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Stories from Clan Macnab

Why are the eldest sons of my family called James!

By James Charles Macnab of Macnab

In the summer 2011 edition of “The Dreadnaught” newsletter of the Clan Macnab Society of North America there is a photograph of my son Jamie and his two children “Daisy Sophia” (12) and “James David” (10) taken at the 2009 Killin Games.

In handwriting under the photograph it says that James David is the “13th James Macnab of Macnab”. This is incorrect. He is not yet “Macnab of Macnab” (and will not be until I die); and he is the 9th James not 13th!

I remember at the 2009 Killin Games there was some light-hearted banter in the clan tent about first names and nicknames, it being necessary to use them as we were all Macnabs.

I also remember one of my extended family saying that James David was the 13th James and my pointing out that he was only the 9th James in our family. (I also remember saying that I considered 13 and 14 to be my lucky numbers.)

Someone asked me what I was called and my saying that I was called “James” except in Glasgow, where I was invariably called “Jimmy”. I also mentioned that when I was a subultearn with the “Seaforths” in the Far East in 1945/46, my men called me “Muscles Macnabb” because I was so thin” – what I did not mention was that, as a very small boy, I could not say James and called myself “JJ”. This stuck until I went to school!

My grandfather James (de jure 20th Chief) was always known as the “Da”. My father was called Jim, except by his sisters who called him “Jimmy”. My mother called him “Jim” but his second and third wives insisted on calling him “James”. However his school and Cambridge friends knew him as “Jammie” (after his initials JAM).

In later life my telephone conversations with my father invariably started along these lines; “Hello – James here – James here – No! I am not there. You are there. I am here” – and so on.

The reason for this tradition (or superstition if you prefer) goes back to my great, great, great, Grandfather Dr James Macnabb (1759-1822), a surgeon in the East India Company until 1789 who bought Arthurstone when he returned to Scotland. He was not the first born but the eldest surviving son of the “first James” and attested as his heir.

Dr James’s son James Munro Macnabb (the 3rd James) (1790-1860), also served in India. He was Private Secretary to the Marquess of Hastings, Governor General of India. He married Jane Mary Campbell (a cousin of Lady Hastings). Their two oldest children, Flora and Rawdon, were named after their godparents the Marquess and Marchioness of Hastings. Flora died in 1821, Rawdon in 1825.

The next son was my great grandfather James William Macnabb (1831-1915) de jure 19th Chief, who was determined that his first born son would be called “James”.

So there we have it!
“Waa Jimmy”!

Peter Macnab, Head Chef at the Bridge of Lochay Hotel, has won a Merit Award in the Villeroy and Boch Junior Chef Finals at Scothot 2011 at the SECC in Glasgow.

He was one of eight finalists with the task of cooking and presenting a three course menu for four people to a tasting panel of renowned chef judges.

It was his first competition and his experience has whetted his appetite to enter again next time. Peter is from Tyndrum, where his parents, Christine and Gavin Macnab and grandparents, Beatrice and Alistair McDonald, also live. His family are all incredibly proud of him.

Clansman Duncan Macnab meets Desmond Tutu

"The Chief received a Christmas card from Alastair Macnab of Barrachastalain in which were enclosed this photograph of his son Duncan who works in local government in Ireland, and what Alastair describes as a 'nice story for Christmas'!

Archibishop Desmond Tutu's children's charity gave the council a large sum of money to refurbish an Irish children's home. Three years later Des decides to visit the home and the council realises it ain't done nothing about it, and Des is coming in two days time. Clerk of Works Duncan (son) gets a panic call from the Boss, gets everyone organised and totally does the business. Des and the Council were impressed! So was I!!"

"Note Alastair Macnab of Barrachastalain is a former RAF and airline pilot.
At one time he was with East African Airways in Kenya, as was the Chief's brother the late Francis Macnabb, who died in an air crash in Addis Ababa in 1972."

'Alastair and Christine in front of his beloved '747''.

Ryder Cup 2014

Patrick Elsmie, the grandson of the Rev. James F.Macnabb (de jure 20th Chief) and 1st cousin of the present Chief, is Managing Director of Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire (back left) and was present at the signing of the Ryder Cup agreement between the Scottish Minister of Sport, Shona Robison and the Assistant Managing Director of Ryder Cup Ltd, Edward Kitson with the Chairman of the national tourist association for Scotland, VisitScotland, Mike Cantley.

The Ryder Cup will be played at Gleneagles in 2014 and Patrick has been overseeing the changes to the hotel and the PGA Centenary Course over which the matches will be played. He has worked at Gleneagles as General Manager and Managing Director for the last twelve years ensuring that, with his team, Gleneagles is seen as the foremost resort in Europe.

Donald Macnabs Bible

The following was sent in by the late David Macnab of Edinburgh, former President of the Clan Society. He received it from a friend connected with the museum in Edinburgh Castle.

The first war relic to be received and officially accepted for preservation in the Scottish United Services Museum in Edinburgh Castle was, strangely enough, an emblem of Peace – a Bible.

And here, told for the first time, is the story of how this came about.

On the morning of 21st March, 1918, the 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (51st Division) lay entrenched across the Bapaume-Cábrai road awaiting the German Spring offensive. At 5am prompt to the minute the enemy guns opened up a devastating bombardment of the British lines and five hours later launched their great attack. Opposite the 5th Seaforths the attack utterly failed at first, but as the day wore on, the Seaforth’s flank became exposed, their left half company practically wiped out, and the Battalion forced to fall back.

Early the following day a German battery took up the position which had been captured from the Seaforths. A German soldier in that battery, Heinz Metz by name, in a letter home afterwards recorded the scene as then disclosed:

“Our battery lay in the middle of the British infantry position which had been stormed by our troops the previous day, in front of which lay heaps of fallen German infantry. In and behind the captured trenches there were also many dead in the uniform of the Scottish Highlanders; their bodies all showed the marks of rifle fire and were not disfigured or mutilated as they would have been by shell fire. They had defended their position to the last man.”

Among the kilted dead this German soldier noticed one who lay (as he described it) “with a wonderful look of peace on his face.” He went over to him. In the dead Highlander’s hand was clutched an open Bible.

“I do not know,” the letter continued, “at what passage the Bible was open; I can only remember that the morning dew lay heavy on its leaves.” Greatly touched by the sight and knowing that the Bible would be trampled on and lost on the battlefield, he removed from the rigid fingers what was destined eventually to become the Museum’s first war relic.

Heinz Metz survived the war.

Twelve years later a Scots lady from Fife was attending the University in Harburg, Germany, and happened one day to be in conversation with the pastor there, who turned out to be none other than Heinz Metz’ father. She there learned the history of this bible which was still in his son’s possession. She was also told that efforts had been made to restore the Bible to Donald McNab’s relatives, but without success. The Bible itself gave no clue other than that on its title page it bore the inscription:

“To Donald McNab
From his master
James Forrester
19th February 1917.”

Enquiries were then made through official channels and it was learned that Donald’s parents were dead. His master, James Forrester, an Argyllshire farmer, had emigrated to Australia.

Heinz Metz sent the Bible to Scotland and Donald McNab’s brother, on being fully informed of the facts graciously consented to the Bible being gifted to the Museum.

Ernest J Sharp

The following is an excerpt from a letter sent by Heinz Metz when forwarding the Bible from Germany to the Scottish National War Memorial Committee, April 1930:

“It is a great joy to me that now, after twelve years this has been accomplished.
I do not know at what passage the bible was open; I only remember that the morning dew lay heavy on its leaves.

Even though we were enemies, each fighting for his own country, we did not hate each other, and I have always esteemed and respected this gallant soldier for his bravery and piety; and I should like to say so now to his brother and other relatives. I can well understand their grief, for I too lost a beloved brother and many dear friends in the war.

In silent commemoration of the Dead, I greet you in distant unknown Scotland.”