Pipes and drums parade for famous Liverpool ‘Jocks’ Association awarded Freedom of the City

The Liverpool ‘Jocks’ Association or the Scottish Regimental Association is to be awarded the Freedom of the City.

And former members of the famous regiment – known fondly as the Liverpool Jocks – will march to St Nicholas Church to the sound of pipes and drums in what will be a historic final time as an independent unit.

The parade and presentation will take place on Saturday, April 29, starting at Exchange Flags and going along Castle Street, James Street, The Strand, and Chapel Street to the city’s parish church.

Major Roy Boardman, chairman of the Liverpool Scottish Association, says it is an ‘honour and a privilege’ for the organisation to be recognised in such a way: “The Liverpool Scottish was a Territorial Army or Army Reserve Unit so the majority who joined had another job or career, and this was a means to contributing to society and to the life of the city.

“The army may have recognised their service but to be recognised for their contribution, and thanked in this way, by their home city, is very rewarding.”

The Liverpool Scottish began in 1900 as the 8^th (Scottish) Volunteer Battalion of the King’s (Liverpool Regiment), before being re-designated the 10^th (Scottish) Battalion, The King’s (Liverpool Regiment) with the formation of the Territorial Army. 

In 1937, it became part of The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.

The Liverpool Scottish served the country and the city for 114 years until it was disbanded in 2014, and its battalions fought in both World Wars, with the Medical Officer of the 1^st Battalion in WW1, Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse, achieving the distinction of being one of only three people to have ever been awarded the Victoria Cross twice for his heroic efforts.

Roy, 67, who was born in Wavertree and now lives in Crosby, was a manager of a bank, then a general medical practice, who joined the TA in 1980 and enlisted with the Liverpool Scottish. 

He was commissioned in 1984 and served for 33 years, retiring from his last role as Staff Officer at Brigade Headquarters in Preston in 2013. He was elected 12^th chairman of the Liverpool Scottish Regimental Association in 2015.

Roy says: “The association was founded in 1930 to support serving soldiers and their families away from normal duties. Its aims were principally to provide welfare and practical support to former and serving soldiers as an addition to that available elsewhere, to support and mentor the serving soldiers, and to help preserve the history and traditions of the Regiment to ensure they were passed on to subsequent generations. Finally, it provided a means for members to meet socially to maintain the camaraderie that soldiers would have experienced during their service.”

And he adds: “While the history of the unit is readily available for people to read, the work of the association is not so well recorded. Now the unit has disbanded it’s inevitable membership will fade away over time, and the association too will fade away, but it’s reassuring to know that the name of the Liverpool Scottish Regimental Association will be recorded in the Freedom Roll and hopefully its contribution will also be recognised in the future.

“The Liverpool Scottish was granted the Freedom of the City many years ago and, as a serving unit, had the privilege to march through the city in its own right. Association members march with other veterans on Armed Forces Day and Remembrance Day but now that the Liverpool Scottish has disbanded the granting of the Freedom to the Association will allow former Liverpool Scots to proudly march, as Liverpool Scots alone, for what is extremely likely to be the very last time.”

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The parade will begin at 10am and be led by the Liverpool Scottish Pipes and Drums in traditional highland dress, under the direction of Pipe Major James Axon. They will be followed by Roy and, behind him, will follow the Association Standard carried by Keith McCarthy.

Roy adds: “There will be a large contingent of former Liverpool Scots proudly wearing their Glengarries (regimental head dress) and many will be wearing kilts in the Forbes tartan, the tartan that was worn by the regiment throughout its existence.

“It should be a spectacular sight and sound.”

And he goes on: “Many people in the city will have had relatives and friends that served in the Liverpool Scottish and have fond memories of the regiment. 

“I am sure the parade will trigger those memories and reignite the feelings of warmth that they have towards their family members and the regiment. Maybe younger people will see that membership of any organisation can be beneficial, and the links and comradeship that that produces can last a lifetime.”

For more information about the Liverpool Scottish go to its museum website www.liverpoolscottish.org.uk