April 16th is the anniversary of the Battle of Culloden, a battle which marked the virtual end of the hopes of the Stuart Kings to return to the British throne and which also heralded immense change for Scotland.

The Army which Charles Edward Stuart, Prince of Wales and Regent, commanded on Drumossie Moor at Culloden that April morning numbered some 5000, mostly infantry. The Prince was outnumbered and had only a few Scandinavian artillery pieces and not nearly enough cavalry. Throughout the Campaign it had been impossible to mount a cavalry charge - and the same was true at Culloden.

I stood on the Moor early on a sunny April morning and thought of the hopes and fears that had come there so long ago. In particular I thought of the men of this Parish who had been with the Prince - and of their fate.

It is not possible to know who all of them were, or, of the names that are known to have been with the Army, whether they were on Drumossie Moor that day. But certainly with the Prince’s Army were at least twenty men from Ellon and Cruden Bay.

Serving with Stoneywood’s Aberdeen Regiment were Lieutenant George Forrest from Cruden, described in the Muster Roll as “Servant to Lady Erroll”; William Forrest, “Ground Officer to Lady Erroll”; and, in Tonley’s Company, Sgt. Charles Peirie of Auchterellon.

Stoneywood’s, which was raised by James Moir, fourth laird of Stoneywood, fought at Culloden in the Second Line under the command of Lord Lewis Gordon. The survivors, who included all three Cruden and Ellon men, retreated to Ruthven Barracks in Badenoch where they were told to disperse as best they could. All escaped. John Simon, aged 46, was not so lucky. He may have been from our Parish or may not. The Muster Roll describes him simply as being “from Buchan”. He was captured and died aboard ship while being transported.

In the artillery, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Grante, served William Barclay, a cabinet maker from Peterhead, and John Sutter (or Sutton), a joiner from Ellon. At Culloden for the first time in the Rising the Prince’s Army was exposed to the accurate fire of trained artillery, against which Colonel Grante’s guns were no match. The left wing battery was without regular gunners and the centre battery, while more effective, was not able to match the Government army shot for shot. Both the north-east men were taken prisoner . John Barclay was sentenced to death at York, but then reprieved and pardoned on condition that he enlisted in the Government army. John Sutter was imprisoned first at Carlisle and then at Chester Castle before transportation to the colonies.

In the Duke of Perth’s Regiment there served John Louther from Ellon and William Smith, Yonderton, Ellon. On the March into England the regiment had two battalions, the second of which contained units of Stoneywood’s Regiment. The Regiment also served as an artillery guard and at Culloden fought in the Second Line. John Louther was taken prisoner and died in prison. William Smith escaped.

Just one Ellon man served with Bannerman of Elsick’s Regiment of 160 men. It was raised by Sir Alexander Bannerman, the third Baronet of Elsick, and Lord Lieutenant of the Mearns. At Culloden the Regiment fought in the Second Line and after the battle many of its men evaded capture by retreating north and beginning a new life in Ross and Sutherland. That was not, though, the fate of 46 year old Alexander Withie, a labourer, from Turnerhall, Ellon. He was taken prisoner and died a captive at Tilbury Fort on the Thames estuary.

Those in the Cavalry from this Parish fared better. Most were with Pitsligo’s Horse while William Sangster, a smith, from the Bullers of Buchan served with Kilmarnock’s Horse. Although by the time of Culloden the lack of horses meant that the dismounted cavalry men raised by Lord Kilmarnock served as foot guards. At the battle Kilmarnock’s men were in the rear as reserves but were brought forward to support the Second Line. William Boyd, 4th Earl of Kilmarnock, was captured at Culloden and later executed. William Sangster escaped.

All those from Ellon and Cruden who served with Pitsligo’s Horse were officers. Alexander, the 4th Lord Forbes of Pitsligo, raised a small party of cavalry in Aberdeenshire, composed of gentlemen and their servants. The whole group numbered between one and two hundred.

Serving as Secretary to Pitsligo’s Horse was George Gordon of Hallhead, the ADC was Thomas Mercer of Auchnacant and his cousin, Dr Hugh Mercer, was Surgeon. The estate of Auchiries of Hatton provided three Captains – Alexander Ogilvie of Auchires and his brothers John and William. Another Captain was John Turner the Younger of Turnerhall while John Fullerton the Younger of Dudwick, was a Lieutenant. All are recorded as surviving. Alexander Ogilvie was tried and acquitted and John Turner pardoned. John and William Ogilvie are simply recorded as having “emigrated”.

Three Peterhead men were with Pitsligo’s Horse. There were two Volunteers – Thomas Arbuthnot, described in the Muster Roll as a sailor; and Thomas Forbes, a vintner – both of whom survived and evaded capture. As did Alexander Forbes, serving with the Troop as a stabler.

Pitsligo’s Horse played a full roll in the entire Campaign but the weather was so bad on leaving Aberdeen for the last journey to Culloden that “the Troop went to nothing” as it moved west. At the battle the remnant of all the Cavalry was at the centre of the line, but in the rear.

The Battle of Culloden was a turning point in Scottish history. It marked the end of an effective clan system, the beginning of the integration of the Lairds into the British upper class and, to raise the funds for that, the beginning of the highland clearances. For the Episcopal Church it meant increased persecution and for the congregation of Ellon in particular, where the Church was destroyed as the Government army passed through after the battle, years of “illicit” worship in the five hidden churches in the countryside around the town.