Article: Seaforth Highlanders Restoration Sporran
Seaforth Highlanders Restoration Sporran
Restoring a Seaforth Highlanders family heirloom for future generations…
Margaret Morrison Sporran makers restored an original Seaforth Highlanders sporran which belonged to their customers Great, Great Uncle. The leather work on the back had been torn and the tassel had come loose. Margaret Morrison’s team of artisan sporran makers knew as soon as they saw images of the sporran, they could help restore this sporran for future generations to wear.
This sporran held a very sentimental value to the family.
In terms of the history, the sporran belonged to Captain John Henry Budge, who was in the Second Company 4th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders.
John’s father was factor at Wemyss Castle in Fife. John farmed Easter Rarichie, a farm that is still active and very much in the family.
Uniquely, John came back to Scotland to his home, in Portmahomack. He was one of the last soldiers to return to Scotland to be buried before the numbers became too great to return the bodies of soldiers.
(Extract from the Glasgow Herald 17th March 1915)
"Captain Budge, of the Dingwall Company of the 4th Seaforth’s, who was wounded in the attack on Neuve Chapelle, died at Boulogne on Sunday. He was a son of the late Mr Budge, Wemyss, Fife, and was a successful farmer at Rarichie, Ross-shire. He was a man of High character and business ability and was a fluent and polished speaker. He was a prominent and active member of the Parish Council District Committee, the Licensing Committee and the Farmers Club."
The eldest son of the late J. Budge, W.S., Wemyss, Fife, was born in 1881. Leaving G.W.C. in 1896, he spent two years at Heriot-Watt College. Later, when farming extensively in Ross-shire and Sutherland, he identified himself with public work, rendered useful service on various boards, and appointed J.P. He joined the 4th Seaforth Hrs. (T.F.) and was gazetted Lt. in 1913. On the outbreak of War, he volunteered for active service and gained a Captaincy in the 4th Seaforth Hrs. After a brief period of service in France, he fell mortally wounded at Neuve Chapelle, Mar. 11, 1915, and died three days later at Boulogne.
Click here to see the Ross-shire Roll of Honour.
Page 10 is a picture of the officers of 1/4th Seaforth’s that includes Captain Budge.
A further bit of wider Budge family background.
His younger brother, Lieutenant Joseph Budge (my great grandfather) fought with the Cameron Highlanders and received the Military Cross in First World War. Joseph’s son William (Bill) Budge also received the Military cross with the Lovat Scouts in the Second World War, serving in Italy. Out of Joseph’s two other Sons Douglas Budge fought with the Cameron Highlanders. Douglas, wounded in Burma (now known as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar) The other Son Jock Budge, having emigrated to Hawaii joined the American Army and fought on Okinawa in the pacific campaign.
Joseph’s brother in-law, William Walker also died in the First World War.
More recently, two of John’s great, great nephews Rupert and Alexander both served in Afghanistan with the Grenadier Guards and Welsh Guards, respectively.
Our sporran craftsmen have now restored the sporran and returned it to the family to wear with considerable pride!
