Redford Barracks

On the 19th of Sept 2000 I visited the Redford Barracks through the effort's of Martin Spirit and a Sgt Eddie Ray serving with the Argyll's .I had told Martin that I was attending the 50th reunion in My Late Father's Name as he served with the Regiment in Korea .My father had said in the last few week's he was alive that if ever I went back to Scotland I should visit the Barracks and see if anyone still there new were the bell had come from (he believed it was outside "c" companies billet and used as the fire bell.

All the info my father ever told me about this bell was a few guys from his company had rescued this bell from Palestine .I finally had the opportunity to visit the barracks 14 yrs after his death and see if this bell actually existed. I had seen pictures of it on Sid’s War from his visit to the barracks so I knew it was there. I would have been content to just get a picture of myself next to this bell but Sgt Eddie Ray insisted that I was to be treated to a tour as the Argyll’s are Family and this is something they encourage that family members or vets are all welcome.
 

Upon arriving in Edinburgh I took a taxi to the gate of Redford barracks from the train station. At the gate I was directed to the guardhouse where a Sgt "Mac"MacFarlane or Mac met me and the day began. They had arranged for a unit photographer to take a few pictures of me standing next to this infamous Bell. Mac told me they didn’t really know the origins of it but knew it was from Palestine. They believed it was either a ships bell or a Harbour bell. I then informed him that I believe it was from a tower somewhere in the region and my father had said it was "c" company that had rescued it from being destroyed. We took a series of pictures of the bell with and without me.

I was introduced to RSM Whitehead and he asked me a few things about my father's service and I showed him the web page I had on BSW site with his service with the Argyll’s. From here Mac took me for morning tea and toast in the Sgt Mess were I was introduced to a few of the Sgt's they were all polite and nice when introduced to each of them. After tea Mac showed me around the Mess and we took a few pictures of the silver on display again the unit photographer was with us (I also had him take a few for myself also) Mac then took me and showed me around Redford which was larger than I thought it was we went into the store they have in Redford were I picked up a few things from Mick a jock that was working there. Guess I spent more than what usually gets spent as I ran out of travelers cheques (If I had more cash on me I would have spent that also).

Mac gave me the whole tour around showing me everything that he could also taking me over to meet Cruachan the Mascot I also had a few pictures with him also. We had gone into see the quartermaster Sgt as RSM whitehead wanted me to have another picture taken with a Argyll in full dress next to the bell. After this we went for lunch at the Sgt mess where I was introduced to more of the Sgt that hadn’t been there in the morning when I was there it was very well treated on this visit .On this the day and tour ended as Mac took me to the Gate where a Taxi was called for my trip back to Glasgow a trip from Canada was now complete and something I had told my father I would do was now also done.

I thank the effort's of Martin Spirit, Sgt "Mac” MacFarlane, Sgt Eddie Ray & RSM Whitehead for the excellent reception and how I was treated as a Son of a Argyll it made me very proud to know this is were my father had served with the likes of these men and my Mother would also like to say a Thank You to them.

At the Reunion for Korea in Stirling the conversation about this Bell came up and the Ret RSM who was the SM of "C " Company which my Father served in said he remembered this bell and he was one of the individuals with the help of a few other's had been involved in its rescue. So in the one sense perhaps now there are still people around who can give a better explanation as to the origin's of the bell outside the Guardhouse that many a Jock has cursed and polished as it was polished within a inch of its life.

At the Reunion of the Korean Vets in Stirling I had one of the best weekends I have had for a long time .I was the young upstart with the long hair in a pony tail that did draw a few concerned looks you might say but when it was pointed out that I was the son of John Dunn "C' company. I was given a respect and one of the senior retired officers was annoyed with me that I wasn’t wearing my father's service medals on my right side. I humbly told him I didn’t think I had the right to wear such and he informed me that it was my right as I was standing in his name and as his son the next time I should wear them.

This was so typical of how my whole trip to Scotland was when I was around Vet's or Active Servicemen and Officer's as the saying goes and now I understand it " Once an Argyll always a Argyll" truer words were never spoken as I felt like I was around Family on this whole visit from Redford to Stirling it was amazing is all I can say.