpired. I am, ahem, the reporter in this scenario.

Also note, if you click on the pictures you get an enlarged version (this is important for the final picture in this story).

----- Original Message -----

From: Max Von Denizen

To: firefox1297@msn.com

Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 1:24 PM

Subject: Condorrat Radicals Commemoration

Kenny,

please add this to your Blog. Both your readers will no doubt appreciate the event.

Last week, members of the Dark Harvest Arts Group (and don't let Mr. Kenny pretend he wasn't there) congregated in Condorrat to commemorate the Condorrat Villagers who took part in the Insurrection of 1820. Naturally the story isn't complete without Andrew Hardie, James Wilson of Strathaven and all the other Scottish Radicals, however a separate Glasgow Memorial along similiar lines is planned.

Let their names live forever more:

John Baird, Ex-Soldier and Weaver, Condorrat - Executed

John Barr, Weaver, Condorrat - Transported for Treason

Thomas McFarlane, Weaver, Condorrat - Transported for Treason

William Smith, Weaver, Condorrat - Transported for Treason

They lived as Heroes and were treated like slaves



The Luggie in Condorrat

Therefore, last week, we congregated at the Luggie in Condorrat, first to talk about the Radicals, what they meant to us, how they're relevant now, to read a couple of verses of various poems and ended our ceremony with a Burning of the Union Flag, the symbol of the Radical's Oppression.

We chose a commemoration that wasn't a funeral, because we believe these men would've wanted us to be as Radical as they were. Outlined in Images and Text (and, obviously, without pictures of the participants - no John King's here you understand).

Before the Burning of the Butcher's Apron

It was at this point we had our speeches, our talk, all with our backs with the Luggie and modern Condorrat proper at our backs.

A certain Blogger and SRSM member (who shall remain nameless) argued that since Thomas McFarlane of Condorrat and James Wilson of Strathaven (who was executed for Treason) were both United Scotsmen then it would be appropriate for each of us to recite a modern "secret oath" based on original. Naturally we had discussed this beforehand, but either way, each in turn, on a Saltire and Dirk took our oath and burned the Union Jack and swore allegiance to Scotland and Scotland alone (are you listening Gordon Brown?) This is important, purely because it symbolises committment to one's country. Unfortunately I didn't have the Radical Oath (if there was one) to work from, and used the next best source (i.e. the group at least two leading members came from previously).

The Burning of the Butcher's Apron [Kenny Note: Enlarge for a larger and clearer picture of this one - press back to get back here]

The question, obviously, was what to do next. It's all well and good burning a Union Jack and swearing an oath. Scottish Independence seekers probably do something like this regularly. But we wanted more, we wanted something symbolic.

It was therefore agreed, impromptu, that we return the tattered remains of the Butcher's Apron as a symbolic offering. We who were there considered ourselves the inheritors of the Legacy of the Radicals and the United Scotsmen. Who, pray tell, would you most likely suggest we enlist to play the part of the Yeomanry who turned our Heroes into Slaves?

The Tattered remnants of the Butcher's Apron, inspected before Stage Two

So where did we choose? The local TA base - The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders TA Base on Glencryan Road, Cumbernauld.

And so, we took ourselves from Condorrat to Central Cumbernauld and a deserted little path only frequented by Dog Walkers and people who haven't got their bus fare home to Abronhill. The question we next had was what to do, and how to do it. This affair was all about symbolism (we are an arts group after all). The best course of action was to place it somewhere high, and somewhere relevant.

[Kenny Note: The picture looks better if you enlarge it, you can see the detail, so click on the link] It doesn't take Einstein to guess that we chose the location closest to the front entrace of the Barracks rather than the gates which are slightly further from the Barracks. Close enough to see those Red Checks on the door they stole from the Jacobites to trick a stolen people into joining. A comrade from Glasgow noted to us that while the Tartan was banned, the Army had introduced it as a way to get the tough Highlanders into the Army. That is, "You can't wear it out there, but you can in here." Let's be honest, this lot might as well be called the South Essex Fusiliers as 'Scots'.

History isn't just about Commemorating the dead, but commemorating the living.

Next commemoration Glasgow. Contact Kenny if you want to attend.

Max Von Denizen

Dark Harvest Arts Group