On Saturday 10th August 2024 at 10a.m. our church was given the honour of hosting Dundee Sea Cadets as they celebrated the 85th Anniversary of their inauguration at the very beginning of World War 2 in 1939. This wonderfully impressive congregation of nearly 150 mostly uniformed young people (see pictures on the front & back pages) graced the heart of our church for an unforgettable celebration. The Service was conducted by Rev Gordon Campbell of Perth Congregational Church as Chaplain to Dundee Sea Cadets, with our own minister Rev Alan Gibbon extending a warm welcome and Rev Bob Wightman as Chaplain of the Combined Ex-Services` Association taking part.
To start this special day Rev Campbell created the perfect image of 85 years ago when Dundee Sea Cadets were formed by pointing out that this date covered King George V1`s first visit to Canada and the United States being the very first by a reigning British sovereign. This was also the year our future Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, first met her future husband Prince Philip of Greece on a visit to the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. However, above all this was the start of the six long years of WW2 which was a very auspicious date indeed with some of the new cadets eventually serving their country and tragically losing their young lives in the years ahead.
PO Barry Ross, Commanding Officer Training Ship Duncan gave the history of Admiral Adam Duncan and the creation of Camperdown:-
Adam was born in Dundee and joined the Royal Navy in 1746, being promoted Admiral in June 1795. He saw action in many campaigns but also had long periods without pay because the 18th century Royal Navy kept officers on the books but didn`t pay them if we were at peace! Duncan is best known for the Battle of Camperdown between British and Dutch Forces in 1797. Under his command this was a complete strategic victory for the Royal Navy as they captured eleven Dutch ships and lost none of their own. That is the origin of Camperdown Park and the statue of Admiral Duncan outside Dundee`s St. Paul`s Cathedral at which wreaths were laid later in the afternoon.
Commander Ross ended this history with the poignant words:
“We commit ourselves to remember”.
Special prayers were made by Rev Campbell, Rev Gibbon and Rev Wightman and these were interspersed by three rousing hymns sung with tremendous power and feeling to surge to the rafters of our ancient building:
“O God our help in ages past”
“One more step along the world I go”
“Eternal Father strong to save”
Thought-provoking readings were given by cadets themselves. The final prayer by Rev Campbell I print here as it is sincerely applicable to the troubled times still facing many parts of the world in the 21st century as we remember such a famous Dundonian of over three centuries ago.
“Eternal God, we thank you for 85 years of TS Duncan – for all who have served – for friendships made, and things learned, and lives changed. We give thanks also for the wider cadet family – for other Sea Cadet Units, the Army Cadet Forces, and the RAF Air Cadets – for the difference each makes in their localities. We remember too the armed services, the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines, the Army and the RAF. Amid global tensions keep them safe – and give them courage to meet all occasions with discipline and loyalty.”
The Service was brought to a close by the powerful singing of the National Anthem which ended the rousing singing accompanied by the superb organ music of our organist Prof. Norman Beedie.
The next stage of this special celebration was marked by the band of the 6th and 7th battalions of the Royal Regiment of Scotland who accompanied all the cadets and their Colours as they paraded en route from our church to Dundee High School, past the McManus Galleries and down to the City Square, where the participants were greeted by Depute Lord Provost Christina Roberts before some of their guests were treated to a Civic Reception in the City Chambers. However, the reason for the naming of the Cadet Training Ship “Duncan” was not bypassed as wreaths were laid at Adam Duncan`s statue outside St. Paul`s.
This colourful and very significant occasion was shown at its best by the distinguished and hallowed beautiful interior of our own church and we have every reason to be very proud of the entire unique event.
EMC
