The Garb of Old Gaul

Soldier Samuel McPherson of the Black Watch at the time of the mutiny of 1743

The Garb of Old Gaul (sometimes given as "Auld Gaul") is an 18th-century patriotic Scottish march and song about Highland soldiers during the Seven Years' War.

Origins

The music was written by General John Reid, who was a senior officer of the 42nd Regiment of Foot (The Black Watch) during the Seven Years' War. The words have traditionally been attributed to Sir Harry Erskine (1710 -1765). Robert Burns described it as "This excellent loyal Scottish song" and states that it first appeared in print in Herd's Collection of 1769. Alternative titles include The Highland Character and The Highland or 42nd Regiment's March.^[1] The tune was originally a quick march but was later rearranged as a slow march.^[2]

Lyrics

The lyrics of the song are about the martial prowess of Highland soldiers and the perceived British tradition of freedom and fighting against the despotic French.^[3] The phrase "Garb of Old Gaul" refers to the traditional Highland dress, ancient Gaul being thought of at the time as the heartland of the Celtic peoples.^[4]

The first stanza runs:

In the garb of old Gaul with the fire of old Rome,

From the heath-covered mountains of Scotia we come;

When the Romans endeavoured our country to gain,

Our ancestors fought, and they fought not in vain.

Military use

The tune is used by a number of Scottish military units as their regimental march. These include:

• Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
• Queen's Royal Hussars
• Scots Guards
• Royal Scots (now the 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland)
• Black Watch (now the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland)
• Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons)(now 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland)
• Ayrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) Yeomanry (now "A" Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry)
• West Nova Scotia Regiment (Canadian Forces)
• Royal Newfoundland Regiment (Canadian Forces)

The Garb of Old Gaul is used as part of the salute when the Lord Mayor of London boards a Royal Navy ship within the riparian limits of the City of London.^[5]

It was also the former slow march of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, until being replaced by "Lili Marlene".

References

1. "The Scotish Musical Museum: Consisting of Upwards of Six Hundred Songs, with Proper Basses for the Pianoforte". W. Blackwood and Sons. 2 November 2018. p. 202. Retrieved 2 November 2018 – via Google Books.
2. "Garb of Old Gaul (The) - The Traditional Tune Archive". Tunearch.org. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
3. Ian Bradley, Believing in Britain: The Spiritual Identity of 'Britishness', I B Taurus & Co Ltd 2007, (p. 120) ISBN 978-1-84511-326-1
4. Ray, R. Celeste (2 November 2018). Highland Heritage: Scottish Americans in the American South. UNC Press Books. p. 175. ISBN 9780807849132. Retrieved 2 November 2018 – via Google Books.
5. BRd 1834 - Royal Navy Ceremonial and Drill, released as part of a response from the Royal Navy to a request made using WhatDoTheyKnow, accessed 26 September 2022.