Buenos Aires Scottish Guard (BASG)

It is a ceremonial body that recreates a 1900 Scottish Regiment.

When was it founded?
The body was founded in the St. Andrews Society of the River Plate in 1996 with the name of Colour Guard, shortly after, it was realized that that name was the one used by the Flag Corps in the USA army, therefore it changed its name to Colour Party (name that is given to the Flag Corps in the British Army). Problems within the St. Andrews Association made the body take its own course in July 2001 with the current name The Buenos Aires Scottish Guard.

Who founded it?
In 1996 Mr. Edward MacRae, former president of the St. Andrews Society of the River Plate, proposed the creation of a ceremonial body. The project was headed by Fernando Solari who, along with Mr. Paul Allen, Dudley Hughes, Ms. Juliana Solari ( then a 12 year old girl), other members and the regimental pet “Brutus” a Scottish Terrier ( Property of Mr. Allen) would be the first uniformed members of this body.

What are its objectives?
. Promote Scottish Culture.
. Create links with other cultural, historical and benefic institutions.
. Promote the well being.

How is the Buenos Aires Scottish Guard formed?
It’s formed by the first section of colour bearers (Colour Party), the second section of fusiliers (Escort for the Colours), the third section of musicians (Musicians on Duty) and the fourth section of retired and honoraries (whenever they visit us).
The body also has some Highland Dancers, and some times it is reinforced with invited musicians and dancers from other associations and even with a second section of fusiliers.
The latter is called 5th section of fusiliers and it is formed by own personnel of other sections ( colour bearers, orderlies, etc) and by guests of other associations or independent people ( marksmen who participate in the recreation of historical battles and in parades but who are not part of the Escort for the Colours due to the fact that they lack rifle ceremonial training).

What ranks do they exist in the Buenos Aires Scottish Guard?
Officers, (NCOs) and troops.

Officers: NCO Troop
Captain sergeant Guard
Lieutenant Cadet
Stuff Officer Candidate


The different tasks that each member carry out assign them a name , in this way, regardless of the rank that each person has, each individual bears the name of the tasks he carries out.

Colour Bearer
Fusilier (also Rifle man )
Piper
Side Drummer
Tennor Drummer
Orderly

How many people has the Buenos Aires Scottish Guard?
The body has completely active members ( there are a few more in a limited participation situation due to work or personal reasons)

Officers 2
NCO 1
Colour Bearers 4
Fusiliers 7
Musicians 5
Orderlies 1

A total of 20 members can be in the campsite.

How do you go up the hierarchy in the Buenos Aires Scottish Guard?

The person who trains seriously and continuously is considered a candidate and according to the guards needs and the recruitment level achieved, the candidate sporadically, starts participating in operations.
Once the candidate shows that he is truly interested in the BASC, he shares its principles and objectives and he is considered apt; he is proposed to take responsibility with the body and he becomes a trial cadet, a new dossier is then opened.
The cadet has this rank until he is able to be accepted as Guard, this can take from 1 to 2 years.
During this time, his skills are assessed as well as the dedication to the body, to the mates, the attendance, the knowledge of the body and its history.
An active guard who has already held this rank for two consecutive years has the right to vote at the board and, on the other hand has the obligation to take responsibility, both in training and in operations, for other newer people within the body when top rank personnel is not available,

The promotion to non officer and Officer will only take place if the body eventually needs more people in those hierarchies. If this is the case, personal accountability and merits are taken into consideration, as well as his acceptance within the body by those who will be subordinates.
Once you become a Guard it may be possible that no more promotions are given, so merits will be recognized more in the honours scale than in the promotion one. The honours regime has a variety of mentions, merit certificates, orders and decorations that are given according to individual efforts and achievements.

Has the Buenos Aires Scottish Guard an address?
We do not have our own premises for this reason for our internal events we make use of those belonging to No.1 Patricios Regiment situated in Palermo and National Navigation School General Manuel Belgrano in Nuñez.

To get in touch with the Buenos Aires Scottish Guard:
Send mail to: Guayra 2081 piso 13 Depto. B (CP 1429) Capital Federal.
Call: 15 4473-5633 Mr. Pablo Santos – Public Relations and representative
Call: 4701-6856 Mr. Fernando Solari Chief of Operations
Or send email to

ssterlingbarracks@yahoo.com.ar
pabloalejandrosantos@hotmail.com
scottishguard@hotmail.com

In what kind of events does the Buenos Aires Scottish Guard participate?

In 2003 the BASG appeared in public around 50 times, some of these presentations were:

Remembrance of those fallen in Dardanelos (1st World War) at the Australian Embassy.
Recreation of the Reconquest of Buenos Aires with the Argentina Army – at Polo Field.
St. Andrews Day Celebration at Club Harrods.
Immigrant Day – Immigrant Hotel in Retiro.
Remembrance of those fallen in the Falkland War at Centro de Oficiales de las FFAA.
Anniversaries and other private events.
Annual Weapons Fair – Tiro Federal Argentino de Nuñez
Weapons 2003 – Sociedad Rural de Palermo.

The body will participate in events every time Scottish Culture is presented truly and faithfully.

How can you make them perform and who to contact?

Contact the telephones or addresses indicated above.

What do they have to do with St. Andrews?
They have no relation or association with St. Andrews School, St. Andrews Society, St. Andrews Church and St. Andrews Club.

Are they related to the British Embassy?
We have been invited by the British Embassy to participate in events but we are not associated with that diplomatic body.

What do you have to do if you want to recruit in the BASG?

You have to call us or write to us and ask for an interview. We will meet and we will provide further information about the BASG through talks and videos. One point to consider is that no Scottish Ancestry is needed as well as no command of the English Language.
You should also know that we do not get paid for what we do, it is indeed a very serious and constructive hobby, but a hobby in the end.

Who keeps the Buenos Aires Scottish Guard running?
The BASG keeps running thanks to monthly payments of its members and the income that comes from shows and its shop.

What does it do with the funds raised?
Funds are destined to the maintenance or purchase of equipment, to cover travel expenses and to charity.

What’s the Stand the BASG has in fairs?
In the stand or shop some products are sold and information is given. Both the information and the products are from Scotland or in some cases they belong to the body; and some other products are manufactured by the Guard members. The funds are used to maintain equipment and this is also a way of promotion since the stand is in charge of members of the Guard dressed in uniform. Today we have new members who got to know us thanks to the stand and also we have provided information or answered questions about Scotland and about the activities of the Scottish community in the country.
Today we are proud to know that the public look for our shop and that the organizers of different exhibitions request our presence in the events.

What kind of products are sold?
Sweaters, T-shirts with our badge embroidered on them, scarfs with Scottish motifs, travel rugs, Scottish whisky, Scottish music, marmalade, chutney and home-made brownies, Celtic Jewelry, traditional weapons, sporrans, kilts, etc.

Can the BASG give lectures about Scotland?
We can give basic information about Scotland, about Scottish immigration in Argentina, about Scottish music and military.

Why do you wear this uniform and not any other?

As the Buenos Aires Scottish Guard wishes to recreate a regiment in particular (The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) in a historical setting ( 1880 - 1920), we wear the uniform of that period which belongs to that unit. The truth is we are far from having the exact uniform or better said, “Uniforms” but we are getting closer and closer every day.
Today you can see us with black jackets (full dress) or with white or brown shirts (daily dress).
Additionally we wear combat clothes that are almost as those worn by troops in the First World War ( Battle dress), but we have very few of these.

What flags do you carry?
Normally, we carry the Argentine National Flag, The Lion Rampant Flag, The Saltire and the Regimental Flag (known as “Blackie”). All or just some of them can be used according to the event.
Sometimes, we fly other national and institutional flags according to the event in particular.

What weapons are used?
The Colour bearers use lances or ceremonial goads, escorts use 7.62 caliber Ishapore Rifles (India del Lee Enfield 303 version) and their bayonet; officers use two kinds of swords (broadswords and backswords, dirks and some times Caliber 38 Webley Scott Rifles.
In the recreation of the 1806 Reconquest of Buenos Aires Remington Rolling Block rifles are used which are provided by Patricios Regiment – Argentine Army.

What is the Guards motto?
One of the Body’s motto is the one cried out by the Argyll and Sutherland Battalion which we try to represent. In this case we cry out “Ne Obliviscaris” (“Do not forget” in Latin)
When falling out, the cry is “Barracks” it is a way of saying “to the Barracks, home or to rest”

Do you have an authentic military instruction?
All the members are trained on a basic halt order and on parade based on the “British Manual of Arms” with some inevitable changes due to the environment we belong.
Although this training is not so intense since its purpose is a ceremonial one and not of tactics, members are trained to behave like a military formation of the period we recreate.
Finally, some members do have real military experience in the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Links:

www.granaderos.com.ar