XX Corps Burns Nights – January 1865

By Hardy Kenwright

The first Burns Night celebration was held by Robert Burns’ friends on 21^st July 1801, the 5^th anniversary of his death. It then became a regular event on the anniversary of his birth, originally thought to be 29^th January. In 1803, the Ayr parish records were found to show that his real birthday had been on 25^th January.

M.G. Paul De Krackere decided that XX Corps would hold three Burns Night Celebrations on 25^th, 26^th and 27^th January, once for each Division. This ensured that each Division in turn would be excused fatigues for a night, cover by their colleagues in the other Divisions.

Highlanders escort the Haggis

International singing sensation Barbara Cerville had been invited to visit the Corps and attend all three events. I was pleased to be invited to attend each evening too.

Piping in:

Bandsmen Tom Brone and Rusty Horne demonstrated their piping skills to greet the guests.

 Host's welcoming speech

The Division Commanders, acting as host at their own Division’s Dinner, welcomed the guests and said the Selkirk Grace.

Some hae meat an canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it;

But we hae meat, and we can eat,

And sae the Lord be thankit.

 

The Haggis Guards

Menu:

Cock-a-leekie

(Entrance of the Haggis)

Haggis served wi tatties an neeps (with potatoes and swede)

Tipsy Laird (whisky trifle

Oatcakes and cheeses

All washed down with the "water of life" (uisge beatha), Scotch whisky.

Entrance of the Haggis:

Everyone stood as Col. Róng Wài brought in the Haggis to the top table, being piped in by Tom Brone. That night’s host then recited the Address to a Haggis.

 

	Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o' the puddin-race! Aboon them a' ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye wordy o' a grace As lang's my airm.	(fa = befall, sonsie = jolly/cheerful) (aboon = above, a' = all) (painch = paunch/stomach, thairm = intestine) (wordy = worthy)
	The groaning trencher there ye fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill, Your pin wad help to mend a mill In time o' need, While thro' your pores the dews distil Like amber bead.	(hurdies = buttocks)
	His knife see rustic Labour dicht, An' cut you up wi' ready slicht, Trenching your gushing entrails bricht, Like ony ditch; And then, O what a glorious sicht, Warm-reekin, rich!	(dicht = wipe, here with the idea of sharpening) (slicht = skill)       (reekin = steaming)
	Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive: Deil tak the hindmaist! on they drive, Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve, Are bent like drums; Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, "Bethankit" hums.	(deil = devil) (swall'd = swollen, kytes = bellies, belyve = soon) (bent like = tight as) (auld Guidman = the man of the house, rive = tear, i.e. burst)
	Is there that o're his French ragout Or olio that wad staw a sow, Or fricassee wad mak her spew Wi' perfect scunner, Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view On sic a dinner?	(olio = stew, from Spanish olla/stew pot, staw = make sick) (scunner = disgust)
	Poor devil! see him ower his trash, As feckless as a wither'd rash, His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash, His nieve a nit; Thro' bloody flood or field to dash, O how unfit!	(nieve = fist, nit = nut, i.e. tiny)
	But mark the Rustic, haggis fed, The trembling earth resounds his tread. Clap in his wallie nieve a blade, He'll mak it whistle; An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned, Like taps o' thristle.	(wallie = mighty, nieve = fist) (sned = cut off) (thristle = thistle)
	Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care, And dish them out their bill o' fare, Auld Scotland wants nae skinkin ware That jaups in luggies; But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer, Gie her a haggis!	(skinkin ware = watery soup) (jaups = slops about, luggies = two-handled continental bowls)

 A haggis, cut open

At the line His knife see rustic Labour dicht, the host drew and sharpened a knife. At the line An' cut you up wi' ready slicht, he plunged it into the haggis cutting it open from end to end.

At the end of the poem, a whisky toast was proposed to the haggis.

Haggis Chef

Speeches:

The hot gave a speech remembering an aspect of Burns's life or poetry. A toast to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns then followed.

Address to the Lassies:

Given by the senior Brigade Commander.

Reply to the Laddies:

Given by guest Barbara Cerville.

Close:

Paul De Krackere gave a vote of thanks then all joined in to sing Auld Lang Syne to bring the evening to an end, although the Whisky continued to flow for a good while after.