“Bydand Forever” is a history team that re-enacts the 1^st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders--a famous Scottish infantry regiment--in their full Victorian glory.  (“Bydand” was the Regimental Motto of the Gordon Highlanders and comes from the Doric Language as spoken in the North East of Scotland. The original phrase was Byde and Fecht which translates as Stay and Fight over time the Fecht was dropped as it was assumed if you were staying you would be fighting).   To see these kilted Highland soldiers in their red tunics, gleaming brass and white pith helmets is to be transported back to the era of  “Zulu” and “Gunga Din.”  Decked out in authentic uniforms and battle gear, they march onto the field with original Martini-Henry rifles, to the beat and skirl of their own “Drums and Pipes.”  Now augmented by a “Royal Navy” crew with a genuine Gatling gun and “Royal Artillerymen” manning cannons, they swirl into intricate marching maneuvers, firing at a “ghost” enemy.  They show how the gallant Gordons put their triangular bayonets and lever-action rifles into use against the enemy in Egypt and the Sudan during the Campaign of 1882-1885.   The Highland Infantry Regiments were always among the best in the British Army.  When a task force commander could not take an objective with his other forces, he would usually send in a Highland Regiment with Nepalese Ghurkas.  Those forces proved a most formidable combination, for they were known to “do or die.”  The Gordon Highlanders’ discipline and bravery inspired no less a man than Winston Churchill to call them “the finest regiment in the world!”



          This unique group began twenty years ago as an idea of veteran military re-enactor Gary Harper, enlisting the help of his friend David Inglett.  They wanted to combine their interests in military history, Scottish heritage and historic weaponry into a unique re-enactment group.  After much study, they finally chose The Gordon Highlanders to commemorate.  They felt The Gordons’ epitomized bravery and bold adventure, and  their late-19^th-century appearance was extremely impressive.  The 1^st Battalion Gordon Highlanders’ participation in the Egypt-Sudan Campaign of 1882 – 1885 also fit the bill as a gallant and successful military operation during a very romantic and chivalrous era.  The 1^st Battalion had just paraded in Highland Dress (kilted) for the first time since 1809.  They were at the end of their ‘scarlet tunic’ era and were now armed with lever-action Martini-Henry rifles.  During action in this Campaign, the Highland Brigade of which the Gordons were a vital part, received covering fire from Royal Navy Gatling guns.  Incorporating this weapon into Bydand Forever’s  ‘battle’ performances was a truly exciting idea.  

            A lot of research was done on this era of the Regiment’s history: the British drill manuals in effect during that period and all available diagrams of uniforms and equipment for their time period had to be found and carefully studied.  An entire armory of existing authentic weapons, in full working order, had to be accumulated from all over the world.  The men themselves had to be recruited, and they had to be dedicated to the group and the drill, for it would take a personal investment of much time and effort on the part of each one. Gradually, through much research, expense and hard work, it began to slowly come together.   Uniforms were tailored using identical-weave scarlet tropical-weight material, and leather gear was cut, dyed white and assembled.  Exact-style pith helmets were formed and hand-covered.  This all using original patterns, photographs and diagrams.  Uniform insignia which could no longer be found in quantities necessary were molded from original pieces.   The ranks started to grow.  An ongoing correspondence was established between the group’s founders and The Gordons’ Regimental Museum in Aberdeen, Scotland.

                    As the group expanded and honed their skills, they became a popular ‘living history’ group at Scottish Highland Games and other events in California.  They assembled an entire camp of period tents.  Some wives even began participating by narrating the battle performances and assisting in camp.  Among the recruits came bagpipers and drummers to play Gordon Regimental ‘tunes of glory’ and accompany the soldiers as they marched into the performances—jauntily singing their way to battle.       

               Then came a turning point in history.  The British government announced that a proposal had been put before Parliament to combine The Gordon Highlanders with The Queen’s Own Highlanders.  The new regiment would be known simply as “The Highlanders.”  It would mark the end of The Gordon Highlanders as a regiment.  It was planned to take place in 1994, the year in which the Gordons were to celebrate their 200^th Anniversary of fighting for “Crown and Country.”   The Gordon Highlanders’ were due to have their “last hurrah.”  Their 200^th Anniversary and their final “Trooping of the Colours” would be held the same day.  It was a time of overwhelming pride, and at the same time one of immense sadness.  Aberdeenshire was saying a tearful farewell to its gallant “jocks!”  The last famous “family regiment” would be dispatched to the pages of history by post-cold war budget cuts.  For 200 years, the lads of Northeast Scotland had been recruited into The Gordon Highlanders to fight and die in every part of the world.  Their fathers and their fathers’ fathers had been Gordons!  It was when the group was informed of this that they decided that their name would be “Bydand Forever.”  This would signify their intent to, in some measure, help The Gordon Highlanders to live on!

         Through the Regimental Museum, Bydand Forever was invited to come over from America to participate.  It was a ‘dream come true’ for Bydand Forever!  What a thrill!  The hard work to get all the personnel, weapons and equipment was begun, and everyone chipped in.  Work parties accelerated and new recruits were trained.  Everyone would go—somehow.  They were determined to show Scotland that they were very serious about their pastime.  None of the members had ever even been to Scotland before.  When the time came, however, Bydand Forever had a full twenty men on the firing line, plus pipers, drummers and a Gatling gun crew.

           On that historic day, June of 1994, in Seaton Park, Aberdeen, the Gordon Highlander Regiment performed their spectacular ‘Trooping of the Colours’ ceremony.  They then received a full In-Ranks Regimental Inspection by H.R.H. Prince Charles, Colonel-in-Chief, and Lieutenant General Sir Peter Graham, Colonel of the Regiment.  Afterward, with the Regiment and thousands of spectators looking on, Bydand Forever reenacted their ‘Battle of Tel-El-Kebir.’

         Although the bill to amalgamate The Gordon Highlanders with The Queen’s Own was before Parliament, there was still hope that the Gordons would be saved.  Bydand Forever had collected thousands of American signatures on petitions at their public events, asking that the Gordon Highlanders be spared. They presented the petitions to General Graham on the end of a bayonet, as a symbol of their unswerving loyalty to the Regiment.   

         The Gordon Highlanders found that this group of ‘Yanks’ was indeed serious about the The Gordon’s history.  The Regiment even moved to allow Bydand Forever to march in the historic and moving “Freedom of the City” parade with the Regiment in the City of Aberdeen.  Bydand Forever itself was given the rare honor of “Freedom of the City” as well.  They were guests of the Regiment and the Lord Provost of Aberdeen at the huge Gala that followed the parade at the Beach Ballroom on the shore of the North Sea.  Also during that tour, Lieutenant General Sir Peter Graham presented them with an exact replica of The Gordon Highlanders 1880s-era Regimental ‘Queen’s Colours’ in a public ceremony in Oldmeldrum, Scotland.  Bydand Forever now felt they had passed scrutiny and received official recognition.  Their years of hard work had come to fruition.  Before each show, they unfurl their Colours.  Then, after a respectful “present arms,” they proudly fly it above them as they march into “battle.”  With these Colours, Sir Peter had charged them with keeping The Gordons’ long history alive and reminding the world of The Gordons’ unswerving valor!  A dream had come true for Bydand Forever, and they re-dedicated themselves to the future. 

          In their native California, Bydand Forever continued to become one of the biggest crowd-pleasers ever on the big Scottish Highland Games and Gatherings circuit.  They were no longer considered merely a “re-enactment group”--they were now a  “Commemorative Team,” with official sanctioning by the Gordon Highlanders Museum.

          Their authentic period weapons are fully functional, and although they use blanks for their shows, they also do live firing at weapons ranges in California.  At some events they raise funds for the group by allowing the public to pay to shoot the Gatling gun and other weapons.  Most events at which they perform pay for their appearance, but the individual members invest a lot of their own time and money into traveling to the various venues--including to Scotland. 

          Members have included active and retired career military men, a schoolteacher, a construction supervisor, a policeman, store-keepers, a caterer, full-time students—those from many walks of life.  However, they all have one thing in common—their love for history, arms, and for the unit.  While Bydand Forever is still headquartered in San Diego, careers have taken many members elsewhere.  There are now members living in other parts of California, in Arizona, in Washington and Pennsylvania, and even in Canada and Australia.  These members meet up with the group for the bigger venues and for the tours in Scotland.  To make the group even more flexible, they have increased in ranks to include a Royal Navy crew on the Gatling gun and Royal Artillerymen on their field cannons—all in authentic 1880s-period uniforms.  Bydand Forever is truly an international organization now.          

           In 1997, they were invited to bring their show back to Scotland.  They thrilled countless visitors with their daily battles at huge, historic Fort George in the Northwest of Scotland, then traveled over to Aberdeen to perform at the Cutty Sark “Tall Ships Race and Festival” and at the Gordon Highlanders Museum.

          Bydand Forever kicked off the new millennium by returning to Scotland in the Summer of 2000.  The group was bigger and more impressive than ever.  Historic Scotland hosted them for a week of daily battles within the mighty walls of Fort George, housing them in the barracks there alongside the Royal Highland Fusiliers.  Their rifle volleys and Gatling gun fire once again resounded off the mighty stone walls, this time echoing with the thunder of accompanying cannons and pyrotechnic explosions.  While in Inverness-shire, they were invited to perform at the Inverness Tattoo.  On short notice, they prepared and executed an impressive performance at the Tattoo and were a big hit!  Then they traveled over to ancient Huntly Castle in Aberdeenshire to perform at the giant “Gordon 2000” celebration during the first weekend in August.  This gala event united, for first time, veterans of the Gordon Highlanders Regiment, members of the worldwide House of Gordon, and friends and supporters from all over the world.  Bydand Forever rounded out their tour with performances and events at the beautiful Gordon Highlanders Regimental Museum in Aberdeen, while staying once more at historic Gordon Barracks at Brig’ o’ Don.

          Bydand Forever has the unique distinction among American groups to have been granted “Freedom of the City” in Huntly, Scotland.  They continue to perform at Scottish and Victorian festivals, mostly in California and Arizona throughout each year.  During the last two decades, the group has been the subject of scores of newspaper and magazine articles.       

          For more on Bydand Forever, their schedule of events, plus much on the history of The Gordon Highlanders, you can access the following informative web sites on the Internet. The official web site for Bydand Forever is at www.bydandforever.com.  The site for the beautiful and educational Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen, Scotland--official repository for that Regiment’s battle honor-studded 200-year history--can be found at www.gordonhighlanders.com