back again mr begbie the life story of rev lt col r j g begbie obe
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
1/363
%$&.$*$,1051 %(*%,(
$&KULVWLDQ0DQV7HVWLPRQ\RI7KUHH&DUHHUVLQ2QH/LIH
E\
5HY1 /W&RO51-1*1 %HJELH/ 2%(
5266+286(%22.69$//(&,72/ &$/,)251,$
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
2/363
&RS\ULJKW4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
3/363
, GHGLFDWH WKLV ERRN WR P\ GHDU ZLIH/ :LQ/ ZKR KDV
VXSSRUWHG PH DQG ORRNHG DIWHU PH ZLWK XWWHU GHYRWLRQ
ZKLOH/ ZLWKRXW FRPSODLQW/ UHSHDWHGO\ VDFULILFLQJ KHU
FDUHHU DV DQ HGXFDWLRQDOLVW VR WKDW VKH FRXOG DFFRPSDQ\
PHRQP\IUHTXHQWPRYHVLQWKUHHGLIIHUHQWSURIHVVLRQV
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
4/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
5/363
7DEOHRI
&RQWHQWV
$XWKRUV3UHIDFH 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4
3UHIDFH1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 6
,QWURGXFWLRQ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8
41 0\)DPLO\1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 :
51 %R\KRRG1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4:
61 7KH6KRS 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 64
717KH:DU,Q(QJODQG1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 QHLWKHU RI XVZRXOG UXQ EXWZHZDONHG IDVWHU DQG IDVWHU1
:H MXVW JRW URXQG D EXLOGLQJ EHIRUH DERXW VL[W\ VKHOOV ODQGHG RQ RU DERXW
WKHEULGJH1 7KHUHZH IRXQG WKHVDSSHUV VHQVLEO\ XQGHU FRYHU WLOO WKH VKHOOLQJ
FHDVHG1 -RFNQHYHU WRRNPHZLWK KLP DJDLQ DV LWZRXOGQW GR IRUERWK RIXV
WRJHWNQRFNHGRXWWRJHWKHU1
7KDW QLJKW/ 5$) %RPEHU &RPPDQGZHUH WR DWWDFN WKH QH[W WRZQ VRXWK
RI XV RQ WKH ULYHU1 8QIRUWXQDWHO\/ RQH VTXDGURQ ERPEHG VKRUW DQG VRPH
43/333 SRXQG EORFNEXVWHUV ODQGHG DPRQJVW 84VW +LJKODQG 'LY RQ RXU
ULJKW/ DQG WKHLU &5(/ DPRQJVW RWKHUV/ ZDV NLOOHG1 (YHQZKHUHZHZHUH KDOI
DPLOHDZD\WKHJURXQGVKRRNXQGHURXUIHHW17KH 86
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
109/363
1RUPDQG\7R7KH%DOWLF 103
VWDUWHG1 7KH UHVXOWZDV WKDW DOO WKH *HUPDQ UHVHUYHVZHUH IUHH WR FRPH XSDJDLQVW XV1 7KHVH ZHUH GHVWUR\HG SULQFLSDOO\ E\ 48WK 6FRWWLVK/ 84VW
+LJKODQG/ DQG 76UG:HVVH[ 'LYV DV WKH\ DUULYHG RQ WKH VFHQH1 :KHQ WKH
IORRG HYHQWXDOO\ VXEVLGHG/ WKH 86
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
110/363
104 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
+45( ZDV LQ D TXDUU\ RQ KLJK JURXQG RYHUORRNLQJ WKH 5KLQH IORRGSODLQ1 6R ZH KDG DQ H[FHOOHQW YLHZ/ DQG/ PRUH LPSRUWDQWO\/ H[FHOOHQW
ZLUHOHVV FRPPXQLFDWLRQV1 :H VDZ 9WK $LUERUQH 'LY IO\ LQ ORZ RYHUKHDG1
2QH PLQXWH WKH FKDSV ZHUH ZDYLQJ WR XV IURP WKH RSHQ GRRUV RI WKH
'DNRWDV/ DQG WKHQ D IHZ PLQXWHV ODWHU VRPH RI WKHPZRXOG JR GRZQ LQ
IODPHV1 ,WZDVDWHUULEOHVLJKW1
$ GD\ RU WZR DIWHU WKH FURVVLQJ/ ZH PRYHG LQWR WKH EULGJHKHDG1 ,
UHPHPEHU VHHLQJ PDQ\ SULVRQHUV EHLQJ PDUFKHG EDFN1 7KH\ ZHUH YHU\
\RXQJEXWVWLOODVWUXFXOHQWDV1D]LVDOZD\VZHUH1
2Q 7WK $SULO/ 48WK 6FRWWLVK MRLQHG LQ WKH DGYDQFH WR WKH (OEH XQGHU
FRPPDQG RI ;WK &RUSV RQ WKH D[LV %RUNXP/ 2VQDEUXFN/ &HOOH/ 8HO]HQ/ DQG
/XQHEXUJ1 $VZH OHIWWKH5KLQHHDFKKRXVHZHSDVVHGKDGEHHQEXUQWGRZQ
E\ RXU IODPH WKURZHUV WLOO WKH\ UDQ RXW RI IXHO1 , WKLQNZH DOOZDQWHG VRPH
UHYHQJH IRU DOO WKH PLVHU\ WKH *HUPDQV KDG EURXJKW RQ D ZRUOG ZKLFKZRXOGQHYHUEHWKHVDPHDVLWKDGEHHQEHIRUH1 7KHUHDIWHU/ DVIDUDVZHFRXOG
VHH RQ HLWKHU VLGH RI WKH URDG/ ZKLWH IODJV RU EHG VKHHWVZHUH KDQJLQJ IURP
HYHU\*HUPDQZLQGRZ1 ,WZDVDPRVWVDWLVIDFWRU\VLJKW1
%XW XQOLNH WKH DGYDQFH DFURVV )UDQFH DQG %HOJLXP/ WKHUH ZHUH QR
ZHOFRPLQJ FURZGV1 ,QVWHDG WKHUHZHUH WKRXVDQGV DQG WKRXVDQGV RI UHOHDVHG
VODYH ZRUNHUV ZDONLQJ HYHU ZHVWZDUGV WRZDUGV WKHLU KRPHV LQ +ROODQG/
%HOJLXP/ DQG )UDQFH1 7KH\ZHUH LQ D SLWLDEOH FRQGLWLRQ/ PRVWO\ LQ UDJV RI
FORWKLQJ/ DQG PDQ\ZLWK QR VKRHVRU ERRWV1 7KH\ZHUH DOO KDJJDUG DQG WKLQ/
DQG QRW PDQ\ PDQDJHG DZDYH RU HYHQ D VPLOH1 7KHUHZHUH VR PDQ\/ PLOH
DIWHUPLOH/ WKDWLWDOPRVWVHHPHGDVLIWKHURDGZHUHPRYLQJWRZDUGVXV1
2QH HYHQLQJZH GUHZ LQWR WKH PRDWHG VFKORVV RI WKHYRQ 0ROWNH IDPLO\1
7KHUHZDV DQ HQRUPRXV RLO SDLQWLQJ RI WKH ILUVW JHQHUDO0ILHOG PDUVKDO LQ WKHKDOOZLWK D NLVW EHQHDWK FRQWDLQLQJ KLV IXOO GUHVV XQLIRUP/ GUHVV VZRUG/ DQG
GHFRUDWLRQV1 ,ZDVYHU\ WHPSWHG WR ORRW WKH ODWWHU/ EXW/ EHLQJ WKH DGMXWDQW/
, KDG WR VHW D JRRG H[DPSOH1 %XW LQ WKH NLVWZDV D ER[ RI *HUPDQ OHDG WR\
VROGLHUV1 7KHVH,GLG WDNH/ ZLWK WKHPHQWDOH[FXVH WKDW LWZRXOGEHEHWWHU IRU
WKHZRUOG LI WKH QH[W JHQHUDWLRQ RI *HUPDQVZHUH QRW EURXJKW XS DV \RXQJ
PLOLWDULVWV$ ,VWLOOKDYHWKHP/ DQG,EHOLHYHWKH\DUHTXLWHYDOXDEOHQRZ1
6KRUWO\ DIWHU WKLV/ , UHWXUQHG WR (QJODQG IRU P\ ORQJ DZDLWHG WHQ GD\V
OHDYH1 , KDG DUUDQJHG WR PHHW:LQ LQ %HUQHUV +RWHO LQ 2[IRUG 6WUHHW1 ,
UHPHPEHU UXQQLQJ XS WKH VWHSV IURP WKH XQGHUJURXQG DQG UDWKHU UXGHO\
SXVKLQJ VORZHU PRYHUV RXW RI WKH ZD\ LQ P\ DQ[LHW\ WR VHH :LQ DJDLQ1$IWHU JUHHWLQJ RQH DQRWKHU/ WKH ILUVW WKLQJ QHFHVVDU\ ZDV D EDWK1 ,W PXVW
KDYH EHHQZHHNVVLQFH,G ODVWKDGD SURSHUZDVK1 ,ZDV VR ILOWK\ WKDW,KDG
WRKDYHDULQVHLQDVHFRQGEDWK$
:H VSHQW D IHZ GD\V RQ RXU RZQ DW %HUQHUV/ WKHQZHQW WR &KHOWHQKDP
WRVHHP\SDUHQWV> , WKLQNZH GURYH WR6\PRQGV
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
111/363
1RUPDQG\7R7KH%DOWLF 105
ZDV EDFN WR /RQGRQ1 , VWD\HG ZLWK :LQ DQ H[WUD GD\/ ZKLFK WHFKQLFDOO\PDGH PH D GHVHUWHU/ EHFDXVH ,ZDV FRQILGHQW , FRXOG KLWFK0KLNH P\ZD\ XS
WKH / RI & TXLFNHU WKDQ WKH OHDYH SDUW\1 7KLV , GLG/ DQG WR HYHU\RQHV
VXUSULVH , UHMRLQHG +45( RXWVLGH /XQHEXUJ D GD\ WRR HDUO\/ ZKLFK WRRN D
ELWRIH[SODLQLQJ$
(LVHQKRZHU/ IRUQRYDOLGUHDVRQ/ KDGVWRSSHG WKHDUPLHVRQ WKH(OEH/ EXW
ZH JRWRUGHUV WR FURVV LQ RUGHU WR KHDG WKH 5XVVLDQV RII IURP'HQPDUN1 6R
ZHZHUH WKHRQO\DOOLHGGLYLVLRQ WRGRDQDVVDXOWFURVVLQJRYHU WKH(OEH/ DQG
LW EHJDQ RQ 5
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
112/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
113/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
114/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
115/363
1RUPDQG\7R7KH%DOWLF 109
VXJJHVWLYH PDQQHU1 7KLV HQWLFHG RXU 'XWFK OLDLVRQ RIILFHU DQG PHGLFDORIILFHU WR JR QH[W GRRU/ RQH HYHQLQJZKHUH WKH\ZHUH UHSRUWHG WR PH E\
560 %XUWRQ/ WRZKRP WKH JXDUG KDG UHSRUWHG1 $V WKH\ZRXOG QRW FRPH
DZD\ YROXQWDULO\/ , KDG WR VHQG IRU WKH JXDUG DQG UHPRYH WKHP XQGHU
DUUHVW1 7KH 'XWFKPDQ EHFDPHYLROHQW DQG GUHZ KLV UHYROYHU RQ PH/ EXW ,
JRW LW DZD\ IURP KLP TXLWH HDVLO\DQG HYHQWXDOO\ KDG WR KDQGFXII KLP WR KLV
LURQEHGVWHDG1
2QFH WKH JXDUG/ ZKR KDG FDOOHG WKH 560/ ZHUH LQYROYHG/ WKHUHZDV QR
ZD\ WR KXVK WKH PDWWHU XS1 (YHQWXDOO\ , KDG WR SURVHFXWH WKH WZR RIILFHUV
DW D FRXUW PDUWLDO/ DQG , HDUQHG WKH GLVSOHDVXUH RI &RO-RFN IRU QRW JHWWLQJ
WKHP D ELJ HQRXJK SXQLVKPHQW1 ,WZDV WKH RQO\ XQSOHDVDQW LQFLGHQW , KDG
LQ WKH 48WK 6FRWWLVK1 /DWHU/ DIWHU , OHIW/ WKH PHGLFDO RIILFHU JRW GUXQN DJDLQ
DQGNLOOHGKLPVHOILQDWUDIILFDFFLGHQW1
&RO-RFNZDVDZD\KDYLQJD WRRWKRXW LQKRVSLWDO/ VR, WRRNKLVFDU WRJHWP\VHOI DQG WKH ZLWQHVVHV WR WKH FRXUW PDUWLDO1 &RPLQJ EDFN DORQJ WKH
DXWREDKQ/ , SXW P\ IRRW GRZQ WR VHH KRZ IDVW WKH FDUZRXOGJR/ DQG JRW LW
XS WR 463 PSK1 6HHLQJ D ORQJ ZHW PXGG\ SDWFK RQ WKH URDG VRPH ZD\
DKHDG/ , KDG DOORZHG WKH FDU WR VORZ GRZQ WR DERXW :3 PSK/ ZKHQ D
*HUPDQ ORUU\ FDPH VWUDLJKW RXW IURP D IDUP WUDFN LQ IURQW RI PH1 7KHUH
ZDVQRZD\ WRDYRLG LW/ DQGHYHQ WKRXJK,VODPPHGRQ WKHEUDNHV/ ZHPXVW
KDYHKLWLWDWDWOHDVW78 PSK1 7KHQH[WWKLQJ,NQHZZDVFRPLQJWRLQDILHOG
ZLWK P\ IDFH FRYHUHG LQ EORRG DV ,G EURNHQ WKH UHDUYLHZ PLUURUZLWK P\
IRUHKHDG/ DQG P\ NQHHV KDG EURNHQ WKH GDVKERDUG DFURVV WKH IXOOZLGWK RI
WKHFDU1 7KHFKDSEHVLGHPHZDVRND\EXWRQHRIWKHVDSSHUVEHKLQGPHKDG
FRPH ULJKW WKURXJK WKH JODVV VFUHHQ DQG GXJ KLV WHHWK LQWR WKH EDFN RI P\
KHDG1 ,WKRXJKWKHKDG ORVWDQH\HDVKHKDGDFXWULJKWGRZQKLVIDFHEHVLGH
KLVQRVH/ EXWDSDUWIURPDVFDUKHZDVDOULJKW1
:KHQZHJRWRXWRIWKHFDU/ ZHVDZWKDW LWKDGEHHQEHQWXSZDUGV LQWKH
PLGGOHE\WKHIRUFHRIWKHFROOLVLRQ1 6RWKHFDUZDVDZULWH0RII1 6FUHDPVZHUH
FRPLQJ IURP WKH *HUPDQ ORUU\1 :H KDG NQRFNHG WKH FDE FOHDQ RII WKH
FKDVVLV/ DQG RQH RI WKH PHQ LQVLGH KDG D EURNHQ IHPXU1 , GRQW UHPHPEHU
PXFK PRUH/ EXW LWZDV D SURYLGHQWLDO HVFDSH1 ,ZDV H[RQHUDWHG DW WKH FRXUW
RI HQTXLU\/ DQG , JRW DQ HQRUPRXV 0HUFHGHV GURS KHDG FRXSH IRU &RO-RFN
EHIRUH KH FDPH RXW RI KRVSLWDO1 +HZDV TXLWH SOHDVHGZLWK WKH H[FKDQJH/
H[FHSW WKDW WKH ERQQHWZDV VR ORQJ WKDW \RX EORFNHG WKH PDLQ URDGZKHQ
WXUQLQJLQIURPDVLGHURDGEHIRUH\RXFRXOGVHHZKHWKHUWKHURDGZDVFOHDU1
$IWHU D IHZ GD\V/ ZH JRW RUGHUV WR PRYH WR 6FKZHULQ WR WKH QRUWK RI
%HUOLQ1 )RUWXQDWHO\ &SO 0DXJKDQ/ RXU 07 FRUSRUDO/ KDG EHHQ D JURRP DW
1HZPDUNHWDQGZDVDFDSDEOHKRUVHPDQ1 6RKHDQG,URGHWKHKRUVHVDFURVVWR RXU QHZ ORFDWLRQ/ WDNLQJ WZR GD\V RYHU LW DQG VWRSSLQJ WKH QLJKW LQ WKH
48WK 6FRWWLVK +45$ PHVV KDOIZD\ DORQJ WKH URXWH1 :H WRRN WKH E\ZD\V
DV WKH URDGV ZHUH FOXWWHUHG ZLWK DUP\ WUDIILF1 :H URGH WKURXJK WKH
EHDXWLIXO 0HFNOHQEXUJ FRXQWU\VLGH/ ZKLFK LV PRVWO\ IRUHVWHG DQG
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
116/363
110 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
LQWHUVSHUVHGZLWK PDQ\ ORYHO\ ODNHV1 2QH GD\ LQ D IRUHVW/ ZH FDPH XSRQ DJURXS RI VRPH WKLUW\ DUPHG *HUPDQ VROGLHUV ZKR KDG QRW DV \HW
VXUUHQGHUHG1 $VVRRQDV,VDZ WKHP/ , WROG0DXJKDQ WRNHHSKLVKDQGVDZD\
IURPKLV6WHQJXQDQG LJQRUH WKHP1 7KH\ LJQRUHGXVDVPXFKDVZH LJQRUHG
WKHP/ DQGZHZHUH UHOLHYHGZKHQZH JRW RXW RI VLJKW RI WKHP1 7KH\G KDYH
EHHQDQXLVDQFHLIWKH\KDGVXUUHQGHUHGWRXV1
$W 6FKZHULQZH IRXQG DQ RSHUD KRXVHZLWK D FRPSOHWH RSHUD FRPSDQ\
DQG RUFKHVWUD VWLOO LQ EHLQJ1 6R WKH JHQHUDO UHQDPHG LW 7KH 48WK 6FRWWLVK
'LYLVLRQ 2SHUD &RPSDQ\1 +H PDGH WKH *HUPDQV VLW LQ WKH XSSHU FLUFOHV
VR WKDWZH DOOZHQW IUHH DQG RFFXSLHG WKH VWDOOV DQG GUHVV FLUFOHZKLOH WKH
JHQHUDO DQG KLV VWDII RFFXSLHG WKH UR\DO ER[1 +H TXLWH HQMR\HG LQYLWLQJ WKH
FRUSVFRPPDQGHUDQGRWKHUGLJQLWDULHV WR MRLQKLP LQWKHUR\DOER[RIKLV
RSHUD KRXVH1 6R ZH KDG D GLIIHUHQW RSHUD HDFK ZHHN DQG DQ RUFKHVWUDO
FRQFHUWRQ6XQGD\DIWHUQRRQV1,W EHFDPH NQRZQ WKDW ZH ZHUH JRLQJ WR KDYH WR ZLWKGUDZ DOPRVW WR
+DPEXUJ DVZHZHUH QRZ LQZKDWZDV WR EH SDUW RI WKH 5XVVLDQ ]RQH1 $W
WKHVDPHWLPH/ ZH OHDUQW WKDWQXPEHUVRIWKH$76ZHUHJRLQJWREHVHQWRXW
IURP (QJODQG WR UHOLHYH WKH PHQ VR WKDW WKH\ FRXOG EH GHPRELOL]HG1 7KLV
PHDQW WKDW SURSHU :&V ZRXOG EH QHHGHG1 7KH &( ;WK &RUSV/ %ULJDGLHU
++& 6XJGHQ/ XVHG WKLV DV DQ H[FXVH WR UHPRYH HYHU\ WRLOHW IURP WKH ]RQH
WKH 5XVVLDQV ZRXOG RFFXS\1 /RUU\ ORDGV RI :&V ZHUH VHHQ PRYLQJ
ZHVWZDUG WR PDUN WKH GLVDSSURYDO RI WKH DUP\ IRU WKLV SROLWLFDO
DUUDQJHPHQW1
:HZHUH FDOOHG WKH %/$/ WKH %ULWLVK /LEHUDWLRQ$UP\/ EXW IRU DOO RI XV
UHJXODUV LW PHDQW %XUPD /RRPV $KHDG1 6XUH HQRXJK/ WKHUH ZHUH VRRQ
RUGHUV IRU PH WR SURFHHG WR %XUPD1 ,WZDV D WUHPHQGRXVZUHQFK IRUPH WROHDYH WKH GLYLVLRQ ZKHUH , KDG EHHQ VR KDSS\1 -RFN KDG EHFRPH OLNH D
VHFRQG IDWKHU WR PH/ DQG LWZDV KDUG WR NHHS EDFN WKH WHDUVZKHQ , VDLG
JRRGE\H1
,FDXJKWD WURRS WUDLQDW+DPEXUJ/ DQG WKH WUDLQPDGH LWVZD\EDFNDFURVV
*HUPDQ\ SDLQIXOO\ VORZO\1 2QO\ D VLQJOH WUDFNZDV IXQFWLRQLQJ/ DQG HYHU\
SHUPDQHQW EULGJH ZDV GRZQ DQG UHSODFHG E\ D UDLOZD\ HTXLSPHQW EULGJH
FRQVWUXFWHG E\ UDLOZD\ FRQVWUXFWLRQ FRPSDQLHV RI WKH 5(1 7KH GHYDVWDWLRQ
RQ HYHU\ VLGHZDV DPD]LQJ1 (YHU\ UDLOZD\ VWDWLRQZDV LQ UXLQV/ DQG DOO WKH
VLGLQJVZHUHFUDWHUHGDQGEORFNHGZLWKZUHFNHGUROOLQJVWRFN1
(YHQWXDOO\ WKH WUDLQJRW WR2VWHQG/ DQGDVZH OHIW WKH KDUERURXUVKLSVHW
RII DQ DFRXVWLF PLQH VXIILFLHQWO\ IDU IURP WKH VKLS QRW WR GR XV DQ\ KDUP1
%XWLWVHHPHGDQDSSURSULDWHSDUWLQJVKRWIURPDZDU0WRUQFRQWLQHQW1
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
117/363
2IILFHUVRI+45(48WK6FRWWLVK'LYLVLRQRQWKHGD\WKHZDUHQGHGRXWVLGH+DPEXUJ0 0D\4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
118/363
2QWKHURDGEHWZHHQ+DUUDUDQG'LUHGDZD/$E\VVLQLD1 0\IRRWLV
VWLOOEDQGDJHG1$OL/$EGL/ P\VHOI/ DQGWZR,WDOLDQDUP\GULYHUV1
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
119/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
120/363
114 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
WKHUHIRUH SRVWHG WR WKH 5(0( 'HSRW DW 1RWWLQJKDP WR WDNH RYHU WKH GUDIWEHIRUHSURFHHGLQJRYHUVHDV1
6R:LQ UHWXUQHG WR 6NHJQHVV1 ,WZDV DZIXO KDYLQJ WR VD\ JRRGE\H DVZH
KDG KDG VR OLWWOH WLPH WRJHWKHU VLQFHZHZHUH PDUULHG1 , KDG QR LGHDZKHQ
ZHVKRXOGVHHHDFKRWKHUDJDLQ/ QRUZKHQ,ZRXOGILUVWVHHRXUFKLOG1 ,KDWHG
QRW EHLQJ DEOH WR EHZLWK:LQ GXULQJ KHU SUHJQDQF\1 %XW RWKHU PHQ KDG
EHHQ VHSDUDWHG IURP WKHLU IDPLOLHV IRU \HDUV DOUHDG\ LQ WKH 0LGGOH DQG )DU
(DVW1 6RZHFRXOGQRWFRPSODLQ1
%XW DJDLQ WKHUHZDV GHOD\ LQ 1RWWLQJKDP/ DQG VR , JRW SHUPLVVLRQ IRU
:LQ WR MRLQ PH LQ D KRWHO WKHUH/ DQG ZH KDG D IHZ PRUH SUHFLRXV GD\V
WRJHWKHU1 0\ IDWKHU FDPH XS RQH GD\ E\ WUDLQ IURP &KHOWHQKDP DV ,P VXUH
KH UHDOL]HG KRZ PLVHUDEOH ,ZDV DW OHDYLQJ:LQ DW VXFK D WLPH1 ,WZDVYHU\
XQGHUVWDQGLQJ DQG NLQG RI KLP WR PDNH WKH WULS DV WUDLQ WUDYHO ZDV VWLOO
XQGHU ZDU0WLPH FRQGLWLRQV DQG YHU\ VORZ DQG RQHURXV1 2QFH DJDLQ/ :LQDQG,ELGRQHDQRWKHUDVDGIDUHZHOO/ ,FROOHFWHGP\WZHQW\RGG5(0(PHQ/
DQG WRRN WKH WUDLQ WR *ODVJRZ1 4XHHQ 6WUHHW VWDWLRQ/ ZKLFK ZDV VHPL0
XQGHUJURXQG/ ZDV IXOO RI VPRNH DQG VPXWV/ ILOWK\ GLUW\/ DQG GLG QRW JLYH XV
DJRRGLPSUHVVLRQRI*ODVJRZ1
7KHUHZH ERDUGHG WKH &DSHWRZQ &DVWOH/ ZKLFKZDV VWLOO VHUYLQJ DV D WURRS
VKLS1 , VDZ P\ VROGLHUV DFFRPPRGDWHG RQ RQH RI WKH WURRS GHFNV DQG WKHQ
ZHQWXS WRD ILUVWFODVVFDELQZKLFK,ZDV WRVKDUHZLWK WKUHHRWKHU RIILFHUV1
, JRW WR NQRZ D 0U /LOOLQJWRQZKR KDG WZLFH EHHQ FDXJKW LQ WKH:HVWHUQ
'HVHUW DQG GRQH WZR VSHOOV DV D SULVRQHU RIZDU1 +HZDV JRLQJ RXW WR MRLQ
WKH VWDII RI7KRPDV &RRN LQ 1DLUREL1 'XULQJ KLV FDSWLYLWLHV/ KH KDG OHDUQW
HYHU\ GHWDLO RI &XOEHUWVRQV *ROGHQ %RRN RI %ULGJH1 0DQ\ DW WKH WLPH ZHUH
IDPLOLDU ZLWK KLV VKRUWHU 2IILFLDO
%RRN/ EXW IHZ NQHZ WKH PXFK ODUJHU*ROGHQ %RRN1 /LOOLQJWRQ NQHZ LW EDFNZDUGV DQG IRUZDUGV/ DQG KH WDXJKW LW
WR PH GXULQJ WKH YR\DJH1 7KXV HTXLSSHG ZH FRQVLVWHQWO\ EHDW DOO
FKDOOHQJHUV1
6RRQZH VDLOHG GRZQ WKH &O\GH SDVW DOO WKH VKLS\DUGV/ SDVVLQJ$LOVD &UDLJ
WR VWDUERDUG DVZH HQWHUHG WKH 1RUWK &KDQQHO1 7KH ODVWZH VDZ RI WKH 8.
DVWKHVXQZHQWGRZQZDVWKH,VOHRI0DQDZD\RQRXUSRUWVLGH1
1H[W PRUQLQJ ZH ZHUH ZHOO DFURVV D FDOP %D\ RI %LVFD\1 :H SDVVHG
GRZQ WKHZHVW FRDVW RI 3RUWXJDO/ DQG WKH FDSWDLQ SRLQWHG RXW RYHU WKH ORXG
VSHDNHUV WKH VLWH RI WKH %DWWOH RI7UDIDOJDU1 ,WZDV WKULOOLQJ WR PH WR VHH DOO
WKH SODFHV , KDG OHDUQW DERXW DW FROOHJH1 (VSHFLDOO\ VRZDV RXU HQWUDQFH LQWR
WKH 0HGLWHUUDQHDQ WKURXJK 7KH 3LOODUV RI +HUFXOHV/ ZLWK 7DQJLHU WR
VWDUERDUG DQG WKH 5RFN RI *LEUDOWDU WR SRUW1 , FRXOG VHH WKH KDUERU LQ WKH
GLVWDQFHORRNLQJTXLWHJUH\ZLWKDPXOWLWXGHRIVKLSVRIWKH5R\DO1DY\1
, WKRURXJKO\ HQMR\HG WKH YR\DJH1 , VRRQ PDGH VHYHUDO IULHQGV/ DQG ZH
SOD\HGFKHVV LQWKHPRUQLQJVRQWKHVXQGHFNDQGPDGHXSDIRXUIRUEULGJH
LQ WKH DIWHUQRRQV DQG HYHQLQJV1 $V WKHZHDWKHU JRWZDUPHU/ ZH LQWHUVSHUVHG
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
121/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
122/363
116 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
IROGHG EXIIDORHVZDONLQJ URXQG DQG URXQG1 6XFK WUHHV DV WKHUHZHUHZHUHSDOP WUHHV1 %XWRQ WKHHDVW VLGH RI WKHFDQDO WKHUHZDVQR LUULJDWHGVWULSDQG
WKHGHVHUWFDPHULJKWXSWRWKHFDQDOEDQN1
:H ZHUH DZDNHQHG QH[W PRUQLQJ WR KHDU WKH FDSWDLQ DQQRXQFLQJ WKDW
WKH VKLS ZDV VWRSSHG LQ WKH %LWWHU /DNH/ WKH JDQJZD\ ZDV GRZQ/ DQG
DQ\RQHZKRZDQWHGFRXOGKDYH DVZLP1 7KHVHDZDVVRVDOW WKDW RQHDOPRVW
IORDWHGRQ WRSRI WKHZDWHU/ EXWWKHGLSZDVPRVWZHOFRPHDV WKHGD\VZHUH
QRZSUHWW\KRWDQGKXPLG1
:KHQ ZH SURFHHGHG IXUWKHU DFURVV WKH %LWWHU /DNHV/ WKH 60( 0LGGOH
(DVW FDPH LQWRYLHZZLWK D %DLOH\ VXVSHQVLRQ EULGJH HUHFWHG RQ WKH WUDLQLQJ
JURXQG1 ,KDGQRWVHHQRQHEHIRUH1
7KDW QLJKW ZH ZDLWHG LQ WKH %LWWHU /DNHV IRU D QRUWKERXQG FRQYR\ WR
FRPH XS IURP WKH VRXWK1 :KHQZH DZRNH QH[W PRUQLQJZHZHUH RQ RXU
ZD\ VRXWK/ ZLWKGHVHUW RQERWKVLGHV RI WKHFDQDO1:H UHDFKHG 3RUW 6DLG WKDW
HYHQLQJDQGDQFKRUHGDPRQJVWDFRPSDQ\RIVKLSVRII3RUW7XILT1
:H UHPDLQHG VWRSSHG RII 3RUW7XILT QH[W GD\/ DQG DQ HQRUPRXV VKDUN
WRRN WR FRDVWLQJ DURXQG PRUH RU OHVV XQGHU RXU VWHUQ1 :H ERUURZHG D OLQH
IURPWKHERDWVZDLQDQGDKRRNDQG WZR ODUJHSLHFHVRIPHDWIURPWKHVKLSV
EXWFKHU1 +DYLQJ EDLWHG WKH KRRNZLWK D KXQN RI PHDW/ ZH ORZHUHG LW WR WKH
VKDUN KRSLQJ WR FDWFK KLP1 7KH VKDUN VZDP ULJKW XS WR WKH PHDW EXW
VKHDUHG DZD\ MXVW EHIRUH WDNLQJ LW1 +H GLG WKLV VR UHSHDWHGO\ WKDW HYHQWXDOO\
ZH ORVW SDWLHQFH DQG ZLWKGUHZ RXU OLQH DQG WKHQ WKUHZ WKH PHDW WR WKH
VKDUN1 +HWRRNERWKSLHFHVLPPHGLDWHO\1 7KDWROGVKDUNZDVQRIRRO1
1H[W PRUQLQJ ZH SURFHHGHG GRZQ WKH *XOI RI 6XH] ZLWK WKH 6LQDL
3HQLQVXOD RQ RXU SRUW VLGH1 , KDYH QHYHU VHHQ VXFK D GHVRODWH SLHFH RI
FRXQWU\1 7KHUH LV QRW D VSRW RI JUHHQ DQ\ZKHUH WR UHOLHYH WKH UHG VDQGVWRQHDQG WKH VDQG EHQHDWK WKH LQFUHGLEO\ ZLOG DQG FUDJJ\ PRXQWDLQV1 +RZ
0RVHV PDQDJHG WR OHDG DOO WKRVH KXQGUHGV RI WKRXVDQGV RI SHRSOH WKURXJK
VXFK WHUUDLQ IRU IRUW\ \HDUV ZLWKRXW WKHP G\LQJ E\ WKRXVDQGV RI KXQJHU
DQG VWDUYDWLRQ PXVW UHPDLQ RQH RI WKH PRVW DVWRXQGLQJ DGPLQLVWUDWLYH
DFKLHYHPHQWV RI ZRUOG KLVWRU\1 7KH\ FRXOG RQO\ KDYH VXUYLYHG E\ WKH
PLUDFXORXV SURYLVLRQ RI PDQQD/ TXDLOV/ DQGZDWHU E\$OPLJKW\ *RG1 2QH
KDVRQO\WRORRNDWWKDWFRXQWU\WREHOLHYHLQPLUDFOHV1
,W JRW WHUULILFDOO\ KRW DVZH FDUULHG RQ GRZQ WKH 5HG 6HD1 2QH HYHQLQJ
WKH FDSWDLQ DFWXDOO\ VWHDPHG WKH VKLS EDFN WKHZD\ZH KDG FRPH WR WU\ DQG
JHW VRPH FRROHU DLU LQWR WKH VKLS/ ZKLFK ZDV QRW HTXLSSHG IRU WKH (DVW
&RDVW UXQ1 $OWKRXJKZH KDG VFRRSV ILWWHG WR RXU SRUWKROHV/ LW GLGQW VHHP
WR PDNH PXFK GLIIHUHQFH1 ,ZDV TXLWH VXUSULVHG WR ILQG WKDW RQH FDQ VDLO
GRZQ WKH 5HG 6HDZLWKRXW VHHLQJ HLWKHU VKRUH1 ,W DOO ORRNHG VR QDUURZ RQ
WKH VFKRRO DWODV/ EXW LW LV DERXW D KXQGUHG PLOHVZLGH WKURXJKRXW DOPRVW LWV
HQWLUH OHQJWK1 ,ZDVDOVR LQWULJXHG WR ILQGVRPH ORFXVWV ODQGLQJRQ RXUGHFNV
RQ WKHLU ZD\ IURP $UDELD WR $IULFD1 ,W KDGQW RFFXUUHG WR PH WKDW WKH\
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
123/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
124/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
125/363
(DVW$IULFD 119
QR/ SOHDVH/ , VDLG/ ,YH MXVW FRPSOHWHG WZR \HDUV DV DGMXWDQW RI 48WK6FRWWLVK 'LYLVLRQ DQG , QHHG D FKDQJH1 7KH EULJDGLHU ZDV LPPHGLDWHO\
XQGHUVWDQGLQJ DQG VDLG KHZRXOG JHW PH VRPHWKLQJ HOVH DV TXLFNO\ DV KH
FRXOG1 6R,ZHQWE\URDGXS WKURXJK WKHEHDXWLIXOKLJKODQGVRI.HQ\D1 ,VDZ
WKH ORYHO\ JDUGHQV DQG IDOOV DW WKH %OXH 3RVWV +RWHO DW 7KLND/ DQG WKHQ
WUDYHOOHG RQ XS WKURXJK 1\HUL/ IURP ZKHUH WKHUH ZHUH PDJQLILFHQW YLHZV
RI WKH 4:/333 IRRW 0RXQW .HQ\D1 0RXQW .HQ\D UHPDLQV WKH PRVW EHDXWLIXO
PRXQWDLQ , KDYH HYHU VHHQ1 , VDZ LW ULVLQJ WR D SHUIHFW FRQH DQG IUDPHG
EHWZHHQ WKH VLGHV RI DQ DIIRUHVWHG YDOOH\1 $OWKRXJK LW LV ULJKW RQ WKH
HTXDWRU/ WKH WRS 6333 IHHW KDYH VQRZ RQ WKHP DOO WKH \HDU URXQG1 4XLWH
ODUJH JODFLHUV VOLGH VORZO\ EHWZHHQ PDVVLYH FOLIIV1 %HORZ WKDW DUH 5333 IHHW
RIPRRUODQG/ WKHQ5333 IHHWRIEDPERR/ DQGWKHQ6333 IHHWRIWURSLFDOIRUHVW
UHDFKLQJGRZQWRWKH:333 IRRWDOWLWXGHRIWKH.HQ\DQKLJKODQGV1
2Q HLWKHU VLGH RI WKH HDUWK URDG ZHUH SURVSHURXV ZKLWH RZQHG DQGPDQDJHG IDUPV/ DOO ZLWK EHDXWLIXO KRPHVWHDGV ZLWK JDUGHQV DEOD]H ZLWK
IORZHUV1 7KHQ/ OLNH URXQG )RUW +DOO/ ZH GURYH WKURXJK QDWLYH UHVHUYHV
ZKHUH DJDLQ VXEVLVWHQFH DJULFXOWXUH ZDV EHLQJ FDUULHG RQ1 %XW HYHU\ZKHUH
WKHVRLOZDVUHGDQGORRNHGVRJRRGDQGIHUWLOHDQGWKHJUDVVQLFHDQGJUHHQ1
(YHQWXDOO\ZH DSSURDFKHG 1DQ\XNL DFURVV D IDLUO\ IODW SODLQ RYHUZKLFK
ZLOG JDPH URDPHG IUHHO\1 7KHUHZHUH MXVW WKRXVDQGV RI WKHP/ DOO VRUWV RI
EXFN/ ]HEUDV/ JLUDIIHV/ DQGEXIIDOR1
1DQ\XNL VHHPHG WR FRQVLVW RID VLQJOH VWUHHWZLWK GXNDV +VKRSV, RQ HLWKHU
VLGH1 $W WKH HQG RI WKH VWUHHWZH WXUQHG OHIW GRZQ D VORSH LQWR WKH &5(V
\DUG DQG RIILFHV1 ,ZDV JUHHWHG E\ /W &RO 5LQDOGL/ ZKR WRRN PH XS WR &
0HVV/ ZKLFKZDV XS D URDGZKLFK WRRN RII IURP WKH RSSRVLWH VLGH RI WKH
VWUHHW1 7KH URDG FOLPEHG XS VORZO\ WRZDUGV WKH PRXQWDLQ SDVW WKH DVNDULOLQHV/ WKH FOXEZLWK LWV UDFH FRXUVH/ DQG EULJDGH KHDGTXDUWHUV1 & 0HVVZDV
WKHZRRGHQ VWUXFWXUH QHDUHVW WR WKH PRXQWDLQ RI DOO/ DQG VHW LQ EHDXWLIXO
SDUNODQGZKLFK D PLOH RU WZR IXUWKHU RQ EHFDPH WKH WURSLFDO IRUHVW RI WKH
PRXQWDLQ1 +HUHZHZHUHDWQHDUO\;333 IHHW1
1H[W GD\ , VHW WRZRUN JHWWLQJ WR JULSVZLWK WKH HQWLUHO\ GLIIHUHQW SDSHU
ZRUNRIDQ5(:RUNVVHWXS1 $&DSW&XELWW WRRNPH LQKDQGDQGH[SODLQHG
DERXW ILQDQFLDOYRWHV/ FRQVWUXFWLRQ DFFRXQWV/ DQG VR RQ1 , PXVW VD\ ,ZDV
YHU\PXFKDWVHDDWILUVW1
7KH FOLPDWH ZDV LGHDO ZLWK FROG/ VRPHWLPHV IURVW\/ PRUQLQJV IROORZHG
E\ FORXGOHVV VXQQ\ GD\VZKLFKZHUH QHYHU WRR KRW1 0RXQW .HQ\D LWVHOIZDV
RIWHQ KLGGHQ LQ FORXGV RU DSSHDULQJ LQ EUHDNV EHWZHHQ WKHP/ ZKLFK PDGH
LWDOOWKHPRUHLQWULJXLQJ1
$IWHUD IHZZHHNV/ 5LQDOGLFDOOHGPH LQ WRVD\ WKDW LWKDGEHHQ GLVFRYHUHG
WKDW P\ZDU VXEVWDQWLYH UDQN DV FDSWDLQZDV VHQLRU QRW RQO\ WR HYHU\ RWKHU
HQJLQHHU FDSWDLQ LQ WKH FRPPDQG/ EXW DOVR WR DOO WKH PDMRUV/ DQG QRW OHDVW
WR KLPVHOI$ ,ZDV WKHUHIRUH WR EH SURPRWHG WR WHPSRUDU\ PDMRU DQGZRXOG
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
126/363
120 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
EHSRVWHG WR+DUJHLVKDDV'&5(6RPDOLODQG6XE$UHD1 ,ZDV WRJRWR*LOJLODIHZGD\VODWHU/ IURPZKHQFH,ZRXOGEHWDNHQE\DLUWR+DUJHLVKD1
6R HDUO\ LQ 1RYHPEHU 4, UHPHPEHU SDUWLFXODUO\ WKH JLUDIIHV DQG ]HEUD1 , VWRSSHG WR DGPLUH WKHYHU\
EHDXWLIXO IDOOVZKLFK GURS VHYHUDO KXQGUHG IHHW LQWR D QDUURZ JRUJH1 )URP
WKHUH WKH URDGZLQGV VWHHSO\ GRZQ 6333 IHHW WR WKH JUHDW ULIWYDOOH\1 )URP
WKH WRS RQH FDQ ORRN GRZQ DOPRVW LQWR WKH FUDWHUV RI WKHYROFDQRHV RQ WKH
YDOOH\ IORRU DQG DFURVV WR WKH FOLIIV VRPH ILIW\ PLOHV DZD\ RQ WKH RWKHU VLGH
RIWKHULIW1
,W LV D JUHDW GHDO KRWWHU GRZQ WKHUH/ DQG WKH QLJKW EHIRUH , IOHZ IURP
*LOJLO/ , SURXGO\ IL[HG P\ PDMRUV FURZQV WR P\ HSDXOHWWHV/ P\ SURPRWLRQ
GDWLQJIURPWKHIROORZLQJGD\/ WKH45WKRI1RYHPEHU4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
127/363
(DVW$IULFD 121
SURQRXQFHG WRRJ/ OLQHG ZLWK WKH VDPH SDUFKHG DQG JQDUOHG HYHUJUHHQWUHHV1 5LVLQJ IURP WKH YDOOH\ VRPH PLOHV DZD\ RQ WKH ULJKW ZHUH WZR
URXQGHGKLOOVZKLFK1RUPDQWROGPHZHUHWRJHWKHUFDOOHG6KHEDV%UHDVWV1
$W WKH ERWWRP RI WKH VWHHS KLOO IURP WKH DLUILHOG/ WKH JURXQG VORSHG
JHQWO\ GRZQ IRU VRPH 633 \DUGV WR WKH WXJ1 1HDU WKH WRS RI WKLV VORSH/
EHQHDWK WKH URFN\ KLOOVLGH/ ZDV WKH '&5(V \DUG1 7KH RIILFHUV PHVVZDV D
VPDOO EXQJDORZZLWK DQ DQWHURRP DQG GLQLQJ URRPZLWK D NLWFKHQ DW WKH
EDFN DQG DYHUDQGD LQ IURQW1 ,Q IURQWRI WKHPHVV/ D IHZ WRPDWRHVDQGDVWHU
IORZHUVZHUH JURZLQJZDWHUHGZLWK DQ RYHUIORZ IURP WKH PHVV1 7KHUHZDV
QRWHQRXJKZDWHUWRJURZDODZQ1
0RVW RI WKH RIILFHUV ZHUH DFFRPPRGDWHG LQ EHOO WHQWV ZLWK FRQFUHWH
IORRUV DQG ORZ/ SODVWHUHG/ PXG EULFNZDOOV XQGHU WKH IOLHV1 1RUPDQ DQG ,
ZHUH DFFRPPRGDWHG LQ WZR FDSWXUHG ,WDOLDQ JHQHUDOV FDUDYDQV1 0LQH ZDV
GLYLGHG LQWR D WLQ\ EHGURRP DQG D VWXG\ZLWK D GHVN/ FKDLU/ DQG HDV\ FKDLU1, KDG P\ IROGLQJ FDPS EDVLQ DQG EDWKZLWK PH1 , KDG WZR 6RPDOL VHUYDQWV/
$EGLDQG$OL0RKDPPHG1
7KH RIILFHZDV EHORZ WKH PHVV JDUGHQ/ DQG WKHUH 1RUPDQ LQWURGXFHG
PH WR P\ VWDII1 7KHVH LQFOXGHG WKH *DUULVRQ (QJLQHHU/ +DUJHLVKD/ WKH
(OHFWULFDO DQG 0HFKDQLFDO (QJLQHHULQJ 2IILFHU/ WKH 0HFKDQLFDO 7UDQVSRUW
2IILFHU/ WKH 5RDGV DQG$LUILHOGV 2IILFHU/ WKUHH 0LOLWDU\ )RUHPHQ RI:RUNV
+VWDII VHUJHDQWV,/ D VHUJHDQW FKLHI FOHUN/ DQG WKUHH RU IRXU FRUSRUDO FOHUNV1
2XWVLGH +DUJHLVKD WKHUH ZDV D *DUULVRQ (QJLQHHU DQG 0): DW *LJLJJD/
ZKLFKZDVRQWKHIURQWLHUZLWK(WKLRSLD1
7KHUHZDV DQRWKHU \DUGZLWK D &OHUN RI:RUNV +:DUUDQW RIILFHU &ODVV 5,
LQ 'LUHGDZD QHDUO\/ RQH KXQGUHG PLOHV EH\RQG *LJLJJD LQ $E\VVLQLD1 7R
WKH HDVW DERXW ILIW\ PLOHV DZD\/ ZDV DQRWKHU &OHUN RI :RUNV/ 6HUJHDQW0DMRU 6LGGRQV/ DQ$XVWUDOLDQ/ DW 0DQGHUD/ ZKHUH WKHUHZDV D KRVSLWDO DQG
RWKHU LQVWDOODWLRQV1 +DOIZD\ WKHUH WKHUH ZDV D .$5 EDWWDOLRQ DW
'DUEDUUXFN1 ILIW\ PLOHV EH\RQG 0DQGHUD WKH URDG OHG WR %HUEHUD/ ZKHUH ,
ZDV UHVSRQVLEOH IRU WKH PDLQWHQDQFH RI WKH KDUERU LQVWDOODWLRQV DQG WKH
RSHUDWLRQRIDQLFHIDFWRU\1
$OO LQ DOO WKHUHZHUH DERXW WKLUW\0VL[ %ULWLVK UDQNV/ EXW LQ DGGLWLRQ , KDG
XQGHU P\ FRPPDQG VRPH 4433 FDSWXUHG ,WDOLDQ$UP\ HQJLQHHUVZLWK WKHLU
RIILFHUV/ OHG E\ D FRORQHO WR ZKRP 1RUPDQ LQWURGXFHG PH1 7KH ,WDOLDQV
ZHUH GLYLGHG LQWR VWRUHV/ HOHFWULFDO DQG PHFKDQLFDO/ DQGZRUNV XQLWV1 0RVW
RI WKHPZHUH DFFRPPRGDWHG LQ D FDPS QHDU P\ RIILFHV LQ +DUJHLVDZLWK
GHWDFKPHQWV DW 0DQGHUD DQG *LJLJJD1 7KHLU PRUDOHZDV QRW JRRG DV WKH\
KDG EHHQ LQ (WKLRSLD DQG 6RPDOLODQG HYHU VLQFH WKH ,WDOLDQ FRQTXHVW RI
(WKLRSLD LQ 4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
128/363
122 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
,Q DGGLWLRQ WR WKH .$5 EDWWDOLRQ DW 'DUEDUUXFN/ WKHUH ZDV DQRWKHU DW*LJLJJD ZLWK D FRPSDQ\ GHWDFKHG WR $VLD RQ WKH ERUGHU ZLWK )UHQFK
6RPDOLODQG1 7KHUHZDV D EDWWDOLRQ RI 6RPDOL 6FRXWV DW 'DJDEXU/ VRPH 533
PLOHV E\ WUDFN VRXWKZHVW RI +DUJHLVKD1 7KLV KDG GHWDFKHG FRPSDQLHV DW
)DUVR DQG 'DJDPHGX RQ WKH 0DKGD PRXQWDLQVZKLFK GLYLGHG WKH 2JDGHQ
LQ WKH HDVW IURP WKH UHVW RI $E\VVLQLD1 7KH QRUWKHUQ ERXQGDU\ RI WKH
2JDGHQZDV WKH IURQWLHUZLWK %ULWLVK 6RPDOLODQG DQG LWV HDVWHUQ ERXQGDU\
ZDV WKH IURQWLHUZLWK ,WDOLDQ 6RPDOLODQG1 1HLWKHU RI WKHVH ERXQGDULHVZHUH
PDUNHG RU FRQWUROOHG LQ DQ\ZD\/ DQG WKH 6RPDOLVZLWK WKHLU KHUGV RI JRDWV
DQG FDPHOV FURVVHG WKHP DWZLOO LQ VHDUFK RIZDWHU DQG JUD]LQJ IRU WKHLU
DQLPDOV1
6LQFH WKH 3XEOLF:RUNV 'HSDUWPHQW KDG QRW \HW EHHQ VHW XS DIWHU WKH
ZDU/ ,/ DV WKH'&5(/ ZDV UHVSRQVLEOH IRU DOO HQJLQHHU VHUYLFHV/ ERWK PLOLWDU\
DQG FLYLO/ IRU WKHZKROH RI 6RPDOLODQG 6XE0$UHD1 7KLV LQFOXGHG QRW RQO\ WKHZKROH RI %ULWLVK 6RPDOLODQG/ EXW DOVR WKH UHVHUYHG DUHD RI WKH 2JDGHQ
ZKLFKZDV SHRSOHG E\ 6RPDOLV/ DOWKRXJK SDUW RI (WKLRSLD/ DQG WKH URDG WR
'LUHGDZDZKHUH WKHUHZDV DQRWKHU EDWWDOLRQ RI .$5/ ZLWK D IRRW RQ WKH
UDLOZD\ EHWZHHQ 'MLERXWL DQG $GGLV $EDED SHQGLQJ D GHFLVLRQ RQ WKH
UDLOZD\VLQFOXVLRQLQWKHSHDFHWUHDW\1
7KH LQWHQWLRQ RI WKH %ULWLVK *RYHUQPHQW DW WKH WLPH ZDV WR FRPELQH
%ULWLVK DQG ,WDOLDQ 6RPDOLODQGV/ WKH 2JDGHQ/ DQG WKH 1)' RI .HQ\D LQWR D
VLQJOH WHUULWRU\ WR EH FDOOHG *UHDWHU 6RPDOLD/ DQG WR OHDG WKH XQLWHG 6RPDOL
QDWLRQ WR LQGHSHQGHQFH1 +7KH LQKDELWDQWV RI )UHQFK 6RPDOLODQG DUH RI DQ
HQWLUHO\GLIIHUHQWUDFHWRWKH6RPDOLV,1
7KH %ULWLVK SODQZDV/ KRZHYHU/ WKZDUWHG E\ WKH FRPELQHG HIIRUWV RI WKH
86$ DQG 5XVVLD DW WKH 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV/ DQG DOO WKHZDUIDUH DQG VXIIHULQJ LQWKH UHJLRQ WKHUHDIWHU DUH D GLUHFW UHVXOW RI WKLV FRQQLYLQJ E\ WKH 8QLWHG
6WDWHVZLWK5XVVLDQLQWULJXHLQWKHDUHD1
,IRXQG WKDW,ZDVUHVSRQVLEOHIRU WKHPDLQWHQDQFHRIVRPH4633 PLOHVRI
GLUW URDG/ WKH ZDWHU VXSSOLHV/ WKH HOHFWULF SRZHU VWDWLRQV LQ +DUJHLVD/
0DQGHUD/ %HUEHUD DQG *LJLJJD/ WKH PDLQWHQDQFH RI +DUJHLVKD DLUSRUW DW
0LOH 8/ DQG RI ILYH HPHUJHQF\ ODQGLQJ VWULSV VFDWWHUHG WKURXJKRXW WKH
WHUULWRU\/ DQG WKH PDLQWHQDQFH RI DOO SXEOLF EXLOGLQJV LQ WKH WHUULWRU\ ERWK
PLOLWDU\ DQG FLYLO1 ,ZDV DOVR UHVSRQVLEOH IRU DQ\ QHZ HQJLQHHUZRUNVZKLFK
PLJKW EH QHFHVVDU\1 :KHQ , DUULYHG/ ZHZHUH FRPSOHWLQJ WKH FRQVWUXFWLRQ
RI DQ RIILFHUV FOXE LQ +DUJHLVKD/ D FRQWURO WRZHU DW WKH DLUSRUW/ DQG D
SDWKRORJLFDO ODE DW WKH KRVSLWDO LQ 0DQGHUD1 $OO FRQVWUXFWLRQ LQ WKH
WHUULWRU\ ZDV ZLWK VXQ EDNHG EULFNV UHQGHUHG ZLWK FHPHQW SODVWHU DQG
ZKLWH0ZDVKHGLQVLGHDQGRXW/ DQGFRUUXJDWHGLURQURRIV17KH 3XEOLF:RUNV 'HSDUWPHQWZDV MXVW EHJLQQLQJ WR JHW LWVHOI RUJDQL]HG
DQG KDG VR IDU WDNHQ RYHU UHVSRQVLELOLW\ RQO\ IRU WKH +DUJHLVKD 0DJDOOD DQG
WKHFLYLOLDQKRVSLWDOORFDWHGLQLW1
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
129/363
(DVW$IULFD 123
7KH GD\ DIWHU , DUULYHG/ , LQWURGXFHG P\VHOI WR WKH EULJDGLHU DQG VWDII RIWKH VXE0DUHD DQGD GD\ RU WZR ODWHU WR WKH JRYHUQRU/ 6LU 3KLOLS 0LWFKHOO1 %XW
, UDWKHU WKLQN 5XWK 0LWFKHOOZDV WKH JRYHUQRU EHKLQG WKH VFHQHV$ 7KH 6XE0
$UHD &RPPDQGHU/ ZKR WRRN RYHU D IHZ GD\V DIWHU P\ DUULYDO/ ZDV
%ULJDGLHU &UDVKHU 1LFKROV/ ZKR KDG FRPPDQGHG 83WK 'LYLVLRQ EXW EHHQ
ILUHG E\ 0RQW\ DIWHU WKH %DWWOH RI WKH 0DUHWK /LQH DW WKH HQG RI 4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
130/363
124 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
ZHUH OLPLWHG WR QLQH PRQWKV/ DQG QRW PRUH WKDQ D IXUWKHU WKUHH PRQWKV LIWKHPHGLFDORIILFHUZRXOGFHUWLI\WKDWRQHZDVVWLOOSHUIHFWO\VDQH$
7KH 6RPDOL SHRSOH DUH QRW QHJURLG/ DOWKRXJK WKH\ DUH VR EODFN WKDW WKH\
DUH DOPRVW EOXH EODFN1 7KH\ DUH VPDOO ERQHG/ DQG WKHLU IHDWXUHV DUH ILQHO\
FKLVVHOHG/ ODFNLQJ WKH WKLFN OLSV DQG ZLGH QRVHV RI WKH QHJURLG SHRSOHV1
7KHLUZRPHQ KDYH H[FHOOHQW SRVWXUH WKURXJK FDUU\LQJZDWHU SRWV RQ WKHLU
KHDGV1 7KH SHRSOH GUHVV LQ ORQJ/ IORZLQJ/ ZKLWH/ RU QHDUZKLWH/ UREHV1 7KH
\RXQJ ZRPHQ DUH YHU\ JRRG ORRNLQJ/ EXW WKH\ DJH YHU\ TXLFNO\ DQG
EHFRPH WRRWKOHVV ROG KDJV E\ WKH WLPH WKH\ DUH IRUW\1 %HVLGHV FKLOG EHDULQJ/
WKH\GRDOOWKHZRUNDVWKHPHQGRQRWKLQJH[FHSWWDONDQGILJKW1
7KH 6RPDOLV KDYH DGRSWHG D UHOLJLRQZKLFK LV SULPDULO\ ,VODPLF EXWZLWK
DQFHVWRUZRUVKLS RYHUWRQHV1 (DFK 6RPDOL FDQ KDYH XS WR IRXUZLYHV1 ,I KH
GLHV/ KLV IRXUZLYHV JR WR KLV EURWKHU/ ZKR PD\ WKHQ KDYH HLJKWZLYHV1 %XW
LI KH KDV QR EURWKHU/ WKH IRXUZLGRZV DUH UHJDUGHG DV GHILOHG DQG DUH FDVWRXW RI WKH WULEH1 7R NHHS DOLYH LQ WKDW EDUUHQ FRXQWU\ WKH\ EHFRPH
SURVWLWXWHV/ DQG VR RQH FDQ VHH RXWVLGH PRVW WRZQV DQGYLOODJHV D EURWKHO
HQFDPSPHQW ZKHUH RQH LPDJLQHV K\JLHQH DQG VDQLWDWLRQ DUH QRQH[LVWHQW1
6RPDOLV DUH DOVR IUHH WR GLYRUFH WKHLUZLYHV DWZLOO/ DQG WKHVH/ WRR/ MRLQ WKH
EURWKHOVRXWRIQHFHVVLW\1
(DFK 6RPDOL JLUO LV FLUFXPFLVHGZKHQ VKH LV OLWWOH1 7KH FOLWRULV LV FXW RXW
DQG KHU SULYDWHV DUH VNLQQHG DQG WKHQ JURZ WRJHWKHU VR WKDW VKH LV OHIW RQO\
ZLWK DVPDOO DSHUWXUH WKURXJKZKLFK WR SDVVZDWHU1 :KHQ , JDYHP\VHUYDQW
$EGL IRXUWHHQ GD\V OHDYH WR JR DQG JHW PDUULHG/ KH FDPH EDFN DIWHU DZHHN
WR DVN IRU DQ H[WHQVLRQ1 ,W WUDQVSLUHG WKDW KLV EULGH0WR0EH KDG UXQ RII LQWR
WKH GHVHUW EHFDXVH VKHZDV WHUULILHG RI EHLQJ FXW RSHQ1 $EGL QHHGHG H[WUD
OHDYH WR ILQG KHU DQG GR WKH GHHG1 ,W LV WHUULEOH WR WKLQN WKDW WKLV LV WKH IDWHRI HYHU\ 6RPDOL JLUO1 ,W LV ZRUVH WR UHDOL]H WKDW/ XQGHU SUHVVXUH IURP
$PHULFD/ WKH %ULWLVK JRYHUQPHQW KDG WR JLYH WKHVH SHRSOH LQGHSHQGHQFH
EHIRUHWKHSHRSOHKDGEHHQZHDQHGIURPVXFKEDUEDULFSUDFWLFHV1
%\ FRQWUDVW/ , KDG DZRQGHUIXO WLPH LQ 6RPDOLODQG1 7R EHJLQZLWK/ P\
QH[W VXSHULRU HQJLQHHU RIILFHUZDV LQ 1DLUREL/ VRPH 4333 PLOHV DZD\/ VR ,
KDG FRPSOHWH IUHHGRP RI DFWLRQZLWKLQ WKH OLPLWV RI P\YRWHV/ RU EXGJHWV1
, KDG VHSDUDWH YRWHV IRU EXLOGLQJ PDLQWHQDQFH/ URDGV DQG DLUILHOGV
PDLQWHQDQFH/ ZDWHU VXSSO\/ HOHFWULFLW\ VXSSO\/ DQG PLQRU ZRUNV/ DQG
VHSDUDWHYRWHV IRU HDFK FDSLWDO SURMHFW1 , FDQQRW UHPHPEHU WKH WRWDO IRU WKH
\HDU/ EXWWRWKHEHVWRIP\PHPRU\LWWRWDOOHGDERXWWZRPLOOLRQSRXQGV1
0\SUHGHFHVVRU WRRNPHRQDWRXURIWKHZKROHDUHD1 2QHKDGWREHDELW
FDUHIXOQHDU WKHZHVWHUQERUGHURI WKH2JDGHQDVRQHPLJKWPHHWDEDQGRI
6KLIWD LQ WKH DUHD/ DOWKRXJK WKH 6RPDOLODQG 6FRXWVZRXOG GR WKHLU EHVW WRVWRS WKHLU LQFXUVLRQV1 7KH 6KLIWD ZHUH EULJDQGV ZKR ZRXOG UDLG LQWR WKH
2JDGHQ WR VWHDO FDWWOH/ ZRPHQ/ DQG ER\V/ DQG PXUGHU WKH ROGZRPHQ DQG
PHQ1 1RW ORQJ EHIRUH , DUULYHG/ WKH\ FDSWXUHG WZR %ULWLVK RIILFHUV DQG KHOG
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
131/363
(DVW$IULFD 125
WKHP IRUUDQVRP1 5HG WDSHSUHYHQWHG WKH UDSLGSD\PHQWRI WKH UDQVRP/ DQGWKH WZR RIILFHUVZHUH VHQW LQ WLHG WR FDPHOVZLWK WKHLU WHVWLFOHV VHZQ LQWR
WKHLU PRXWKV1 7KH\ ZHUH GHDG RQ DUULYDO1 )URP WKHQ RQ WKH RUGHUVZHUH
WKDW WKH UDQVRPZRXOG EH SDLG LPPHGLDWHO\ LI RQHZDV FDXJKW/ EXW WKDW RQH
ZRXOG EH FRXUW PDUWLDOOHG IRU QHJOLJHQFH IRU DOORZLQJ RQHVHOI WR EH
FDSWXUHG1
2Q WKLV WULSZH FDPH DFURVV VHYHUDO SODFHV DVZH DSSURDFKHG 'DJDEXU
ZKHUH WKHZUHFNV RI ,WDOLDQ DUP\ ORUULHV KDG EHHQ SXOOHG DFURVV WKH WUDFN1
,Q HDFK LQVWDQFHZH KDG EHHQ DEOH WR GULYH URXQG WKH REVWUXFWLRQZLWKRXW
VWRSSLQJ1 %XW RQ WKH WUDFN EHWZHHQ 'DJDEXU DQG *LJLJJD/ ZH FDPH WR D
SODFHZKHUH WKHUHZDVDQ REVWDFOH LQ D GHILOH IRUZKLFKZHKDG WR GLVPRXQW
WRUHPRYH LW1 :HKDG MXVWJRWEDFN LQWR WKHYHKLFOHZKHQKDOIDGR]HQ6KLIWD
EREEHG XS DQG VXUURXQGHG XVZLWK WKHLU ULIOHV SRLQWHG PHQDFLQJO\ LQ RXU
GLUHFWLRQ1 , KDG WKH 6WHQ JXQ EXW FRXOGQW ILQG WKH PDJD]LQH1 6R , SRNHG LWRXW RI WKHZLQGRZZKLOH P\ SUHGHFHVVRU DFFHOHUDWHG WKH FDU DV IDVW DV KH
FRXOG1 7KH VLJKW RIDQ DXWRPDWLFZDVHQRXJK WR FDXVH WKH 6KLIWD WR KHVLWDWH/
DQGZHJRWDZD\ZLWKLW1
,XVHGWRGRWZRVDIDULVDPRQWK/ RQHWRWKHZHVWDQGRQHWRWKHHDVWIURP
+DUJHLVKD/ DQG HDFK ODVWLQJ DERXW DZHHN1 , WUDYHOOHG LQ D ODUJH &KHYUROHW
VDORRQ FDU IROORZHG E\ D 48FZW WUXFN ZLWK D IRUW\0IRXU JDOORQ GUXP RI
ZDWHU DQG D IRUW\0IRXU JDOORQ GUXP RI SHWURO DQG UDWLRQV IRU P\ SDUW\ LQ
WKH EDFN1 ,Q P\ SDUW\ , KDG WZR ,WDOLDQ GULYHUV DQG $EGL DQG $OL
0RKDPPHG/ P\WZR6RPDOLVHUYDQWV1$EGLZDVP\SHUVRQDOVHUYDQW1
, XVHG WR VKRRW D EXFN RQ WKHZD\ RXW LQ WKH PRUQLQJ1 $EGL DQG$OL
ZRXOG UXQ DFURVV WR KDOOHO LWZKHWKHU , KDG VKRW LW GHDG RU QRW/ DV WKHLU
UHOLJLRQZRXOG QRW DOORZ WKHP WR HDW LW LI , NQHZ , KDG NLOOHG LW ILUVW1 7KH\ZRXOG WKHQ FOHDQ WKH EXFN/ DQG LWZRXOG KDQJ LQ WKH EDFN RI WKH WUXFN IRU
WKHUHVWRIWKHGD\1
,Q WKH HYHQLQJ/ DIWHU LQVSHFWLQJZRUNV LQ SURJUHVV DQG PDLQWHQDQFH WKDW
QHHGHG WREH GRQH/ ,ZRXOGFKRRVHDFDPSVLWHEHIRUH GDUN1 ,ZRXOGDOZD\V
ILQG D VWXQWHG WUHHZKLFKZRXOG JLYH DW OHDVW D OLWWOH VKDGH QH[W PRUQLQJ1
7KH VHUYDQWVZRXOG SXW RXW P\ FDPS FKDLU/ DQG WKHUH ,ZRXOG VLW VPRNLQJ
D SLSH DQG VLSSLQJ D EUDQG\ ZKLOH WKH\ SUHSDUHG GLQQHU DQG HUHFWHG P\
VWUHWFKHU EHG1 'LQQHUZRXOG FRQVLVW RI URDVWYHQLVRQ/ SRWDWRHV/ DQGZDUPHG
XS WLQQHG YHJHWDEOHV/ IROORZHG E\ IUXLW VDODG DQG FRQGHQVHG PLON/ DQG
FRIIHH1 , XVHG WR ORYH VOHHSLQJ XQGHU WKH VWDUV DQG VRPHWLPHV KHDULQJ WKH
URDURID OLRQ1 7KH6RPDOLVDQG,WDOLDQV WRRN LW LQWXUQWRNHHS WKH ILUHJRLQJ
DOO QLJKW DQG FKDVH DZD\ DQ\ K\HQDV WKDW PLJKW SLWFK XS1 7KH\ KDG EHHQ
NQRZQWRFKHZDVOHHSLQJPDQVIDFH$1H[W PRUQLQJZHZRXOG KDYH IRU EUHDNIDVW WKH OLYHU DQG NLGQH\V RI WKH
EXFN VKRW WKH SUHYLRXV GD\1 %HIRUH OHDYLQJ/ WKH ORFDO WULEDO KHDGPHQZRXOG
FRPH WR SD\ UHVSHFWV WR PH/ DQG RIWHQ WKHVH ZHUH H[0VHUYLFH PHQ ZKR
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
132/363
126 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
ZRXOG VKRZ PH WKHLU PHGDOVZLWK JUHDW SULGH1 ,WZDV JHQHUDOO\ NQRZQ WKDW, ZDV WKH EDUD VDKLE DQG E\ IDU WKH ELJJHVW HPSOR\HU RI ODERU LQ WKH
FRXQWU\1 7R DVVHUW P\ GLJQLW\/ , KDG D 6DSSHU QLQH IODPH JUHQDGH HPEOHP
PRXQWHG RQ WKH UDGLDWRU RI WKH FDU DQG WKH ZRUGV 'HSXW\ &RPPDQGHU
5R\DO(QJLQHHUVSDLQWHGRQWKHGRRUSDQHOV1
,VRRQ IRXQG WKDW WKH URDGJDQJV/ EHLQJ LVRODWHGDOORYHU WKH WHUULWRU\/ DQG
QRW XQGHU FRQVWDQW VXSHUYLVLRQ/ ZHUH GRLQJ SUHFLRXV OLWWOHZRUN1 :KDW WKH\
ZHUH GRLQJZDV WR VKRYHO WKH ILQHV EDFN RQWR WKH FHQWUH RI WKH URDG1 ,W
GLGQW WDNH D JUHDW GHDO RI WKRXJKW WR UHDOL]H WKDW WKLV FRXOG EH GRQH PRUH
HIILFLHQWO\ DQG PRUH FKHDSO\ ZLWK GUDJV WRZHG E\ EXOORFNV1 $IWHU VRPH
H[SHULPHQW/ ,IRXQGWKDWLI,NHSWDILOPRIVDQGDQLQFKRUWZRGHHSDQGUDQ
D GUDJ RYHU LW DW IUHTXHQW LQWHUYDOV , FRXOG UXE RXW FRUUXJDWLRQV DV WKH\
IRUPHGDQGEHIRUHWKH\UHDFKHGWKHKDUGFRUHXQGHUQHDWK1
6R , DSSOLHG WR +4 (DVW$IULFD &RPPDQG LQ 1DLUREL IRU IXQGV WR EX\EXOORFNV DQG IHHG WKHP1 , ZDV UDWKHU VKDUSO\ LQIRUPHG WKDW QR SXEOLF
PRQH\ZDV DYDLODEOH IRU VXFKD SXUSRVH1 6R WKHUHZDVRQO\ RQH WKLQJ WR GR1
1RQH RI WKH 6RPDOLV FRXOGZULWH/ VR WKH\ XVHG WR PDNH D FURVV DIWHU WKHLU
QDPHV ZKHQ WKH\ ZHUH SDLG1 6R , SXUFKDVHG D QXPEHU RI EXOORFNV ZKR
DSSHDUHG RQ WKH SD\ UROHV DV 0RKDPPHG$OL/ $IWDE 0RKDPPHG/ HWF1 DQG
PDGH WKH FURVVHV RQ WKHLU EHKDOI1 :LWK WKHLUZDJHV ,ZDV DEOH QRW RQO\ WR
IHHGWKHPEXWDOVRWRSD\IRUWKHP$
7KLV PHDQW WKDW , FRXOG UHGXFH WKH VL]H RI WKH URDG JDQJV FRQVLGHUDEO\/
DQG VR RQ EDODQFH FRVWV ZHUH UHGXFHG VXEVWDQWLDOO\1 7KHUH LV D JUHDW
DGYDQWDJHLQEHLQJDWKRXVDQGPLOHVIURPEXUHDXFUDF\$
7KHUH UHPDLQHG WKH SUREOHP RI JHWWLQJ VRPH GLVFLSOLQH DQG D ELW PRUH
SURGXFWLYLW\ LQWR WKH UHGXFHG URDG JDQJV1 2Q P\ DUULYDO/ WKH JDQJVFRQVLVWHG RI PHQ IURP GLIIHUHQW WULEHV DOO PL[HG XS1 6R , GLG DJHQHUDO SRVW
DQG SXW DOO WKH PHQ RIRQH WULEH LQWR RQH JDQJ/ DQGGLG WKLV WKURXJKRXW WKH
WHUULWRU\1 , IRXQG RXW IURP WKH ORFDO FKLHIZKRZDV WKH VHQLRU PDQ LQ HDFK
JDQJ/ DQG SXW KLP LQ FKDUJH LI KH VKRZHG UHDVRQDEOH VLJQV RI OHDGHUVKLS1 ,
KDG WKH PHQ SDLG LQGLYLGXDOO\ EXW KDG WKH UDWLRQV SXW LQWR WKH FXVWRG\ RI
WKH KHDGPDQ1 , WROG WKH ORFDO FKLHI WKDW LI KLV JDQJ GLGQWZRUN SURSHUO\/ ,
ZRXOG UHFUXLW D JDQJ IURP DQRWKHU WULEH1 7KDW GLG WKH WULFN EHFDXVH , WKLQN
WKH ORFDO FKLHI WRRNDVPDOO OHY\ IURP WKHZDJHV1 1RW ORQJDIWHUZDUGV/ ,ZDV
FRQJUDWXODWHG E\ WKH GLVWULFW FRPPLVVLRQHUV IRU FDOOLQJ WKH JDQJV WR RUGHU/
EHFDXVH SUHYLRXVO\ WKH\ KDG EHHQ WKH PRVW WURXEOHVRPH PHPEHUV RI WKH
FRPPXQLW\1 &HUWDLQO\ LQ WKLV LQVWDQFH VHSDUDWH GHYHORSPHQWZRUNHG PXFK
EHWWHUWKDQLQWHJUDWLRQ1
'ULYLQJ RXW WR 'DJDEXU RQH GD\ WR KDYH OXQFK ZLWK WKH 6RPDOLODQG6FRXWV DQG WR LQVSHFW WKHLU FDPS/ , DVNHG$EGLZKDW 'DJDEXU PHDQW/ DQG
KH WROG PH LW PHDQW SODFH RI VWRQHV1 %H\RQG 'DJDEXUZH GURYH XSZKDW
ZDV FDOOHG WKH )DUVR 6WHSV1 7KLVZDV D PRXQWDLQ URDG RYHU EDUH URFN1 7KH
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
133/363
(DVW$IULFD 127
WURXEOH ZDV WKDW WKH VWUDWD ZDV VOLJKWO\ WLOWHG XSZDUGV VR WKDW WKH URDGFOLPEHGXSRYHUDIOLJKWRIURFNVWHSV1 ,I\RXWULHGWRVKDYHRIIWKHVWHSVZLWK
KDPPHU GULOOV RSHUDWHG E\ RXU PRELOH DLU FRPSUHVVRU/ WKH URFNV MXVW EURNH
EDFN DJDLQ DQG WKH VWHSV VWD\HG WKH VDPH DV EHIRUH1 6R WKH VWHSV UHPDLQHG
DQG RQH KDG D VORZ DQG XQFRPIRUWDEOH GULYH1 $IWHU ILIW\ PLOHVZH FDPH WR
WKH WRS DQG WKH VPDOOYLOODJH RI 'DJDPHGR1 2Q HQTXLU\/ $EGL WROG PH WKLV
PHDQW SODFH RI PRUH VWRQHV/ D SUHWW\ DFFXUDWH GHVFULSWLRQ , WKRXJKW1
7KHUHZDV D FRPSDQ\ RI 6RPDOLODQG 6FRXWV DW 'DJDPHGR DQG DQRWKHU DW
)DUVR/ VRPH ILIW\ PLOHV QRUWK DORQJ WKH WRS RI WKH 0DKGD 0RXQWDLQV1 (DFK
RI WKHVH KDG D OLHXWHQDQW LQ FRPPDQG/ DQG WKHUH ZHUH QR RWKHU ZKLWH
SHRSOH DQ\ZKHUH QHDU WKHP1 1RW ORQJ EHIRUH , WRRN RYHU/ WKH WZR
VXEDOWHUQV SUHFHGLQJ WKH SUHVHQW LQFXPEHQWV KDG VKRW HDFK RWKHU LQ D
PXWXDO VXLFLGH SDFW1 ,WZDV LQFUHGLEO\ ORQHO\ IRU WKHP XS WKHUH DQGSUHFLRXV
OLWWOH IRU WKHP WR GR1 7KHLU UROHZDV WR VWRS WKH 6KLIWD LQFXUVLRQV/ DWZKLFKWKH\ DQG WKHLU GHWDFKHG SODWRRQV ZHUH IDLUO\ HIIHFWLYH1 0\ PDLQ FRQFHUQ
ZDVWKHPDLQWHQDQFHRIWKHZDWHUVXSSO\LQHDFKFDPS1
)RU UHFUHDWLRQ , ERXJKW D SROR SRQ\ IURP P\ SUHGHFHVVRU1 ,W ZDV DQ
,VREHOOD URDQ/ VR FDOOHG/ ,ZDV WROG/ EHFDXVH LW PDWFKHG WKH FRORU RI WKH ROG
TXHHQV EHG VKHHWV$ 1RUPDQ DQG , XVHG WR NQRFN D SROR EDOO DERXW RQ WKH
ROG DLUILHOG MXVW RSSRVLWH P\ RIILFHV/ ZKLFKZDV DV IDU DV , HYHU JRW WRZDUGV
SOD\LQJ SROR1 1RUPDQZDV QRW DYHU\ JRRG ULGHU/ DQG RQH GD\ KLV SRQ\ UDQ
RIIZLWK KLP DQG KH GLVDSSHDUHG LQ D FORXG RI GXVW DW WKH IDU HQG RI WKH
DLUILHOG1 :KHQ, FDXJKWXSZLWK KLP/ ,GLVFRYHUHG WKDWKLVSRQ\ KDGFUDVKHG
EURDGVLGH LQWRDVWULQJRIFDPHOV WLHGQRVH WR WDLO1 7KHIURQWDQGEDFNRIWKH
VWULQJKDG FORVHG LQ EHKLQG 1RUPDQ/ DQG WKHUH KHZDV/ VWLOO PRXQWHG RQKLV
FDYRUWLQJ SRQ\/ LQ WKH PLGGOH RI WKLV PLOOLQJ FURZG RI FDPHOVZKRVH QRLV\
REMHFWLRQV WR WKLV LQWUXVLRQZHUH PDWFKHG E\ WKH VKRXWV DQG FXUVHV RI WKHLU6RPDOL RZQHU1 ,W ZDV D KLODULRXV VLJKW/ DQG 1RUPDQ HYHQWXDOO\ HPHUJHG
QRQHWKHZRUVHIRUKLVDGYHQWXUH1
2QH GD\ 1RUPDQ *RRG LQIRUPHG PH WKDW/ ZKLOH VHDUFKLQJ WKURXJK
VRPHROGILOHV/ KHKDGGLVFRYHUHGWKDWWKHUHZDVDUHVWKRXVHIRUWKHVROHXVH
RIWKH'&5(1 ,WZDVRII WKHURDGZKLFKUDQVRXWKIURP%HUEHUDDQGXSWKH
HVFDUSPHQW WR %XUDR/ D GLVWDQFH RI DERXW VHYHQW\0ILYH PLOHV1 7KLV
LQIRUPDWLRQ FDPH WR OLJKW MXVW EHIRUH WKH DUULYDO RI &RORQHO )1(1 %XOOHU/
ZKRZDV WKH (DVW$IULFDQ UHSUHVHQWDWLYH RI WKH:DU *UDYHV &RPPLVVLRQ1
)UDQN%XOOHUZDVDIULHQGRIP\SDUHQWV/ DQGZHXVHGWRPHHWZLWKKLPDQG
KLV IDPLO\ GXULQJ RXU VXPPHU KROLGD\V DW 6LGPRXWK EHIRUH WKHZDU1 )UDQN
ZDV D VDSSHU DQG KDG EHHQ KHDY\ZHLJKW ER[LQJ FKDPSLRQ RI WKH DUP\1 6R
, DVNHG KLP LI KHZRXOG OLNH WR FRPHZLWK PH WR H[SORUH WKLV P\VWHULRXVUHVWKRXVH1 +HUHDGLO\DJUHHG1
:H GURYH WR %HUEHUD/ ZKHUH KH FKHFNHG LI WKHUHZHUH DQ\ LVRODWHG JUDYHV
RI VROGLHUV NLOOHG GXULQJ WKH ,WDOLDQ LQYDVLRQ RI WKH WHUULWRU\ LQ 4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
134/363
128 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
:H KDG D VNLQQ\ GLS LQ D GHOLJKWIXO ODJRRQ MXVW DORQJ WKH FRDVW IURP%HUEHUD1 :KHQ , FDPH RXW/ , KDG D VPDOO VFUDWFK RQ WKH LQVLGH RI WKH DQNOH
RIP\ULJKWIRRWRIZKLFK,WRRNQRQRWLFH1
'ULYLQJVRXWK IURP%HUEHUDZHGURYHDFURVVD OHYHOVDQG\SODLQIRUDERXW
WHQ PLOHV DQG WKHQ WKURXJK D ZLOGHUQHVV RI VWUDQJH KLOOV LQ WKH ODWH
DIWHUQRRQ1 , VD\ VWUDQJH EHFDXVH WKH KLOOVZHUH DOO EDUH URFN EXW RI HYHU\
FRQFHLYDEOH VKDSH/ URXQGHG/ VKDUS0SRLQWHG/ VRPHZLWKYHUWLFDO FOLIIV/ DQG DOO
VFDWWHUHG KDSKD]DUG RQ WKH DOPRVW OHYHO VDQG\ IORRU1 ,WZDV GLIILFXOW WR ILQG
WKH WUDFN DV REYLRXVO\ QR RQH KDG EHHQ WKDWZD\ IRU PRQWKV/ SHUKDSV IRU
\HDUV1 :HIRXQG WKDW LIZHNHSWKHDGHGVRXWKZHZRXOGSLFNXSVLJQVRIWKH
WUDFNDWVXIILFLHQWO\FORVHLQWHUYDOVWRUHDVVXUHXVZHZHUHRQWKHULJKWZD\1
$IWHU VRPH PLOHV/ ZH EHJDQ WR FOLPE PRUH VWHHSO\/ ZLWK D GU\ ULYHU EHG
RQ RXU OHIW1 7KH FOLPE EHFDPH VWHHSHU DQG VWHHSHU XQWLO ZH ZHUH RQ D
QDUURZ WUDFNZLWK D SUHFLSLWRXV FOLII RQ RXU ULJKW DQG D VKHHU GURS WR WKHWXJ EHG KXQGUHGV RI IHHW EHORZ RQ RXU OHIW1 7KH OLJKWZDV EHJLQQLQJ WR JR
DQG WKH KHDGOLJKWV ZRXOG LOOXPLQDWH D URFN ZDOO DKHDG/ EXW DV WKH URDG
ZRXQG URXQG WKHUHZRXOG EH D VKHHU GURS EHWZHHQ XV DQG WKH LOOXPLQDWHG
ELWRIZDOO1
$IWHU DZKLOHZH IRXQG WKDWZHZHUH RQ WKH IORRURI DKLJKHU SDUW RI WKH
JRUJH1 7KURXJK WKH WZLOLJKW ZH FRXOG VHH DQ LVODQG LQ WKH ULYHU EHG DQG
EH\RQGLW/ RQWKHIDUEDQN/ WKHUHVWKRXVH1
:H KDG WRGLJDZD\GRZQ WR WKHULYHUEHGIRU WKHFDU/ DQGZKHQZHJRW
DFURVV WR WKH LVODQGZH WKRXJKWZH VDZ DQ DSH LQVLGH WKH KRXVH1 , QHDUO\
WRRN D VKRW DW LW1 7KDQNIXOO\ , GLG QRW/ IRU WKH DSH WXUQHG RXW WR EH WKH
IDLWKIXO ROG VHUYDQWZKR KDG EHHQ NHHSLQJ WKH SODFH VSRWOHVVO\ FOHDQ DOO WKH
\HDUV VLQFH KH KDG ODVW VHHQ D ZKLWH PDQ LQ 4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
135/363
(DVW$IULFD 129
DQG , GHFLGHG WR GULYH WKH 583 PLOHV DFURVV WR 0DQGHUD KRVSLWDOLPPHGLDWHO\1
%\WKHWLPH,JRWWKHUH,ZDV LQDIHYHURIRYHU438 )DQG LQH[FUXFLDWLQJ
SDLQ1 0\ IRRWZDV WXUQLQJ EODFN DQG P\ OHJZDV LQIODPHG XS WR P\ NQHH17KH\ JDYH PH PRUSKLD RQ DUULYDO DQG SXW PH WR EHG1 , FDPH WR RQ WKH
RSHUDWLQJ WDEOH WR KHDU WKH VXUJHRQ VD\LQJ/ +HV OHIW LW WRR ODWH/ ZHOO KDYH
WR KDYH KLV IRRW RII$7KLV EURXJKW PH URXQG SUHWW\ TXLFN/ DQG , VKRW XS
DQGDQQRXQFHG,ZRXOGJHWULJKW LQRQHSLHFHRUQRWDWDOO1 :HOO/ \RXPLJKW
WKHQ ORVH\RXU OHJ12QHSLHFHRUQRWDWDOO/ LV WKDWXQGHUVWRRG"/,RUGHUHG
DQGSDVVHGRXWDJDLQ1
7KDQN *RG/ WKH\ WRRN PHDW P\ZRUG DQG , FDPH WR LQRQH SLHFH LQ WKH
ZDUG1 $V , FDPH RXW RI WKH DQHVWKHWLF/ ,ZDV VWUXJJOLQJ OLNH PDGZLWK IRXU
VLVWHUV KROGLQJ PH GRZQ DQGZDV VLQJLQJ P\ KHDG RIIZLWK HYHU\ EDZG\
VRQJ LQ WKH ERRN1 , VKXW XS DV VRRQ DV , UHDOL]HGZKDWZDV KDSSHQLQJ/ EXWDSSDUHQWO\,KDGEHHQFUHDWLQJ WKLVKXE0EXE IRUDERXWKDOIDQ KRXU1 $OO WKH\
FRXOGVD\RI PHZDV WKDW LWDSSHDUHG WKDW DW OHDVW , KDG UHPDLQHG IDLWKIXO WR
P\ZLIH1 ,W WXUQHG RXW WKDW WKH DQHVWKHWLF XVHG DW WKDW WLPHZDV 3HQWHWKRO/
ZKLFK KDG WKH HIIHFW RI PDNLQJ VRPH PHQ GUXQN1 (YHQWXDOO\ ,ZDV OHW RXW
RI KRVSLWDOZLWK P\ OHJ LQ SODVWHU XS WR P\ NQHH1 %XW , KDG WR UHWXUQ IRU
WZR PRUH RSHUDWLRQV/ DQG HDFK WLPH , GHWHUPLQHG QRW WR PDNH D IRRO RI
P\VHOI DJDLQ/ EXW HDFK WLPH/ WR P\ FKDJULQ/ , FUHDWHG DV EDG D VFHQH DV
EHIRUH1 %XW,OHDUQHGWKHKDUGZD\MXVWKRZSRLVRQRXVLVFRUDO1
3HQLFLOOLQZDV LQ LWV LQIDQF\ LQ WKRVH GD\V/ DQG WKHUHZDV D SRRU FKDS LQ
WKHZDUGZKRZDV RQ D FRXUVH RI WKLUW\ 3HQLFLOOLQ LQMHFWLRQV LQ KLV EHKLQG1
:KHQ WKH VLVWHU DSSHDUHGZLWK WKH QHHGOH/ ZH XVHG WR VLQJ/ 5ROO PH RYHU
LQ WKHFORYHU/ OD\PHGRZQDQGGR LWDJDLQ17RZKLFK WKHVLVWHU LQKHU,ULVKYRLFH UHMRLQHG/ $K/ , WKLQN ,OO VFRUH D EXOO WRQLJKW/ DFFRPSDQLHG E\ WKH
JURDQVRI KHUSDWLHQW1 7KHUHZDVDFKDSODLQ LQ WKHQH[WEHG WRPHZKR UHDG
(YHQLQJ 3UD\HU WR KLPVHOI HYHU\ HYHQLQJ/ DQG WKHQ RIIHUHG PH D ZKLVN\/
EXW QHYHU WKH *RVSHO$ ,Q EHWZHHQ RSHUDWLRQV ,ZDV DOORZHG RXW RI KRVSLWDO
ZLWK P\ OHJ LQ SODVWHU DQGZDONLQJZLWK FUXWFKHV VR WKDW , FRXOG FDUU\ RQ
ZLWKP\GXWLHV1 ,WJRWULJKWHYHQWXDOO\/ DQG,VWLOOKDYHDSHUIHFWO\JRRGIRRW1
,W WXUQHG RXW WKDW 1RUPDQ *RRGZDV JLYLQJ KLV VHUYDQW %LEOH OHVVRQV LQ
WKH HYHQLQJV LQ KLV FDUDYDQ1 7KLV KDG WR EH GRQH VHFUHWO\/ IRU ZKHQ
6RPDOLODQG KDG EHFRPH D %ULWLVK 3URWHFWRUDWH/ QRW D FRORQ\/ LQ WKH ODVW
FHQWXU\/ WKH JRYHUQPHQW KDG XQGHUWDNHQ QRW DOORZ WKH VSUHDG RI WKH
&KULVWLDQ UHOLJLRQ LQ UHWXUQ IRU WKH ULJKW WR VWDWLRQ WURRSV LQ WKH WHUULWRU\1
7KH SXUSRVHZDV/ ZLWK$GHQ/ WR VDIHJXDUG WKH VRXWKHUQ DSSURDFKHV WR WKH
6XH] &DQDO1 )XUWKHU/ DQ\ 6RPDOLZKRZDV GLVFRYHUHG WR EH D EHOLHYHUZDVOLDEOH WR EH H[HFXWHG1 , DVNHG 1RUPDQZKHWKHU KHZDV MXVWLILHG LQ SXWWLQJ
KLV VHUYDQW DW VXFK ULVN1 1RUPDQ H[SODLQHG KRZ PXFK PRUH SUHFLRXVZDV
HWHUQDO OLIH WKDQ PRUWDO OLIH/ ZKLFK ZDV VRPHWKLQJ , KDG QRW WKRXJKW RI
EHIRUH1 %XWLWVRXQGHGORJLFDO/ DQGVR,OHW1RUPDQFDUU\RQ1
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
136/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
137/363
(DVW$IULFD 131
RI P\ VWDII/ WKH SODFH EHFDPH NQRZQ DV %HJELHV %ULJKW 6SRW/ZKLFKZDVUDWKHUHPEDUUDVVLQJ1
:KHQ P\ &5(/ 'HVPRQG )LW]JHUDOG/ FDPH XS WRYLVLW PH IURP 1DLUREL
KH LQVLVWHG RQ DYLVLW WR %HJELHV %ULJKW 6SRW DV DSSDUHQWO\ LW KDG EHFRPH
NQRZQ DOO RYHU (DVW$IULFD$ 7KH GDQFLQJ JLUOV SHUIRUPHGYDULRXV GDQFHV RI
WKH EHOO\ GDQFLQJYDULHW\ ZKLOHZH KDG GLQQHU DQG GULQNV1 7KH &5( ZDV
VXLWDEO\ LPSUHVVHG1 'HVPRQG/ ZKR KDG ZRQ D ZHOO GHVHUYHG '62 LQ
+ROODQG ZKLOVW ZLWK :WK $UPRXUHG 'LY/ UHWLUHG HDUO\ DV D /W &RO DQG
EHFDPHDFRQVXOWLQJHQJLQHHUEDVHGRQ1DLUREL1
2QH GD\ , UHFHLYHG D VLJQDO IURP $GGLV $EDED WR VD\ WKDW *HQHUDO
)RXONHV/ WKH *2& (DVW$IULFD &RPPDQG/ ZDV JRLQJ WR IO\ WR 'DJDEXU WR
YLVLW WKH 6RPDOLODQG 6FRXWV1 $W 'DJDEXUZDV RQH RI WKH HPHUJHQF\ ODQGLQJ
VWULSVZKLFK ,ZDV VXSSRVHG WR NHHS LQ JRRG RUGHU1 %XW P\ UHVRXUFHVZHUH
VR OLPLWHGWKDW,KDGQRW WRXFKHG LWVLQFHP\DUULYDO1 ,RUGHUHGP\URDGVDQGDLUILHOGV RIILFHUZLWK D SDUW\ RI ,WDOLDQ VDSSHUV WR JR WKHUH SRVW KDVWH DQG ,
ZRXOG IROORZ DV VRRQ DV , FRXOG1 )OXII\ )RXONHV KDG D WHUULI\LQJ
UHSXWDWLRQ DV EHLQJ WKH PRVW EDG WHPSHUHG JHQHUDO LQ WKH %ULWLVK $UP\1
:KHQ P\ FKDSV DUULYHG DW WKH DLU VWULS/ WKH\ IRXQG WKDW WKH 6RPDOL FDPHOV
KDGZRUQ D IXUURZHG SDWK ULJKW DFURVV LW1 :KHQ , DUULYHG WKH\ZHUH VWLOO
KDUG DWZRUN ILOOLQJ DQG WUDPSOLQJ LW LQ1 %XW WKHUHZDV QR WLPH WR ILQLVK LW
EHIRUH )OXII\V SODQH DUULYHG1 $V VRRQ DV LW KLWZKDWZDV OHIW RI WKH IXUURZ/
LW GLG WKH PRWKHU DQG IDWKHU RI DOO EXPSV/ DQG , WKRXJKW/ WKHUH JRHV P\
FRPPLVVLRQ1 :KHQ WKH SODQH VWRSSHG/ WKH SLORW JRW RXW ILUVW DQG VDLG/ ,P
VRUU\/ WKDWZDV D QDVW\ DLU SRFNHW MXVW DVZH ODQGHG/ 6LU17KHUHZDV MXVW D
GHHS +XPSK IURP WKH JHQHUDO DQG DOOZDVZHOO1 , VWRRG WKH SLORW VHYHUDO
GULQNV WKDW QLJKW LQ WKH PHVV/ DQG QR RQH OHW RQ WR )OXII\ZKDW KDG UHDOO\
KDSSHQHG1 ,WZDVDOXFN\HVFDSHIRUPH1
7RZDUGV WKH HQG RI WKH GU\ VHDVRQ LQ 0DUFK 4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
138/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
139/363
(DVW$IULFD 133
, XVHG WR IO\ RYHU WR $GHQ E\ 5$) WUDQVSRUW WR DUUDQJH IRU HQJLQHHUVWRUHV WR EH VXSSOLHG E\ GKRZ IURP WKH$LU 0LQLVWU\:RUNV 'HSDUWPHQW
LQ$GHQ1 ,YHU\ PXFK UHJUHW WKDW , QHYHU KDG WKH WLPH WR FRPH EDFN LQ D
GKRZ P\VHOI1 , IOHZ EDFN RQ RQH RFFDVLRQ LQ D FRQYHUWHG %HDXIRUW WRUSHGR
ERPEHU1 ,W WRRN WKHYHJHWDEOHV DQG VL[ SDVVHQJHUV DFURVV WR +DUJHLVKD1 :H
HQWHUHG WKURXJKDGRRU LQ WKH IORRU DW WKH EDFNRI WKHSODQH1 ,ZDV ODVWPDQ
LQ DQG KDG WR VTXHH]H XS DJDLQVW HYHU\RQH HOVHZKLOH WKH GRRUZDV VKXW1
7KHQ D VHDW IROGHG GRZQ IURP WKH VLGH RI WKH SODQH/ DQG , VDW RQ WKDWZLWK
P\IHHWRQWKHGRRU1
$WDERXWD WKRXVDQG IHHW/ ,ZDV ORRNLQJ WKURXJK P\ IHHWDQG WKURXJK WKH
GRRU/ ZKLFKZDV PDGH RISHUVSH[/ DW VRPH VKLSV EHORZZKHQ WKH GRRU IOHZ
RSHQ1 , MXVW KDG WLPH WR MDP P\ IHHW DJDLQVW WKH IORRU RSSRVLWH DQG WR JUDE
P\EULHIFDVH1 7KHUH,ZDVZLWKDJUHDWKROHXQGHUQHDWKPHDQGDJDOHZKLFK
HLWKHUZDVEORZLQJ LQ RU WU\LQJ WR VXFN PH RXW1 7KH GRRU KDG EORZQ XS RQUXQQHUV WR WKH WRS RI WKH SODQH1 , HYHQWXDOO\ SXOOHG LW GRZQ/ DQG WKH RQO\
ZD\ , FRXOG NHHS LW GRZQZDV WR VLW RQ LW IRU WKH UHVW RI WKH IOLJKW IHHOLQJ
DQ\WKLQJ EXW VDIH RU FRPIRUWDEOH1 :KHQZH ODQGHG/ ,ZHQW URXQG WR WKH
IURQW RI WKH SODQH DQGGHPDQGHG WR NQRZ RI WKH SLORW LI KH NQHZZKDW KDG
EHHQJRLQJRQ LQ WKHEDFNRIKLVSODQH1 2K/ GLG WKHGRRU FRPHRSHQ"
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
140/363
134 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
RXWVLGH/DQGRIIKHZHQW1 ,QHYHUIRUDPRPHQWWKRXJKWKHZDVVHULRXV/ DQGZH KDG DQ DZIXO VKRFN QH[W PRUQLQJZKHQ/ VXIIHULQJ IURP D KDQJ0RYHU/ ZH
IRXQGKLPKDQJLQJIURPWKHWUHH1
/DWHU RQ ZH KHDUG WKDW WKH &RXQWHVVD %LRQFROD ZDV FRPLQJ XS IURP
0RJDGLVKX RQ KHUZD\ WR$GGLV1 %ULJDGLHU 1LFKROV GHWHUPLQHG WR WKURZ D
SDUW\ IRU KHU DQG WR DFFRPPRGDWH KHU LQ WKH WUDQVLW FDPS/ ZKHUH D VSHFLDO
WHQWZDV SXW DW KHU GLVSRVDO1 +H UHTXLUHG PH WR HUHFW D GDQFH IORRU IRU WKH
RFFDVLRQ1 , PDGH WKLV D VSUXQJ IORRU E\ PRXQWLQJ LW RQ ROG ORUU\ W\UHV1 7KH
&RXQWHVVD/ NQRZQ DV WKH 5HGRXEWDEOH 3XVV\/ KDG EHHQ WKH 'XNH RI
$RVWDV VHFUHWDU\ GXULQJ WKH ,WDOLDQ RFFXSDWLRQ1 7KH SDUW\ZDV UHDOO\ D IDUFH
ZLWK RQO\ WKUHH RU IRXUZRPHQ SUHVHQW DQG D FURZG RI VH[ VWDUYHG PHQ1$IWHUDZKLOH,SHUVXDGHGD\RXQJ+LJKODQGHUVXEDOWHUQ WRGUHVVXSDVDJLUO1
6R ZLWK 3XVV\V DVVLVWDQFH ZH JRW KLP ORRNLQJ TXLWH DWWUDFWLYH DQG
LQWURGXFHG KLP WR &UDVKHU/ZKR GDQFHGZLWK KLP ORRNLQJ GRZQ KLV GUHVVIURQWDVDVVLGXRXVO\DVKHKDG3XVV\V1
$IWHU WKH SDUW\ , EURXJKW WKH VWRUHV IRU WKH IORRU EDFN LQWR WKH \DUG WR
NHHS P\ ERRNV VWUDLJKW DV WKHUH ZDV QR SXEOLF YRWH WR FRYHU VXFK
H[SHQGLWXUH1
'XVW LQ +DUJHLVKDZDV D JUHDW SUREOHP/ DQG VRZH REWDLQHG DYRWH WR
EODFN WRS WKH PDLQ URDG WKURXJK WKH FDQWRQPHQW1 , KDG D VWRQH FUXVKHU WR
PDNH RXU RZQ FKLSV1 0\ 5( YROXPH RQ URDGV VKRZLQJ WKH FXW0EDFN
UHTXLUHGIRU WKHELWXPHQDWYDULRXV WHPSHUDWXUHVGLGQRWJR XSDV IDUDV WKH
WHPSHUDWXUH ZH ZHUH H[SHULHQFLQJ/ VR , KDG WR LQWHUSRODWH ILJXUHV1 ,
TXDUULHG FKDON IRU WKH URDG VXUIDFH ZKLFK , FRQVROLGDWHG DQG UROOHG DW
RSWLPXP PRLVWXUH FRQWHQW/ DQG LW EDNHG KDUG LQ WKH VXQ1 7KH ELWXPHQ DQG
FKLSV WKHQ VHDOHG WKH FKDON/ DQG , KDG D PDJQLILFHQW URDG VXUIDFH1 7KLVZDVWKHILUVWEODFN WRSURDGDQ\ZKHUHQRUWKRI WKHHTXDWRU LQ(DVW$IULFD1 ,WZDV
DVRXUFHRI JUHDWVDWLVIDFWLRQ IRU PHQLQH \HDUV ODWHU WR PHHW DQG OHDUQ IURP
D PHPEHU RI WKH 6RPDOLDQ JRYHUQPHQW RQ WKH VKLS JRLQJ RXW WR 3DNLVWDQ
WKDWP\URDGZDVVWLOOLQJRRGFRQGLWLRQ1
'XULQJ 0D\ DQG-XQH/ ,WDOLDQVZHUH JUDGXDOO\ EHLQJ UHSDWULDWHG WR WKHLU
KRPHV/ DQG WKH 3XEOLF :RUNV 'HSDUWPHQW EHFDPH UHDG\ WR WDNH RYHU DOO
HQJLQHHU VHUYLFHV1 6R DW WKH HQG RI-XQH , KDQGHG RYHU DQG IOHZ KRPH IRU
P\ HQG0RI0ZDU OHDYH1 , IOHZ LQ D FRQYHUWHG :HOOLQJWRQ ERPEHU WR $GHQ1
)URP WKHUH , IOHZ LQ D 'DNRWD WR &DLUR/ FRPLQJ GRZQ DW $VPDUD/
.KDUWRXP/ DQG:DGL +DOID WR WDNH RQ SDVVHQJHUV DQG IXHO1 :H VWRSSHG D
QLJKW DW .KDUWRXP/ DQG , KDG WLPH WR VHH WKH VWDWXH RI *HQHUDO *RUGRQ RQ
KLVFDPHO/ DUHSOLFDRIZKLFKVWDQGVRXWVLGHWKH60(DW&KDWKDP1
,Q&DLUR,ZDVDFFRPPRGDWHG LQ WKHEDUUDFNVDW+HOLRSROLVIRUDIHZGD\VDQGKDG WLPH WRYLVLW WKH*H]LUD&OXE/ ZKHUH,PHW&UDVKHU1LFKROVVLVWHU
IRU OXQFK1 , WKHQ WUDYHOOHG E\ WURRS WUDLQ WR$OH[DQGULD/ ZKHUH , WRRN VKLS
WR7RXORQ1 )URP WKHUH,ZDVGULYHQ WR WKH WUDQVLWFDPSDW+\HUHV1 (DFKGD\
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
141/363
(DVW$IULFD 135
D EXVZHQW IURP WKH FDPS WR WKH EHDFK DW /H /DYDQGXZKHUH VHYHUDO RI XVEDWKHG DQG FKDWWHG XS WKH )UHQFK JLUOV1 6HHLQJ WKHP LQ WKHLU ELNLQLVZDV
TXLWH D VLJKW IRU VRUH H\HV DIWHU RXU PRQDVWLF H[LVWHQFH LQ 6RPDOLODQG1 $IWHU
DGD\RUWZRZHWRRNDWUDLQZKLFKWRRNXVQRQ0VWRSDQGYHU\IDVWWR&DODLV1
2Q DUULYDO LQ 'RYHU/ , FRXOG KDUGO\ZDLW WR PHHW:LQ DQG &KULVWRSKHU/
ZKRZHUH VWD\LQJZLWK KHU SDUHQWV LQ 6NHJQHVV1 7KH\ZHUH ERWKYHU\ZHOO/
DQG:LQDQG,KDGD MR\IXO UHXQLRQ VRPHZKDWVDGGHQHG E\ WKH IDFW WKDWZH
ERWK NQHZ LWZRXOG EH VKRUW1 6R , PHW &KULVWRSKHU DW ODVWZKHQ KHZDV VL[
PRQWKV ROG1 +HZDV D ILQH/ VWURQJ/ DQG JRRG ORRNLQJ EDE\/ DQG ,ZDVYHU\
SURXGRIKLP1
$IWHU D IHZ GD\V ZH ZHQW GRZQ E\ WUDLQ WR &KHOWHQKDP IRU D IDPLO\
UHXQLRQ1 %HVLGHV P\ SDUHQWV DQG WZR \RXQJHU VLVWHUV/ 'HQ\V/ QRZ DOVR D
PDMRU/ DQG P\ EURWKHU0LQ0ODZ 'LFN 6WHDG/ ZHUH ERWK WKHUH EDFN IURP ,WDO\1
0\ HOGHVW VLVWHU-RDQ DQG GDXJKWHU9DOHULHZHUH DOVR WKHUH1 /HDYH SDVVHG DOOWRR TXLFNO\/ DQG DUUDQJHPHQWVZHUH PDGH IRU:LQ DQG &KULV WR IROORZ PH
RXW WR .HQ\D DV VRRQ DV KH ZDV ROG HQRXJK WR KDYH WKH QHFHVVDU\
LQRFXODWLRQV1 ,ZDV JLYHQ SHUPLVVLRQ WR WDNH P\ PLOLWDU\ FKHVW RI GUDZHUV/
ZKLFK SDFNHG LQWR WZR FUDWHV/ HDFKZHLJKLQJ DERXW D KXQGUHGZHLJKW/ DQG
, VHQW WKHP DKHDG WR 'RYHU/ ZKHUH , FROOHFWHG WKHP DV , ERDUGHG VKLS IRU
&DODLV1
2Q ERDUG/ , PDGH IULHQGVZLWK VRPH 5(0( RIILFHUVZKRZHUH WDNLQJ D
GUDIW RXW WR WKH 0LGGOH (DVW1 1RW RQO\ GLG , WKHQ HQMR\ D EULGJH IRXUZLWK
WKHP RQ WKH WUDLQ WR7RXORQ/ EXW WKHLU PHQ KXPSHG P\ PLOLWDU\ FKHVW DW
HDFKFKDQJHRIFRQYH\DQFH1
7KLV WLPH RQH GLGQW IHHO LQFOLQHG WR KXUU\ WKURXJK WKH WUDQVLW FDPS DW
+\HUHV IRU WKH ELUGV DW /H /DYHQGX FDOOHG$ $Q\ZD\/ DIWHU D IHZ GD\VZHERDUGHG WKH 'XUEDQ &DVWOH IRU WKH WULS DFURVV WKH 0HG1 2Q WKHZD\/ RQH
RI WKHFUHZGHYHORSHGDFXWHDSSHQGLFLWLV/ DQGKHKDG WREH ODQGHGDW1DSOHV
IRU WUHDWPHQW1 6RZH HQMR\HG WKDW VXSHUEYLHZ RI 1DSOHV DQG9HVXYLXV DV
RQH DSSURDFKHV 1DSOHV %D\1 $W QLJKW ZH VDZ 6WURPEROL/ ZKLFK GXO\
HUXSWHG SUHFLVHO\ HYHU\ WZHQW\ PLQXWHV1 1RW IRU QRWKLQJ LV LW FDOOHG WKH
OLJKWKRXVH RI WKH 0HGLWHUUDQHDQ1 $W GDZQ QH[W GD\ZH SDVVHG WKURXJK WKH
6WUDLWV RI 0HVVLQD DQG KDG D PDJQLILFHQWYLHZ RI 0RXQW (WQDZLWK D ORQJ
VWUHDNRIVPRNHDFURVVWKHVN\IURPLWVVXPPLW1
2Q DUULYDO DW 3RUW 6DLG/ ZHZHUH WDNHQ WR D WUDQVLW FDPS LQ WKH GHVHUW RQ
WKHHDVWVLGHRI WKH FDQDO1 ,WZDVDPRVWGHSUHVVLQJSODFH/ KRWDV EOD]HVZLWK
QRWKLQJZKDWHYHU WR GR1 7KH RIILFHU LQ FKDUJHZDV D JXDUGV FDSWDLQ/ VR ,
DVNHGKLPKRZKHSURSRVHGWRJHWPHRQWR.HQ\D1 2K/ E\VWHDPHUXSWKH
1LOHYDOOH\ URXWH/KHVDLG1 ,ZRXOG KDYH QRQHRI WKDWDV LWZDV QRZ WKH KRWZHDWKHU VHDVRQ1 $OULJKW/ KH VDLG/ ,ZLOO JHW \RX RQ E\ SODQH1 7KDWV QR
JRRG/ , H[SRVWXODWHG/ :KDW DERXW P\ PLOLWDU\ FKHVW ZKLFK ,YH EHHQ
DXWKRUL]HG WR WDNHZLWK PH1 ,OO KDYH WR JR E\ VKLS WR 0RPEDVD1 +H VDLG
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
142/363
136 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
WKHUHZHUHQR VKLSV/ EXWDIWHU VRPH LQYHVWLJDWLRQ , IRXQG RXW WKDW WKHUHZDVD VKLS/ FDOOHG WKH0DORMD/ HYHQ QRZ DSSURDFKLQJ 3RUW 6DLGZKLFKZDV JRLQJ
RQ WR 0RPEDVD1 6RZKHQ , FRQIURQWHG KLPZLWK WKLV LQIRUPDWLRQ KH VDLG
WKLV VKLSZDV QRW VWRSSLQJ DW 3RUW 6DLG1 :KHUHXSRQ , RUGHUHG KLP WR VHQG
D VLJQDO WR WKH VKLS WR FDOO LQ DW 3RUW 6DLG WR SLFN XS D ILHOG RIILFHU DQG KLV
EDJJDJH1
%\ WKH WLPH WKH0DORMD DUULYHG WKHUHZHUH VRPH VL[ RWKHUV WR ERDUG KHU/
LQFOXGLQJ D 6RXWK $IULFDQ RIILFHU ZKR ZDV EHLQJ FRQGXFWHG XQGHU FORVH
DUUHVW EDFN WR WKH 8QLRQ1 :KHQ WKH HPEDUNDWLRQ VWDII RIILFHU DUULYHG WR
WDNH WKH SDUW\ RXW LQ D ODXQFK WR WKH VKLS/ P\ QDPHZDV QRW RQ KLV OLVW1 ,
KDG WRDUJXHZLWKKLP WR WDNHPH/ DQGKHVDLGKHZRXOGKDYHWRDVN LI WKHUH
ZDVURRPIRUPH RQ WKHVKLS1 ,PXVW VD\,ZDVYHU\DQQR\HG DV , H[SODLQHG
WKDWWKHVKLSKDGEHHQVWRSSHGVSHFLILFDOO\IRUPHDQGRQP\LQLWLDWLYH1
:KHQ ZH UHDFKHG WKH 0DORMD KH ZHQW DERDUG ZKLOH ZH ZDLWHG LQ WKHOLJKWHU IURP ZKLFK WKH EDJJDJH ZDV EHLQJ WDNHQ RQ ERDUG E\ WKH VKLSV
GHUULFN1 , KDG WKH VDWLVIDFWLRQ RI VHHLQJ P\ WZR FUDWHV FRQWDLQLQJ P\
PLOLWDU\ FKHVW VDIHO\ KRLVWHG DERDUG EHIRUH WKH HPEDUNDWLRQ VWDII RIILFHU
UHWXUQHG WR VD\ WKHUHZDV QR URRP IRU PH1 +H JDYH XSZKHQ , LQIRUPHG
KLP P\ EDJJDJH KDG DOUHDG\ EHHQ VWRZHG1 7KH 2&7URRSV RQ ERDUG IRXQG
PH D EXQN LQ D VL[ EXQN FDELQZLWK IRXU 0DXULWLDQ RIILFHUV GRZQ LQ WKH
ERZHOVRI WKHVKLS1 $VVRRQDVZHZHUHXQGHUZD\/ ,GLGD UHFFHRI WKHVKLS
DQG GLVFRYHUHG WKDW WKHUH ZHUH WZR 0DULQH OLHXWHQDQWV LQ D FDELQ RQ WKH
ERDW GHFN1 ,W GLGQW WDNH PH ORQJ WR SHUVXDGH WKH 2&7URRSV WR DUUDQJH D
VZRS/ DQGVR,KDGDYHU\QLFHFDELQWRP\VHOIIRUWKHUHVWRIWKHYR\DJH1
$V ZH DSSURDFKHG 0RPEDVD/ , EHJDQ WR VHH ZKDW , FRXOG GR DERXW
WUDYHOOLQJ RQ WKH PDLO WUDLQ WR 1DLUREL LQVWHDG RI WKH PXFK VORZHU WURRSWUDLQ RQ ZKLFK , KDG WUDYHOOHG EHIRUH1 7KH 2& 7URRSV DVVXUHG PH WKDW
WKHUHZDV RQO\ URRP IRU /W &ROV DQG XS RQ WKH PDLO WUDLQ1 , VDZ KH KDG D
*HQHUDO/LVW0 4RQKLVOLVWIRUWKHPDLOWUDLQ1 6R,VDLGWKDWLIE\DQ\FKDQFH
*HQHUDO /LVW IDLOHG WR WXUQ XS/ ZRXOG KH NLQGO\ OHW PH KDYH KLV EHUWK1 7R
WKLV KH DJUHHG1 +HZDV D UDWKHU VLPSOHZDU0WLPH RIILFHU1 $Q\ZD\/ WKHUHZDV
VRPH JHQHUDO OLVW FDSWDLQZKRZDV HDVLO\ VKLIWHG LQWR WKH WURRS WUDLQ/ DQG ,
KDG WKHFRPSDUDWLYH OX[XU\RI WKH PDLO WUDLQ/ PXFK WR WKH HQY\ RI WKHRWKHU
PDMRUVZKRKDGWRWUDYHORQWKHWURRSWUDLQ1
2Q DUULYDO LQ 1DLUREL LQ -XO\ 4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
143/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
144/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
145/363
(DVW$IULFD 139
ZLWKP\SODQVZKHQ,VKRZHGWKHP WR WKHP1 ,Q WXUQ/ WKH&5(DQG&(/ DQGWKH *2&/ 0DMRU *HQHUDO :1$1 'LPROLQH/ ZKR KDG WDNHQ RYHU IURP
*HQHUDO$QGHUVRQ/ DOOZD[HG HQWKXVLDVWLF RYHU WKH SODQ1 *HQHUDO 'LPROLQH
WRRN D WUHPHQGRXV LQWHUHVW LQ DOO ,ZDV GRLQJ DQGZDV TXLWH IDVFLQDWHG E\
P\EULFN/ WLOH/ DQGEXLOGLQJEORFNPDQXIDFWXULQJ1
$OO WKLV WLPH ,ZDV JHWWLQJ OHWWHUV IURP:LQ/ ZKRZDV EHLQJ DEVROXWHO\
IUXVWUDWHG LQ DOO KHU HIIRUWV WR MRLQ PH LQ .HQ\D1 7KH SUREOHPZDV WKDW QR
RQHZDVSUHSDUHG WRJLYHD EDE\XQGHU WZR\HDUVROG WKH LQRFXODWLRQVZKLFK
ZHUH UHTXLUHG IRU .HQ\D/ QRUZRXOG WKH\ DOORZ:LQ WR WUDYHOZLWKRXW WKH
LQRFXODWLRQV1 :H DSSHDOHG WR KLJKHU DXWKRULW\ IRU KHOS LQ (QJODQG DQG LQ
.HQ\DEXWWRQRDYDLO1
/XF\ )LHOGV DOZD\V XVHG WR UHIHU WR PH DV WKH PD\RU1 +HZRXOG ULQJ
PH XS DQG VD\/ IRU LQVWDQFH/ ,V WKDW WKH PD\RU1
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
146/363
140 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
DQG OHDUQLQJ DOO WKH WLPH1 ,ZDV XVLQJ 5( 0DQXDOV DQG -RXUQDOV WR VROYHSUREOHPV DV WKH\ FDPH DORQJ/ DQG KDG QR GHVLUH WR JR EDFN WR ; FKDVLQJ
DW VFKRRO1 6R , UHSOLHG WR WKH:DU 2IILFH PHPR WR WKLV HIIHFW1 7KLV GUHZ D
SUHWW\ SUHHPSWRU\ RUGHU IURP WKH (QJLQHHU0LQ0&KLHI DW WKH :DU 2IILFH1
7KHQ P\ &5(/ WKH &KLHI (QJLQHHU/ DQG *HQHUDO 'LPROLQH DOO DSSHDOHG RQ
P\ EHKDOI1 %XW QR DPRXQW RI VWULQJ SXOOLQJ FRXOG SUHYHQW WKLV PRVW
XQZHOFRPHPRYH1
6R:LQ QHYHU FDPH WR .HQ\D DQGZH QHYHU RFFXSLHG WKH ORYHO\ KRXVH
DQGJDUGHQ,KDGPDGH1 1HYHUWKHOHVV/ ,KDG EHHQYHU\ IRUWXQDWHZKLOH,ZDV
RQO\ WZHQW\0ILYH WR WZHQW\0VHYHQ \HDUV ROG WR KDYH KDG WZR VXFK
UHVSRQVLEOH MREV1 7R JR EDFN WR VFKRRO DJDLQZDV EDFN DJDLQ 0U1 %HJELH
ZLWKDYHQJHDQFH1
7KH0D\RURI1DQ\XNL/ .HQ\D
&KULVWPDV4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
147/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
148/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
149/363
0DMRU$UWKXU:LOOLDP+%LOO,7\QGDOH/XFDV/ 0%(/ 5(/
VKRUWO\EHIRUHKLVGHDWK/ DJHG5;1
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
150/363
144 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
7LOEXUJ ZKHQ ZH OLEHUDWHG WKH WRZQ/ WR LQYLWH PH WR D PHHWLQJ WKHIROORZLQJ 0RQGD\ HYHQLQJ1 :KDW PHHWLQJ"/ , HQTXLUHG1 7KH 2&8
PHHWLQJ IRU %LEOH VWXG\ DQG SUD\HU1 2&8 +4 KDYH WROG XV WKDW \RX KDYH
MRLQHG DQG ZH WKRXJKW \RX ZRXOG OLNH WR FRPH1 7KH\ KDG HYLGHQWO\
VSRWWHG VRPH KHVLWDWLRQ RQ P\ IDFH1 ,WZDV WUXH/ WKHUHZDV/ IRU , KDG QHYHU
KHDUG RI VXFK D WKLQJ DQG ,ZDVQW VXUHZKDW DVVRFLDWLQJZLWK VXFK D WKLQJ
ZRXOG GR WR P\ FDUHHU/ DV LW DOO VRXQGHG D ELW FUDQN\1 %XW , KDG MRLQHG WKH
2&8 DQG FRPPLWWHG P\VHOI/ VR , WKRXJKW , KDG EHWWHU JR DW OHDVW RQFH WR
VHHZKDW LWZDV OLNH1 7KHVH WKRXJKWV SDVVHG WKURXJK P\ PLQG TXLWH TXLFNO\/VR DIWHU RQO\ D VOLJKW KHVLWDWLRQ , VDLG/ 2K \HV/ ,OO FRPH/ WKDQN \RX IRU
DVNLQJPH1
, GXO\ WXUQHG XS WR WKH PHHWLQJ LQ /XFDVV URRPZKHUH/ EHVLGHV WKH WZR
%LOOV DQG P\VHOI/ 6WDQOH\ 3HSORH DQG ,DQ 8VKHU ZHUH DOVR SUHVHQW1 %LOO
(ZEDQN OHG WKH VWXG\ XVLQJ 433 'D\V %LEOH 6WXG\/ZULWWHQ E\ *HQHUDO 6LU$UWKXU 6PLWK ZKHQ KH ZDV FDSWDLQ DQG DGMXWDQW DW WKH 50& 6DQGKXUVW
PDQ\ \HDUV EHIRUH1 :LWKLQ DYHU\ IHZZHHNV RI WKHVH VHVVLRQV ,ZDV UHDOO\
EHJLQQLQJ WR XQGHUVWDQG P\ %LEOH DW ODVW1 $V ZH ZHUH OHG LQ H[0WHPSRUDUH
SUD\HU E\ WKH WZR %LOOV/ ,ZDV DOVR OHDUQLQJ KRZ WR SUD\ P\VHOI1 , EHJDQ WR
ORRN IRUZDUG WR WKHVH VHVVLRQVZLWK WKH NHHQHVW DQWLFLSDWLRQ1 , EHJDQ SUHWW\
TXLFNO\ WR JHW DQ LQWHOOHFWXDO XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI WKH *RVSHO1 , DFNQRZOHGJHG
WKDW , ZDV D VLQQHU QHHGLQJ WKH VDOYDWLRQ ZKLFK D PHUFLIXO *RG KDG
SURYLGHG LQ WKH /RUG-HVXV &KULVW/ EXW , VWLOO UHPDLQHG P\ RZQ PDVWHU1 ,
UHPDLQHG SUHWW\ PXFK LQ WKLV FRQGLWLRQ WKURXJKRXW 4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
151/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
152/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
153/363
6KULYHQKDP7R&DPEHUOH\ 147
, NQHZZKHQ , KDG ILQLVKHG/ LQ DZRQGHUIXOZD\ZKLFK , FDQQRW H[SODLQ/WKDW WKH /RUG KDG PDGH +LPVHOI NQRZQ WR PH DW ODVW1 , NQHZ LW ZLWK D
FHUWDLQW\ WKDWKDVQHYHU OHIWPH1 ,EHOLHYH+HJDYHPH WKLVJUDFLRXVYLVLWDWLRQ
EHFDXVH DW ODVW , KDG FRQIHVVHG P\ WRWDO UHOLDQFH RQ +LP1 , UDQ GRZQ WKH
SDVVDJH/ KDUGO\ FRQWDLQLQJ WHDUV RI MR\/ DQG EXUVW LQWR %LOO /XFDVV URRP1 +H
WRRN RQH ORRN DW P\ IDFH DQG VDLG/ 3UDLVH WKH /RUG/ 'LFN/ WKLV LVZKDWZH
KDYHEHHQZDLWLQJRQWKH/RUGIRUIRUPRQWKV1,KDQGHG%LOO WKHSDSHU/ DQG
KH UHFRJQL]HG DW RQFH WKDW WKLVZDV IURP WKH /RUG1 :H ERWK NQHOW GRZQ WR
SUDLVH *RG DQG WR WKDQN +LP IRU VKRZLQJ XV LQ WKLVZD\ WKDWZHZHUH LQ
+LVZLOOE\KDYLQJWKLVFLQHPDVKRZ1
,Q WKHZHHNV WKDW IROORZHG/ ZH SUD\HG WKDW WKH /RUGZRXOG RYHU0UXOH LQ
HYHU\ GHWDLO DQG SDUWLFXODUO\ WKDW +H ZRXOG HQVXUH D JRRG DWWHQGDQFH1 ,Q
DQVZHU WR WKDW WKH DUP\ SURMHFWRU EURNH GRZQ WZRZHHNV EHIRUH RXU VKRZ/
VRIRUDIRUWQLJKW WKHUHZHUHQRVKRZV WRJRWRH[FHSWRXUV/ DV WKH)DFWDQG)DLWK )LOPV SHRSOH EURXJKW WKHLU RZQ SURMHFWRU1 7KH UHVXOW ZDV WKDW VR
PDQ\ FDPH WKDWZH KDG WR KDYH WZR VKRZLQJV DQG , VXSSRVH PRVW RI WKH
FROOHJH VDZ WKH ILOPV1 2QO\ RQH RU WZR H[WUD FDPH WR RXU PHHWLQJV DV D
UHVXOW/ EXW ZKR NQRZV WKDW WKHUH PD\ QRW KDYH EHHQ RWKHU ORQJ WHUP
UHVXOWV"
,Q WKH VSULQJ RI 4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
154/363
148 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
P\VHOI VLWWLQJ QHDU WKH HQG RI WKH SODWIRUPZLWKRXW HYHQ D EDQN RI IORZHUVWR KLGH EHKLQG1 7KH KDOOZDV ILOOHGZLWK UHWLUHG SHRSOH/ DQG MXVW EHORZ DQG
ULJKW LQ IURQW RI PH ZDV WKH IRUELGGLQJ ILJXUH RI *HQHUDO 6LU :LOOLDP
'REELH/ WKH KHURLF JRYHUQRU RI 0DOWD GXULQJ WKH VLHJH/ DQG /DG\ 'REELH1
$V IDWHZRXOG KDYH LW/ ,ZDV WKH ODVW WR VSHDN/ VR , KDGD ORQJ DSSUHKHQVLYH
ZDLWWLOOP\WXUQFDPH1
$OO , FRXOG WKLQN RI WR VD\ZDV KRZ WKH /RUG KDG DW ODVW PDGH +LPVHOI
NQRZQ WR PH LQ WKH PDQQHU , KDYH DOUHDG\ UHODWHG1 , VDW GRZQ IHHOLQJ HYHQ
PRUH HPEDUUDVVHG WKDQZKHQ , EHJDQ1 2Q WKHZD\ EDFN LQ WKH FDU , VDLG WR
WKH WZR %LOOV/ ,WV D IXQQ\ WKLQJ WKDW ZKHQ ZH ZHQW XS WR WRZQ WKLV
PRUQLQJ , VWLOOZDVQW VXUH WKDW , KDG EHHQ VDYHG1 %XW QRZ , DP DEVROXWHO\
VXUH WKDW , KDYH EHHQ ERUQ DJDLQ DQG KDYH VSLULWXDO OLIH1 , DP DEVROXWHO\
FRPPLWWHG WR &KULVW DV P\ 6DYLRXU DQG P\ /RUG1 7R WKLV %LOO /XFDV
UHSOLHG/ 7KDWVZK\ZH DVNHG \RX WR VSHDN IRU RXU JURXS/ IRU LW LVZULWWHQ/:KRVRHYHU WKHUHIRUH VKDOO FRQIHVV PH EHIRUH PHQ/ KLPZLOO , FRQIHVV DOVR
EHIRUHP\)DWKHUZKLFK LV LQKHDYHQ17KDWYHUVHFDPH WUXH LQP\ OLIHHYHQ
EHIRUH,NQHZRILWVH[LVWHQFH1
7KH ILUVWZHHNHQG WKDW , JRW KRPH WR )OHHW DIWHU WKLV/ ,ZHQW WR VHH WKH
YLFDU WR RIIHU P\ VHUYLFHV LQ DQ\ FDSDFLW\ LQ WKH FKXUFK1 , GHVFULEHG WR KLP
WKH FLUFXPVWDQFHV RI P\ FRQYHUVLRQ/ EXW KH KDG QRWKLQJ WR RIIHU DQG QR
ZRUGV RI HQFRXUDJHPHQW1 ,QVWHDG KH MXVW VDW WKHUH SXIILQJ DZD\ RQ
FLJDUHWWHV/ DQG DOWKRXJK ,ZDVD QHZFRQYHUW/ KH VHHPHG WRPH WR EH WRWDOO\
ODFNLQJ LQ DQ\ VSLULWXDOLW\1 ,Q IDFW/ GXULQJ SUHYLRXV ZHHNHQGV VLQFH P\
FRQYHUVLRQ/ , KDG QRWLFHG WKDW KLV VHUPRQV VHHPHG WR FRQVLVW RI KLV RZQ
VSHFXODWLRQVRQ VXFK VXEMHFWV DVZKDW KHDYHQ PLJKW EH OLNH LQVWHDG RI EHLQJ
FOHDUFXWH[SRVLWLRQVRI6FULSWXUH1
6RZKHQHYHU,ZDVKRPH/ ,EHJDQ WRJR WR WKH%DSWLVW&KXUFK/ ZKHUH WKH
5HY1 5LFKDUG 'UDNH EHFDPH DZRQGHUIXO VXSSRUW LQ P\ HDUO\ PRQWKV DQG
\HDUVDVDFKLOGRI*RG1 7KLVGHSDUWXUHIURPWKH&KXUFKRI(QJODQGGLGQRW
KDYH WKH DSSURYDO RI P\ SDUHQWV/ EXW WKHQ WKH\ KDG FHDVHG WR EH UHJXODU
FKXUFK0JRHUV WKHPVHOYHV1 , FDQQRW EODPH WKHP/ IRU WKH\ZHUH EHLQJ VWDUYHG
RI DQ\ VSLULWXDO IRRG LQ WKH SDULVK FKXUFK/ DQG WKHLU9LFWRULDQ LGHDV RI FODVV
LQKLELWHG WKHP IURP JRLQJ WR D %DSWLVW &KXUFK ZKLFK ZDV PRVWO\
SDWURQL]HGE\WKHZRUNLQJFODVVHV1
%\ DQG E\ WKH 'HSXW\ (QJLQHHU0LQ0&KLHI DW WKH:DU 2IILFH FDPH WRYLVLW
XVDW6KULYHQKDPDQGJDYHPHDQ LQWHUYLHZDWZKLFK,SHUVXDGHGKLP WRJHW
PH RXW RI WKH SODFH/ HVSHFLDOO\ DV , KDG E\ QRZ EHHQ VHOHFWHG IRU WKH 6WDII
&ROOHJH WKH IROORZLQJ \HDU1 6R LQ-XQH 4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
155/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
156/363
150 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
&KULVWLDQ FKDQQHOV/ XQGHU WKH JXLGDQFH RI WKH +RO\ 6SLULW/ ZLOODFFRPSOLVKJUHDWWKLQJVWRWKHJORU\RIRXU/RUGDQG6DYLRXU1
1RUPDQ/ ZKR KDG UHVXPHG KLV FLYLOLDQ RFFXSDWLRQ DV D EXLOGHU/ ZDV QRZ
WKH RUJDQLVW DQG FKRLU OHDGHU DW (ULF +XWFKLQV /DQVGRZQH %DSWLVW &KXUFK
LQ %RXUQHPRXWK1 , KDVWHQHG WRZULWH WR KLP WR VKDUH WKH JRRG QHZV RI P\
VDOYDWLRQ DQG WR WKDQN KLP DQG KLV IULHQGV IRU SHUVLVWLQJ LQ SUD\HU IRU WZR
ZKROH \HDUV EHIRUH WKH KHDUW RI WKLV KDUGHQHG VLQQHUZDV EURNHQ GRZQ LQ
UHSHQWDQFH1
2QH PRUQLQJ P\ 660 VKRZHG D 0UV1 'LFNLQVRQ LQWR P\ RIILFH1 6KHZDV
LQ JUHDW GLVWUHVV1 $IWHU , KDG FRPIRUWHG DQG FDOPHG KHU/ VKH VDLG WKDW KHU
KXVEDQG/ RQH RI P\ 1&2V/ KDG WULHG WR VWUDQJOH KHU LQ EHG WKH SUHYLRXV
QLJKW/ DQGZRXOG , SOHDVH VSHDN WR KLP1 /DWHU , VHQW IRU /2&SO1 'LFNLQVRQ1
$IWHUKHVDOXWHG, WROGKLP WRVLWGRZQ1 %HIRUH,FRXOGVD\DQ\WKLQJKHVDLG/
,VXSSRVH WKHROGZRPDQKDVEHHQ LQ WRVHH\RX",VDLG/
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
157/363
6KULYHQKDP7R&DPEHUOH\ 151
KLV2& DQGD /2&SO1 RQ WKHLUNQHHV/ ERWKZLWK WHDUV RI MR\ VWUHDPLQJ GRZQWKHLUIDFHV1
%HIRUH 0UV1 'LFNLQVRQ KDG FRPH WR PHZLWK KHU WURXEOHV/ LW WXUQHG RXW
WKDW WKH\ KDG ERWK EHHQ WR WKH:RNLQJ &RQJUHJDWLRQDO &KXUFK IRU KHOS1 ,
QRZ UHFHLYHG D OHWWHU GDWHG :WK 1RYHPEHU 4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
158/363
152 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
*HQHUDO VDLG KH JXHVVHG , PXVW EH D PHPEHU RI WKH 2&81 +H VDLG KHUHJDUGHG WKH 2&8 DV KLV VSLULWXDO FRPPDQGRV/ WRZKLFK , UHSOLHG WKDW LW
ZRXOGKHOSLIKHZHUHWRVD\VRSXEOLFO\1
,OHIW$6TXDGURQDW&KULVWPDVDQGZDVJLYHQDJUHDWVHQG0RII1 ,QWKH1HZ
\HDU , MRLQHGZLWK HOHYHQ RWKHU VDSSHUV IRU D WKUHHZHHN SUH06WDII &ROOHJH
FRXUVH DW WKH 60( 5LSRQ WDNHQ E\ %LOO-DFNVRQ +ODWHU *HQHUDO 6LU:LOOLDP
-DFNVRQ, DQG &HFLO (NLQJ/ ODWHU WR EH P\ FRPPDQGHU DW WKH 60( &KDWKDP1
:HZHUH WROG WKDW DV IDU DV WKH DUP\ZDV FRQFHUQHG/ WKH JORYHVZHUH QRZ
RIIDQG5XVVLDZDVWKHOLNHO\HQHP\1
, MRLQHG WKH 0LQOH\ 0DQRU 'LYLVLRQ RI WKH 6WDII &ROOHJH HDUO\ LQ
)HEUXDU\1 7KLVZDV PRVW FRQYHQLHQW DV LWZDV MXVW XS WKH URDG IURP RXU
EXQJDORZ LQ )OHHW1 $W WKDW WLPH WKHUH ZHUH IRXU GLYLVLRQV DW WKH 6WDII
&ROOHJH/ HDFK RI VL[W\ VWXGHQWV> WZR ZHUH EDVHG LQ &DPEHUOH\/ RQH LQ
)DUQERURXJK/ DQG RQH DW 0LQOH\ 0DQRU1 $OO IRXU GLYLVLRQV ZRXOG JDWKHUWRJHWKHU LQ WKH 5DZOLQVRQ +DOO LQ &DPEHUOH\ IRU PDMRU SUHVHQWDWLRQV DQG
OHFWXUHV1 $W WKH RSHQLQJ OHFWXUH WKH &RPPDQGDQW/ 0DM *HQ 'XGOH\:DUG/
EHJDQ ZLWK WKH ZRUGV/ *HQWOHPHQ/ ZHOFRPH WR WKH ,PSHULDO *HQHUDO
6WDII/DQG,PXVWVD\,UHDOO\IHOW WKDW,KDGVHWP\IRRWRQ WKHILUVWUXQJRI
D ODGGHUZKLFK/ LI LWZRXOG QRW WDNH PH WR WKH WRS/ ZRXOGDW OHDVW WDNH PHD
JRRGZD\ XS LW1 $W WZHQW\0QLQH ,ZDV/ , WKLQN/ WKH \RXQJHVW RQ WKH FRXUVH1
,Q UHWURVSHFW,GRQW WKLQN WKLVZDVDQDGYDQWDJH/ DV,GLGQRWKDYHDVPXFK
ZDU H[SHULHQFH/ DV PDQ\ RI WKH RWKHUV1 %XW WKH FRXUVH ZDV D PDUYHOORXV
H[SHULHQFH DQG ZH KDG ORWV RI LQWHUHVWLQJ VSHDNHUV GRZQ IURP /RQGRQ1
7KHVH LQFOXGHG WKH &,*6/ )LHOG 0DUVKDOO 6LU :LOOLDP 6OLP/ WKH )LUVW 6HD
/RUG/ DQG WKH &KLHI RI WKH $LU )RUFH/ )LHOG 0DUVKDOO /RUG 0RQWJRPHU\//W1 *HQ1 /DZWRQ &ROOLQV RI WKH 86 $UP\/ 6LU 9LQFHQW 7HZVRQ/ *HQHUDO
6HFUHWDU\ RI WKH 7UDGH 8QLRQ &RXQFLO/ 0U1 (PPDQXHO 6KLQZHOO/ WKH
6HFUHWDU\ RI 6WDWH IRU ZDU/ /RUG $OH[DQGHU/ WKH 0LQLVWHU RI 'HIHQFH/ 6LU
$UWKXU %U\DQW/ WR JLYH XV D KLVWRULDQVYLHZ RI WKHZDU/ 0U1 $ODQ 0RUHKHDG
WRJLYHDZDUFRUUHVSRQGHQWVYLHZ/ DQGPDQ\RWKHUV1
:H WULHG WR WUDS7HZVRQ LQ TXHVWLRQ WLPH/ EXW KHZDV DV VOLSSHU\ DV DQ
HHO/ QHYHU DQVZHUHG WKH TXHVWLRQ KHZDV DVNHG/ DQG JDYH XV PRUH VRFLDOLVW
GRFWULQH1 :H WULHG WKH VDPHZLWK /RUG$OH[DQGHU/ DQG D JXDUGVPDQ DVNHG
KLPZKHWKHU LWZRXOG EH D JRRG WKLQJ IRU 6SDLQ WR EH LQYLWHG WR MRLQ WKH
1$72 DOOLDQFH1 7KH TXHVWLRQ FOHDUO\ DQQR\HG $OH[DQGHU/ DQG VR KH ZDV
DVNHG/ SROLWLFDO FRQVLGHUDWLRQV DVLGH/ ZRXOGQW LW EH JRRG IRU VWUDWHJLF
UHDVRQV WRKDYH6SDLQ LQ WKHDOOLDQFH1 +HUHIXVHG WRDQVZHU WKHTXHVWLRQDQG
ZDV TXLWH UXGH1 6R QR PRUH TXHVWLRQVZHUH DVNHG/ DQG WKH JHQHUDO HVFRUWHG
KLP RXW RI WKH KDOO LQ FRPSOHWH VLOHQFH1 (PPDQXHO 6KLQZHOO ZDV TXLWHDQRWKHU PDWWHU1 +H KDG WDNHQ WKH UHVSRQVLELOLW\ IRU WKH FRDO FULVLV D \HDU RU
WZR EHIRUH DQG KDG EHHQ IRUFHG WR UHVLJQ IURP WKH PLQLVWU\ RI IXHO1 :KHQ
KH FDPH WR WKH:DU 2IILFH KH H[SHFWHG WR KDYH VRPH RSSRVLWLRQ/ NQRZLQJ
WKDW RIILFHUVZHUH FRQVHUYDWLYH WR D PDQ1 %XW LQVWHDG KH KDG EHHQ JLYHQ
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
159/363
6KULYHQKDP7R&DPEHUOH\ 153
OR\DOW\VXFKDVKHKDGQHYHUNQRZQEHIRUH1 +HMXVWVWRRGDW WKHIURQWRIWKHVWDJHZLWK KLV KDQGV VWXFN LQWR KLV MDFNHW SRFNHWV DQG VSRNH WR XV/ ZLWKRXW
D QRWH/ PRUH VHQVH WKDQ RQH FDQ XVXDOO\ H[SHFW IURP D SROLWLFLDQ1 :H SXW
DZD\RXUWULFNTXHVWLRQVDQGJDYHKLPDIULHQGO\RYDWLRQZKHQKHOHIW1
%\ IDU WKH PRVW PHPRUDEOH RI WKH OHFWXUHUV ZDV )LHOG 0DUVKDO /RUG
$ODQEURRNH1 +H EHJDQ KLV OHFWXUH E\ VD\LQJ WKDW GHVSLWHZKDW KHZDV JRLQJ
WRWHOOXV/ KHZDVFHUWDLQWKDW(QJODQGZRXOGKDYHEHHQGHIHDWHG LQ4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
160/363
154 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
ZKDW/ DVEXGGLQJVWDIIRIILFHUV/ ZHVKRXOGKDYHGRQHEHIRUH/ DQG WKDWZDVWRPDNH DQ DSSUHFLDWLRQ RI WKH VLWXDWLRQ1 6LQFH RXU DYHUDJH DJH ZRXOG EH
JUHDWHU WKDQ WKDW RIHYHU\ WHDPZHZRXOGPHHW/ ZHZRXOG KDYH WR PDNH WKH
EDOO PRYHZKHUHZH FRXOGQW/ DQGZHZRXOG KDYH WR FRQVHUYH RXU HQHUJ\1
6RZH GHFLGHG WKDWZKHQ WKH RSSRQHQWV JRW WKH EDOO/ RXU IRUZDUGVZRXOG
UHPDLQ LQ WKH PLGGOH WZR WKLUGV RI WKH ILHOG1 7KHUHZDV WR EH QRH[KDXVWLQJ
FKDUJLQJ WR WKH FRUQHU IODJ LQ GHIHQFH1 :KHQZHJRW WKHEDOOZHZRXOGSDVV
LWRXWTXLFNO\ WR WKHZLQJV WRGUDZ WKHRSSRQHQWV WRRQH IODQNRU WKHRWKHU/
DQG WKHQ WKHZLQJZRXOG FURVV NLFN WKH EDOO WR WKH IRUZDUGV/ ZKRZRXOG EH
ZDLWLQJ IRU LW LQ WKH PLGGOH RI WKH ILHOG1 7KHQZLWK VKRUW SDVVLQJ EHWZHHQ
WKH IRUZDUGV/ ZHZRXOG UXQVWUDLJKWGRZQ WKH PLGGOH RI WKH ILHOG DQG VFRUH
EHWZHHQWKHSRVWV1
7KHUHDIWHU ZH QHYHU ORVW D PDWFK DQG EHDW KRPH DQG DZD\ DOO WKH
/RQGRQ0$ ILIWHHQV RI FOXEV/ VXFK DV %ODFNKHDWK/ +DUOHTXLQV/ 5LFKPRQG//RQGRQ 6FRWWLVK/ HWF1/ DQG *XLOGIRUG/ WKH VWURQJHVW ORFDO VLGH1 ,I ZH
FRXOGQWPRYH/ WKHEDOOGLG/ DQGWRJRRGHIIHFW1
,Q-XQH WKH&ROOHJHZHQW RYHU WR +ROODQG DQG *HUPDQ\ IRU LWV EDWWOHILHOG
WRXU1 :H VWXGLHG WKH DFWLRQ RI 9WK$LUERUQH 'LYLVLRQ DW$UQKHP/ DQG WKH
6LHJIULHG /LQH EDWWOH DQG 5KLQH FURVVLQJ E\ 48WK 6FRWWLVK 'LYLVLRQ/ ZKLFK/
RIFRXUVH/ZHUHRIQRVWDOJLFLQWHUHVWWRPH1
:H KDG D IRXU ZHHN EUHDN LQ -XO\/ DQG :LQ DQG , ZHQW RII LQ RXU
:ROVHOH\ ZLWK D WZR PDQ ELYY\ WHQW WR WRXU )UDQFH ZKLOH :LQV PRWKHU
FDPH GRZQ IURP 6NHJQHVV WR ORRN DIWHU &KULV DQG-RKQ1 :H VSHQW WKH ILUVW
QLJKW DW /RXYLHUV/ ZKHUHZH KDG FURVVHG WKH 6HLQH LQ 4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
161/363
6KULYHQKDP7R&DPEHUOH\ 155
DQGYDULRXV SUHVXPHG UHOLFV DQG LPDJHVRI WKHVR0FDOOHG ODG\ RI/RXUGHV1 $WWKH HQG RI WKH VWUHHW WKHUH DUH ORGJLQJV IRU FULSSOHV/ DQG D QXPEHU RI WKHP
ZHUH VLWWLQJ RXW LQ WKH VXQ RQ LQYDOLG FKDLUV KRSLQJ IRU D FXUH1 7KH\ZHUH D
SDWKHWLF VLJKW1 %H\RQG WKDW WKHUHZDV D JDUGHQ IRUZKLFK:LQ KDG WR FRYHU
KHU KHDG EHIRUH VKH ZDV DOORZHG DGPLWWDQFH1 ,Q WKH JDUGHQ WKHUH ZDV D
VWDWXH RI WKH ODG\ DW ZKLFK VHYHUDO SHRSOH ZHUH SUDFWLFLQJ LGRODWU\/ DQG
ILQDOO\ WKHUH ZDV WKH JURWWR/ ZKLFK ZDV EHGHFNHG ZLWK FUXWFKHV RI WKRVH
ZKRPRQHZDV VXSSRVHG WR EHOLHYHKDGEHHQ FXUHG1 :HFRXOGQWJHW RXW RI
/RXUGHVTXLFNO\HQRXJK1
:H FRQWLQXHG DORQJ WKH ORYHO\ IRRWKLOOV RI WKH 3\UHQHHV DQG LQ WKH ODWH
DIWHUQRRQ FDPH RXW RQWR D SODLQ DFURVVZKLFKZH FRXOG VHH D PRXQGZLWK
WKH WRZQ RI %H]LHUV SHUFKHG RQ WKH WRS RI LW1 6RPHKRZ/ LQ WKH RUDQJH OLJKW
RI WKH HYHQLQJ LW KDG D PRVW VLQLVWHU DSSHDUDQFH1 :H GURYH XS WKURXJK LWV
QDUURZ DQG P\VWHULRXV 0RRULVK VWUHHWV WLOO ZH IRXQG D KRWHO/ ZKHUH :LQZDVYHU\LQVLVWHQWWKDW,VKRXOGORFNWKHEHGURRPGRRU1
%XWZHVSHQWDQXQHYHQWIXOQLJKW/ DQGQH[WGD\ZHGURYH RQ WR6HWHRQO\
WRILQG WKDW WKHEDQNVZHUHVKXW WKDW6DWXUGD\DQGZH FRXOG QRW FKDQJHRXU
WUDYHOOHUV FKHTXHV1 :H MXVW KDG HQRXJK PRQH\ WR EX\ VRPH EUHDG DQG
FKHHVH DQG YLQ RUGLQDLUH WR VXSSOHPHQW RXU UDWLRQV IRU WKH ZHHNHQG/ DQG
WKHQFDPSHGRQWKHEHDFKQHDUWKHPRXWKRIWKH5LYHU+HSDXOW1
:LQZDV PRVW FRQFHUQHG WKDW WKH WLGHZRXOG FRPH XS GXULQJ WKH QLJKW
DQG VRDN XV DQG RXU WKLQJV1 6KHZRXOGQW EHOLHYH PHZKHQ , DVVXUHG KHU
WKDW WKH ULVH DQG IDOO RI WKH WLGH LQ WKH 0HGLWHUUDQHDQ LV KDUGO\ PRUH WKDQ D
IRRW1 6R LQP\KDOWLQJ)UHQFK,KDGWRDVNDILVKHUPDQIRUFRQILUPDWLRQ1 +H
ORRNHGDWPHDV LI,ZDVTXLWHPDGDQGVDLGZLWKVRPHYHKHPHQFH/ /DPHU
UHVWHLFL/LQGLFDWLQJWKHVSRWZLWKKLVIRRW17KHUH ZHUH VZDUPV RI PRVTXLWRHV RQ WKH EHDFK1 )RUWXQDWHO\ , KDG
EURXJKW D GRXEOH EHG PRVTXLWR QHWZLWK XVZKLFK FRPSOHWHO\ FRYHUHG RXU
WZR PDQ ELYY\1 $ORQJ WKH EHDFK IURP XVZHUH WZR JLUOV DQG D \RXQJ PDQ1
7KH JLUOV UHWLUHG LQWR WKHLU ELYY\ WHQW/ OHDYLQJ WKH \RXQJ PDQ WR GRVV GRZQ
LQ WKHRSHQ1 %XWKHGLGQWVXUYLYH WKHPRVTXLWRHVIRU ORQJ/ DQG WKHJLUOVKDG
PHUF\ RQ KLP DQG DOORZHG KLP LQWR WKH WHQW IRU WKH QLJKW1 ,Q WKRVH GD\V/
EHIRUH WKH SHUPLVVLYH VRFLHW\ KDG DUULYHG/ WKLV ZDV VXFK D UHPDUNDEOH
FRQFHVVLRQ WKDW WKHUHZHUH VHYHUDO DQ[LRXV JODQFHV LQ RXU GLUHFWLRQ EHIRUH
DQ\RIWKHWKUHHZRXOGHPHUJHIURPWKHLUWHQWQH[WPRUQLQJ1
+DYLQJ YLVLWHG WKH EDQN LQ 6HWH RQ 0RQGD\ PRUQLQJ DQG UHSOHQLVKHG
VXSSOLHV/ ZH GURYH XS WKH 5KRQH YDOOH\ DQG FDPSHG LQ D GLVXVHG TXDUU\
ZKLFK KDG D ORYHO\ ODZQ JUDVV ERWWRP1 :HZHUH DZDNHQHG DW GDZQ E\ D
SDUW\ RI VWUDZEHUU\ SLFNHUV RQ WKHLU ZD\ XS WR D ILHOG DERYH XV1 7KH\UHWXUQHG ZKLOH ZH ZHUH KDYLQJ EUHDNIDVW/ DQG ZH ERXJKW DQ HQRUPRXV
EDVNHW RI OXVK VWUDZEHUULHV IURP WKHP IRU WKH HTXLYDOHQW RI WZR DQG
VL[SHQFH1
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
162/363
156 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
(YHQWXDOO\ZH JRW WR &KDORQV/ ZKHUHZH VWRSSHG DW DZD\VLGH UHVWDXUDQWDQG VDW GRZQ1 :HZHUH E\ QRZ UXQQLQJ VKRUW RI FDVK/ DQGZKHQZH UHDG
WKH PHQX ZH VDZ WKDW WKHUH ZDV QRWKLQJ RQ LW ZKLFK ZH FRXOG DIIRUG1
6KHHSLVKO\/ ZH KDG WR PDNH RXU H[LW XQGHU WKH LQWHUHVWHG JODQFHV RI WKH
RWKHU FXVWRPHUV1 6RZH DUULYHG KXQJU\ LQ 3DULV DQG VWD\HG LQ D FKHDS EXW
UHSXWDEOHKRWHOZKLFKKDGEHHQUHFRPPHQGHGWRXV1
:HZHQW WR WKH )ROOLHV %HUJHUH/ ZKHUH WKH VKRZZDV VR VSHFWDFXODU WKDW
WKH VFDQWLO\ FORWKHG JLUOV GLGQW UHDOO\ VHHP DW DOO XQVHHPO\1 :HYLVLWHG WKH
/RXYUHV DQG ZHUH TXLWH XQLPSUHVVHG E\ WKH 0RQD /LVD DQG WKRXJKW WKH
PHDQLQJ RI KHU VPLOHZDV TXLWH LQFRQVHTXHQWLDO/ LI LQGHHG LW PHDQW DQ\WKLQJ
DW DOO1 :H YLVLWHG 1RWUH 'DPH DQG WKRXJKW WKH LQWHULRU WHUULEO\ GDUN DQG
JORRP\/ EXW WKH YLHZ RYHU 3DULV IURP WKH WRZHU ZDV PDJQLILFHQW1 :H
VKUDQN IURP DVFHQGLQJ WKH (LIHO 7RZHU/ DQG WKHQ KHDGHG IRU &DODLV DQG
KRPH17KH UHPDLQGHU RI WKH VWDII FROOHJH \HDU LQFOXGHG D QLJKWYLVLW WR WKH'DLO\
7HOHJUDSK LQ )OHHW 6WUHHW/ ZKHUHZHZDWFKHG DQ LVVXH RI WKH SDSHU EHLQJ SXW
WRJHWKHU IURP VWDUW WR ILQLVK1 :HZHUH DPD]HG WR VHH PHQ EHLQJ NHSW RQ
GRLQJ XWWHUO\ XVHOHVVZRUN EHFDXVH RI WKH SRZHU RI WKH XQLRQV1 7KHQ WKHUH
ZDV DYLVLW WR DQ DLUFUDIW FDUULHU RII 3RUWVPRXWK1 7KH QRLVH RQ WKH IOLJKW
GHFNZDV GHDIHQLQJ/ SDUWLFXODUO\ DV DLUFUDIW WRRN RIIZLWK WKH DVVLVWDQFH RI D
K\GUDXOLF FDWDSXOW1 , WKRXJKW WKH SLORWV VKRXOG HDUQ D PHGDO HYHU\ WLPH WKH\
ODQGHG LQ WKDW UHVWULFWHG VSDFH1 7KH\ VHHPHG WR EH VWRSSHG IURP JRLQJ
RYHUERDUGE\WKHDUUHVWHUZLUHVRQO\DWWKHODVWPRPHQW1
:H IOHZ DFURVV WR 1RUWKHUQ ,UHODQG WRYLVLW 5$) &RDVWDO &RPPDQG LQ D
FRXSOH RI$QVRQVZKRVH SLORWVZHUH LQWHQW RQ VFDULQJ WKH OLIH RXW RI XV E\
IO\LQJ VR WKDW WKHZLQJ RI RQH$QVRQZDV EHWZHHQ WKHZLQJ DQG WDLO SODQHRI WKHRWKHUDQG WKHQFLUFOLQJRYHURXUSODQHDQGGRZQ WKHRWKHUVLGH LQ WKH
VDPH SRVLWLRQ1 ,WZDVQW GLIILFXOW WR LPDJLQHZKDWZRXOG KDYH KDSSHQHG LI
ZH KDG KLW DQ DLU SRFNHW1 )RUWXQDWHO\ ZH KDG D ZLQJ FRPPDQGHU DV D
SDVVHQJHU/ DQG/ KLVQHUYHKDYLQJIDLOHGILUVW/ KHRUGHUHGWKHSLORWVWRVWRSLW1
2Q DUULYDO DW &DVWOH $UFKGDOH ZH ERDUGHG DQ 5$) 6XQGHUODQG IO\LQJ
ERDW1 ,WZDV HQRUPRXV LQVLGH/ ZLWK WKUHH GHFNV/ RQH DERYH WKH RWKHU/ DQG D
KXJH FDUJR KROG1 , JRW P\VHOI LQWR WKH ERPE DLPHUV SRVLWLRQ LQ WKH QRVH/
ZKHUH , KDG D PDUYHOORXVYLHZ DVZH VNLPPHG DFURVV WKHZDWHU RQ WDNH RII
DQG DJDLQ RQ ODQGLQJ1 $SSDUHQWO\ QR RQH ZDV VXSSRVHG WR EH LQ WKDW
SRVLWLRQ RQ ODQGLQJ> WKH FDSWDLQ ZDV IXULRXV/ DQG FRXOGQW WKLQN ZK\ WKH
PDFKLQHZDV VR QRVH KHDY\1 %XW ,ZRXOGQW KDYH PLVVHG WKH H[SHULHQFH IRU
ZRUOGV1
$W WKH HQG RI WKH FRXUVHZHZHUH VXPPRQHG LQGLYLGXDOO\ WR WKH 0LQOH\'LYLVLRQ FRPPDQGHU WR EH JLYHQ RXU UHVXOWV1 ,ZDV WROG , KDG JRW D KLJK
JUDGLQJ GHVSLWH P\ SHFXOLDU UHOLJLRXV YLHZV DQG QHJOHFW RI FROOHJH VRFLDO
DFWLYLWLHV/ZKLFK PHDQW , KDGQW JRQH WR WKH HQGOHVV GULQNLQJ SDUWLHV1 $Q
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
163/363
6KULYHQKDP7R&DPEHUOH\ 157
$JUDGLQJ LV UHVHUYHGIRUDIXWXUH&,*6/ DQG,JRWD%DQG UHWDLQHGP\UDQN DV WHPSRUDU\ PDMRU1 6R , KDG UHDVVXUDQFH WKDW LIZH DUH SUHSDUHG WR
VWDQG XS IRU-HVXV/ +HZLOO DOVR ORRN DIWHU XV1 6HHN \H ILUVW WKH NLQJGRP RI
*RG/ DQG+LVULJKWHRXVQHVV/ DQGDOOWKHVHWKLQJVVKDOOEHDGGHGXQWR\RX1
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
164/363
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
165/363
159
&KDSWHU(LJKW7KH:DU2IILFH
7KH PRVW VRXJKW DIWHU DSSRLQWPHQW RQ OHDYLQJ WKH 6WDII &ROOHJH LV
EULJDGH PDMRU RI DQ LQIDQWU\ RU DUPRXUHG EULJDGH1 7KH QH[W LV WR EH *62
5 RI D GLYLVLRQ1 $IWHU WKDW/ DQ\ RWKHU JUDGH 5 VWDII DSSRLQWPHQW/ DQG DIWHU
WKDW D JUDGH 6 VWDII DSSRLQWPHQW IRU WKH DOVR0UDQV1 7KH ODWWHU ZHUH
FDSWDLQVSRVWLQJV1
0\ DSSRLQWPHQW ZDV WR EH 'HSXW\ $VVLVWDQW $GMXWDQW *HQHUDO LQ WKH
RIILFHUV SROLF\ VHFWLRQ RI WKH$GMXWDQW *HQHUDOV 'HSDUWPHQW LQ WKH :DU
2IILFH/ FDOOHG$* 4 +2IILFHUV,1 ,WZDV D WRS JUDGH 5 $ 6WDII DSSRLQWPHQW1%HIRUH WDNLQJ XS RXU DSSRLQWPHQWV/ DOO RI XVZKR KDG EHHQ JLYHQ $ 6WDII
MREVZHUH VHQW RQ D WKUHHZHHN FRXUVH WR VWXG\ PDWWHUVZLWKLQ WKH SXUYLHZ
RI $ 6WDII RIILFHUV1 , UHPHPEHUYHU\ OLWWOH RI WKLV FRXUVH H[FHSW DYLVLW WR
WKH PLOLWDU\ SULVRQ DW &ROFKHVWHU/ ZKLFK DOVR HQDEOHG PH WR JR WR )ULQWRQ0
RQ06HD WR YLVLW IRU WKH ODVW WLPH P\ 8QFOH &ROLQ/ P\ H[0SUHS VFKRRO
KHDGPDVWHU/ DQG$XQW 0XULHO/ DQG D WULS WR WKH DUP\ LQ *HUPDQ\ ZKLFK
HQDEOHG PH WR YLVLW /RUQD/ ZKR KDG PDUULHG $GULDQ 6DQGHV/ D VDSSHU
VHUYLQJLQ%DG2\QKDXVHQ1
(DUO\ LQ )HEUXDU\ 4
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
166/363
160 %DFN$JDLQ0U1 %HJELH
DQG WKH 'LUHFWRUDWH RI 3HUVRQDO $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ1 (DFK 'LUHFWRUDWH ZDVKHDGHG E\ D PDMRU JHQHUDO/ DQG WKH '3$ KDG WZR 'HSXW\ 'LUHFWRUV XQGHU
KLP ZKR ZHUH EULJDGLHUV1 7KH\ ZHUH WKH ''3$ +2WKHU 5DQNV, DQG WKH
''3$ +2IILFHUV,1 $QVZHULQJ WR WKH ODWWHU ZDV WKH $VVLVWDQW $GMXWDQW
*HQHUDO$* 4+2IILFHUV,/ WRZKRP DQVZHUHG WKH '$$*$* 4 +2IILFHUV, 3
DQGWKH'$$*+2IILFHUV, &1 ,ZDVWRILOOWKHODWWHUSRVW1
$* 4 ZDV RQ WKH ILIWK IORRU/ ZKLFKZH VKDUHGZLWK WKH$UP\ &KDSODLQV
'HSDUWPHQW1 )RU WKLV UHDVRQ WKH ROG VROGLHU OLIW DWWHQGDQW/ ZKHQZH DVNHG
IRUWKHILIWKIORRU/ XVHGWRVD\/ +RO\&LW\/ JRLQJXS1
7KH$*ZDV *HQHUDO 6LU-DPHV 6WHHO/ ZKRZDV NQRZQ DV 'DGG\ 6WHHO
EHFDXVH KH FDOOHG HYHU\ RQH VRQQ\ ZKHWKHU RQH ZDV D JHQHUDO RU D
OLHXWHQDQW1 $ IHZ PRQWKV EHIRUH P\ WLPHZDV XS/ KH UHWLUHG WR EHFRPH WKH
ILUVW FKDLUPDQ RI WKH QDWLRQDOL]HG FRDO ERDUG/ DQG/ DV WKLV ZDV D VRFLDOLVW
DSSRLQWPHQW/ KHZDV JHQHUDOO\ FRQVLGHUHG D WUDLWRU WR KLV FODVV1 , RQO\ PHWKLP RQFH ZKHQ , ZDV VXGGHQO\ FDOOHG XS WR KLV RIILFH RQ WKH WRS IORRU
ZRQGHULQJZKDW , KDG GRQHZURQJ1 ,W WXUQHG RXW KH RQO\ZDQWHG WR NQRZ
KRZ KLV GDXJKWHU FRXOG JHW D FRPPLVVLRQ LQ WKH:5$&1 +HZDV VXFFHHGHG
E\*HQHUDO6LU-RKQ&URFNHU1
7KH 9$* ZDV /W1 *HQ1 -RKQ :RRGZDUG/ D EULOOLDQW PDQ ZKR KDG
TXDOLILHG DV D EDUULVWHU LQ WKH VDPH \HDU DV KH WRRN WKH 6WDII &ROOHJH FRXUVH1
+HOHIWWREHFRPHWKH*2&1RUWKHUQ,UHODQG1
7KH '3$ZDV 0DM1 *HQ1 &161 6XJGHQ/ D 6DSSHU/ DQG D EULOOLDQW PDQ1 +H
LQWHUYLHZHG PH RQ DUULYDO DQG WROG PH WKDW/ OLNH DQ\ JRRG UHJLPHQWDO
RIILFHU/ , KDG SUREDEO\ FRPH WR WKH:DU 2IILFHZLWK UHIRUPLQJ ]HDO1 +H
WROGPHWKDW,VKRXOGLPDJLQHWKDWP\MREZDVWRPRYHDELJEDOORIFKHZHG0
XSFKHZLQJJXPIURPRQHFRUQHURIWKHRIILFHWRWKHRWKHU1 ,I,WRRNDIO\LQJNLFN DW LW P\ IRRWZRXOG PHUHO\ VWLFN LQ LW1 %XW LI , WDSSHG LW JHQWO\ DORQJ LW
ZRXOG DUULYH WKHUH LQ WKH HQG1 , KDYH IRXQG WKLV H[WUHPHO\ JRRG DGYLFH IRU
WKH UHVW RI P\ OLIH/ WKRXJK , UHJUHW WKDW P\ QDWXUDO LPSDWLHQFH WR JHW WKLQJV
GRQHKDVQRWDOZD\VFDXVHGPHWRKHHGLW1
&XWKEHUW/ DVZH FDOOHG KLP/ WKRXJK KLV UHDO QDPHZDV &HFLO/ GLG QRW
VXIIHU IRROV JODGO\/ EXW RQFH KH KDG FRQILGHQFH LQ RQH KHZDV DZRQGHUIXO
PDQ WRZRUN IRU1 $ 6WDIIZRUN DOZD\V LQYROYHV D WUHPHQGRXV DPRXQW RI
GHWDLO/ DQG &XWKEHUW KDG DQ DPD]LQJ FDSDFLW\ WR DEVRUE GHWDLOZKLOVW DW WKH
VDPH WLPH JUDVSLQJ WKH HVVHQWLDOV DQG WKH VROXWLRQ RI DQ\ SUREOHP ZLWK
OLJKWQLQJVSHHG1
7KH GD\0WR0GD\ EXVLQHVV RI WKH:DU 2IILFHZDV KDQGOHG E\ WKHZHHNO\
WULDQJXODU PHHWLQJ RI WKH '6'/ WKH '03/ DQG WKH '3$/ ZKR WRRN WKH
FKDLUPDQVKLS LQ WXUQ DQG FDOOHG VXFK VWDII RIILFHUV DV WKH\ QHHGHG WR DWWHQG
WR VROYH WKH YDULHW\ RI SUREOHPV ZKLFK FDPH EHIRUH WKHP1 7KHVH PLJKW
LQYROYH WKH DUP\ DQ\ZKHUH LQ WKHZRUOG/ DQG VRPH RI WKH SUREOHPVZHUH
EDIIOLQJ LQ WKHLU FRPSOH[LW\1 ,ZDV FDOOHG WR DWWHQG RQFH/ DQG , KHDUG WKH
-
8/13/2019 Back Again Mr Begbie the Life Story of Rev Lt Col R J G Begbie OBE
167/363
7KH:DU2IILFH 161
RWKHU WZR JHQHUDOV JLYLQJ WKHLU RSLQLRQV/ ZKLFK ZHUH DQ\WKLQJ EXW FOHDU17KHQ 6XJGHQZRXOG SXW KLV SHQFLO GRZQ QHDWO\/ FKXFN KLV JODVVHV RQ WKH
SDGEHIRUHKLP/ DQGVD\/ ,VXJJHVWZHGR$/ %/ DQG&/FOHDUDVFU\VWDOHYHU\
WLPH1 7KHQ WKH RWKHUV ZRXOG VD\ WKDW ZDV ZKDW WKH\ UHDOO\ PHDQW/ EXW ,
GRQWWKLQNLWZDVWKDWDWDOO$
, FDPH WR NQRZ &XWKEHUW TXLWH LQWLPDWHO\/ DQGZKHQHYHU , FDPH XS WR
/RQGRQE\ FDU IRUD FKDQJH IURP WKH PRQRWRQ\ RI WKH WUDLQ/ ,XVHG WR JLYH
KLPDOLIWEDFNWRKLVKRPHLQ)DUQERURXJKZKLOH,FRQWLQXHGRQWR)OHHW1
, RIWHQZRQGHUHG KRZ WKH FLYLOLDQVZKR VSHQW WKHLU OLYHV FRPPXWLQJ WR
/RQGRQ VWXFN LW RXW1 , OHIW KRPH LQ )OHHW VRRQ DIWHU :163 HDFK PRUQLQJ WR
FDWFK WKH ;13< WR:DWHUORR1 7KH WUDLQ DUULYHG WKHUH DQ KRXU ODWHU/ DQG WKHQ
,KDG WRGLY