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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: HysterySleuth on Saturday 24 August 24 04:12 BST (UK)
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Was the Duchess of Gordon giving kisses and a shilling to recruits in 1809?
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Lots of secondary sources say it is true - though it happened in 1794 when the Regiment was being formed. "she tempted each volunteer with the offer of a golden guinea (the king's shilling) from her lips."
from an article in the Sunday Times, July 13, 2003
It also appears in info from the Gordon Highlanders Museum
https://www.gordonhighlanders.com/the-gordon-highlanders/
Quite a few mentions from the 1850s, but I can't see anything in newspapers from the 1790s. The earliest I can see is in 1853 (again, some time after the actual events):
"... Gordon Highlanders - so called for having been originally raised by the Duchess of Gordon - of beautious and witty reputation, when "George the Third was King", in consequence of a wager of £10,000 with the Prince of Wales, as to which of the two could raise a regiment first. The duchess levied and equipped 1000 men in three months from estates in Scotland, but it is needless to add - his Royal Highness not being a despotic monarch - could not raise a single man ..."
Friday, July 1, 1853
Publication: John O'Groat Journal
Another item from 1854 says a correspondent witnessed the recruiting, however again, I can't find the original reference.
Thursday, July 20, 1854
Publication: Inverness Courier
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Thank you, Maddy.
Then 1809 is too late in any case. Alas, neither kiss nor likely a shilling (at least not from the Duchess) in 1809 for my William Ingram. It was his 15th birthday. And when he was pensioned, he was not recompensed for the years he served under-age. Nonetheless, some harrowing stories were passed on of his engagements, esp at Quatre Bras where wounded. I am here because a Frenchman missed his mark and did not expect William to be left-handed.