BATTLEGROUND PERTHSHIRE is a concise account of the battles and minor military events that have taken place within the county of Perthshire. Comprising two thousand years of battles, raids, rebellions, sieges, riots, feuds, ambushes and skirmishes, Battleground Perthshire shines the spotlight on the military history of Scotland’s big county. Drawn from extensive primary and secondary sources: archives, eyewitness accounts and official records, it tells the fascinating stories of struggles for wealth, power, freedom and the right to self-determination. This chronicle of Perthshire’s military history stands as an important reminder of some of the events that have marked the development of the Scottish people. It will appeal both to the reader interested in the history of Scotland and to those interested in military history.

Battleground Perthshire can be bought from most bookshops in the Perthshire area: The Watermill at Aberfeldy; Sweet Words at Dunkeld; Waterstones - various stores including Perth; WHSmith - Perth and Pitlochry. And, in Perth Museum, the AK Bell Library, Gloagburn Farm Shop, the Brig Farm Shop by Bridge of Earn. Alternatively, it may be purchased for £7.00 with FREE postage and packing to any UK address {Please email for postage costs for locations outside UK}. Send cheque or postal order (payable to Tippermuir Books) to Tippermuir Books, c/o 3 Graham's Place, King Street, Perth, Perth, PH2 8HZ. It can also be bought through most of the UK online (internet) booksellers.

Spanish Thermopylae: Cypriot Volunteers in the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39 SPANISH THERMOPYLÆ is the story of the fifty-seven Cypriots who served in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39. It is also the story of a war that defined the lives of a generation and whose outcome decided the fate of hundreds of millions of people across the world. Drawing on recently released records from the Comintern Archive in Moscow, Spanish Thermopylae will appeal both to the reader interested in the experiences of the Cypriot volunteers, and to anyone looking for a concise history of the Spanish Civil War. 'This is the first book devoted solely to the contribution made by Cypriots to the cause of democracy and progress in the Spanish Civil War. It bears witness to the injustice committed against humanity by fascism in Spain and the inspirational sacrifices made by a small band of Cypriot volunteers. Spanish Thermopylae is a fitting tribute to them, and the International Brigades.' Demetris Christofias, President of the Republic of Cyprus 'True to the best traditions of their Greek forefathers, the heroes of the Greek War of Independence, the Cypriots rallied to the support of Spanish democracy and independence, realising that a defeat for the Spanish people would have meant world war. On the Spanish battlefields was being decided the fate of Europe and with it that of Cyprus. They recognised fascism as the greatest enemy of humanity and volunteered to help crush it... Many Cypriots lie buried in the Spanish soil fighting fascism. Cyprus is proud of her heroic sons who fell in the anti-fascist cause, but the fight is not over. We fight on until fascism is destroyed from the face of the earth.' Ezekias Papaioannou, Cypriot International Brigades volunteer and General Secretary of AKEL (1949-88) "Before many years have passed, their own countries will feel equally proud of the volunteers. That will be their best and highest reward." Juan Negrín, Prime Minister of the Spanish Republic (1937-39). It is available from www.amazon.co.uk

 

 


HISTORY

Caroline Oliphant - Lady Nairne- Poet

Born in the 'auld hoose' of Gask, Perthshire on 16 August 1766, Caroline (also Carolina) Oliphant (her first name is the female form of Charles; she was named for Prince Charles Edward Stuart) became a poet and song writer of note. She met Niel Gow and wrote several songs to accompany airs written by Niel Gow Junior.

Her family the Oliphants of Gask (she was the third daughter) and the Robertsons of Struan were privileged landowners that as Jacobites had fallen foul of the Crown. Both Caroline Oliphant's father and grandfather were active Jacobites and took part in the 1745 Rising. As a consequence of the defeat at Culloden they fled Scotland (living in political exile for 19 years) and their lands were put up for public auction. Fortunately for Caroline Oliphant, other relations managed to secure the purchase of those lands.

At the late age of 41 (in 1806) Caroline Oliphant married her second cousin, Major William Nairne (1757-1830). She gave birth to a son in 1808 - he became an invalid and was forced to depend on his mother's care all his life. Caroline Oliphant lived for the majority of the time in Edinburgh.

In 1824 after the visit of George IV to Edinburgh (1822) and after successful lobbying by Walter Scott, the British Parliament gave back the forfeited Jacobite peerages. Major Nairne thence was elevated to the title of Baron (sixth Lord Nairne).He died in 1830 and after his death Caroline Oliphant lived firstly in Ireland and then travelled around Europe with her son until the latter's death in 1837.

The effect of these turbulent times informed some of Caroline Oliphant's poetry and songs, most notably:

The Hundred Pipes

Will ye no Come Back Again

Who'll be King but Charlie

Charlie is my Darling

The Pentland Hills -this poem was about the Covenanters

She was not uncritical of the Jacobite cause and in her writing engages with the failures of certain Jacobite leaders. Neither was Caroline Oliphant constrained by the political happenings of her life and wrote on human issues, nature and the environment:

The Auld House

The Rowan Tree

The Laird o'Cockpen

Caller Herring

The Land of the Leal (c. 1798)

"Wha'll buy my caller herrin?Oh, ye may call them vulgar farin', Wive and mithers, maist desparin', Ca' them lives o'men."

As a woman with a high social class position Caroline Oliphant chose not to challenge expected behaviour and so employed a pseudonym. A great deal of her work was published in the name Mrs Bogan of Bogan and appeared in the magazine The Scottish Minstrel (1821-1824) printed by Robert Purdie - some 87 songs. These works included songs based on popular folk tunes; Caroline Oliphant collected the traditional tunes and put her poetry to the music.

Caroline Oliphant died at the age of 79 on 26 October 1845 at her home in Gask. In the grounds of Gask House, where she is buried, is located a granite stone in her memory. A posthumous collection of her work was published as Lays of Strathearn; it was put together by her sister. More recently (1996) her poetry appeared as Songs by Lady Nairne.

The subject of a number of studies, Caroline Oliphant's life is detailed by Rogers (1869), G. Henderson (1900) and Kington Oliphant, Jacobite Lairds of Gask (1870).