Bonnie Dundee, John Graham of Claverhouse

Bonnie Dundee, John Graham of Claverhouse, led the Jacobites in the Rising of 1689 and was killed at the battle of Killiecrankie on July 27th.

The night before the battle Graham had a vision of a man lying in his bed, blood dripping from a head wound. The terrible figure pointed at Graham and cried:"Remember Brown of Priesthill!"

Brown of Priesthill was a man called John Brown, a Covenanter who was killed for his beliefs. It is said that when the men in the firing squad saw Brown's steadfast courage and unfailing religious conviction in the face of imminent execution, they faltered, and Viscount Dundee himself fired the fatal shot.

Graham was greatly disturbed by the blood-soaked spectre of Brown who warned him not to descend from the high ground with his troops to attack the English. Dundee took the warning seriously, and it was only with great reluctance that he finally ordered his troops to descend from the high ground to attack Orange's forces.
Seeing that the highlanders were on their way to a sound defeat of the enemy forces, Graham regained his confidence and began to follow his troops downwards, Some say he was shot in the chest with a silver bullet or tunic button as he charged at the head of his cavalry.

Wrapped in tartan plaids, his body was carried from the battlefield and buried in the churchyard at Blair Atholl. He was only 41. A red glow is said to hang over the Pass of Killiecrankie on the anniversary of the battle.

 Rally to the jacobite Standard by Stefan Pocula

On Saturday 10th April 2004 A rally to raise a Standard was staged by the members of the Jacobean group, Na Fir Dileelas and the White Cockade Society.

They met at Dudhope Castle to escort the Standard to the "Tap 'o' La Hill". A number of guest speakers were invited to give a short introductory speech, the first speaker was invited by Organiser Kenny Borthwick to address the people was Scottish Historian David Ross who pointed out that Dundee and its Citizens have helped to create Scotlands history many times over .

Renowned historic writer of Scottish History expert Prince Michael of Albany then told how the first Standard was raised here in 1689 and called on the Highlanders to escort the new Standard to the "Tap 'o' the La".

The rally started of at a brisk pace and headed straight up the Law Hill, it was a grand sight to see all these Highlanders in full custume and the fearsome weapons of that period.

Reaching the top of Law hill we manage to catch our breath, the next speaker Andrew Murray-Scott gave the brief history about John Graham of Claverhouse.

Bonnie Dundee's life and history threw up a number of points; the Jacobite cause started in Dundee on 13th April 1689 and ended on Culloden Moor in April 1746 with destruction of the Jacobean Army of 'Bonnie Prince Charlie'.

On reaching the "Tap 'o' La" the new Standard was brought out of its covering ready to be raised

Prince Michael of Albany

Prince Michael of Albany stepped forward to deliver a speech to the gathered crowd of spectators, the crowd were silent as he began his speech, "it was important in the past and also in the future in our fight for freedom and how brave Scotsmen fought and died over the centuries is just as important today".

The raising of the Standard in front of the city's Monument to the fallen was an auspicious occasion, the monument commemorates the 1st Battalion of the Black Watch who fought and died fighting for freedom in the 1st world war.

Those on top of the law Hill were given a dram of whiskey to toast the raising of "Bonnie Dundee's" Standard and with great dignity Kenny Borthwick raised the Standard in front of the rally, just then a slight breath of wind caught the Standard as it was raised and fluttered and with a great cheer we raised our cups in a toast to the Standard, after the toast a piper stepped forward to play a lament for the fallen.

An article about John Graham of Claverhouse (Bonnie Dundee)