THE Soldiers of Killiecrankie are not letting the coronavirus lockdown get the better of them – tonight they will start a series of live streams telling the story of the 1698 confrontation.
James Rattray, who chairs the group, lives on the battlefield and has decided to put his daily exercise during the pandemic to good use and promote the story of one of Scotland’s most iconic and significant battle sites.
Streams will be held every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 7pm on Facebook Live, and later posted on YouTube.
Tonight’s film features a discussion of the events which led up to the famous battle.
Rattray said: “Even people living locally do not know the story in any detail. Yet it is one of the most accessibly-located battlefields in Scotland.
READ MORE: New film celebrating Declaration of Arbroath anniversary goes online
“Each year tens of thousands of people drive through it without realising it.
“I felt there was an opportunity to tell the story of the first Jacobite battle while under lockdown.
“The fact I live on the battlefield means I can walk the battlefield. I have lived here for 20 years and have got to know the fields, the humps and bumps and much about what happened here.
“I thought others might be interested in experiencing the battlefield as I do through the eyes of two 1689 combatants.”
The Battle of Killiecrankie was the first confrontation of the Jacobite wars and the bloodiest battle in the entire saga, with 2100 dead from 7000 participants. It was the last major battle in which the large, two-handed sword of William Wallace fame, was used, and was one of the first for the mass deployment of “firelock” muskets.
Killiecrankie was also where the devastating tactic known as the Highland charge was perfected.
It was then used successfully by the Jacobite armies for the ensuing 60 years.
Rattray added: “We have been left very full accounts of the battle by General Hugh Mackay, the commander of the Scottish Government army, and Cameron of Lochiel, Chief of Clan Cameron, who played a very significant role in the Jacobite victory. It is from these accounts I will be telling the story of the 330-year-old battle.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here