McGillicuddy Highland Army vs. Alf's Imperial Army in Hamilton, 1989-03

The McGillicuddy Highland Army is the fighting wing of New Zealand's Clan McGillicuddy and does battle with enemies of the Clan in accordance with the rules of pacifist warfare. During the period 1984-1999 it shared many members in common with the Clan's political wing, the more well-known McGillicuddy Serious Party. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1776x1184, 532 KB)McGillicuddy Highland Army (McGHA) vs. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1776x1184, 532 KB)McGillicuddy Highland Army (McGHA) vs. ... The McGillicuddy Serious Party (McGSP) was a satirical political party in New Zealand. ...

Origins

The McGillicuddy Highland Army (McGHA) was established in Hamilton, New Zealand, in 1978 as the McGillicuddy Highland Regiment, the battling wing of the Clan McGillicuddy. Its foundation was inspired by a pacifist battle that Clan leader Graeme Cairns, the Laird of Hamilton, had taken part in in Dunedin earlier that year involving Alf's Imperial Army (Alf's). Hamilton is New Zealands 4th-largest metropolitan area. ... Graeme Cairns is a New Zealand musician, artist, and political candidate. ... Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, located in coastal Otago. ... Alfs Imperial Army presents for a photo during the PISS campaign, 1989-04 Alfs Imperial Army was the creation of The Wizard of New Zealand in 1972 at Melbourne University in Australia. ...

Weapons

As required by the rules of the pastime of pacifist warfare, the McGHA fights its battles using strictly non-harmful weapons, such as newspaper swords and cardboard shields for personal duelling. 'Mass effect' weapons such as water bombs, flour bombs, porridge bombs, funnelators (huge slingshots), and meths mortars armed with soft or rotten fruit are also used (though water and flour bombs are the most common). 'Psychological Weapons' such as the dreaded Can-Can charge, heavy duty assault poetry, mass singing and vicious taunting are also permissible.

Uniforms

The basic uniform of the McGHA regiments was a white shirt, kilt, and bonnet with a white cockade, with a doublet faced in the regiment's colour. How strongly military the uniform looked varied depending upon the individuals in a regiment; whilst there were very strong variations between the regiments themselves. Appearances ranged from 17th century Scottish Jacobites to 19th century Victorian British Scots, to South American Presidential Guard, to hippies or anarchists, with the only article in common being a kilt. One regiment even wore tartan trousers combined with Russian-style jackets and fur hats. Formal Highland regalia, kilt and Prince Charlie jacket for Black tie. ... Categories: Stub ... This article concerns the political movement supporting the restoration of the House of Stuart, not the earlier Jacobean period. ... Hippies (singular hippie or sometimes hippy) were members of the 1960s counterculture movement who adopted a communal or nomadic lifestyle, renounced corporate nationalism and the Vietnam War, embraced aspects of Buddhism, Hinduism, and/or Native American religious culture, and were otherwise at odds with traditional middle class Western values. ... Anarchists can refer to several things, among which: The movie Anarchists Supporters of the principles of anarchism The Anarchists (Les Anarchistes), a famous song from Léo Ferré A List of anarchists This is a disambiguation page—a list of articles associated with the same title. ...

Enemies

Being a Jacobite Clan, its army naturally fought for the restoration of the Stuarts to the throne of New Zealand and Scotland. A strong rivalry with Alf's soon developed, as the McGHA evolved their own idiosyncratic interpretation of pacifist warfare. The regiments developed into the clan's 'standing army' with uniformed troops ready to swing into battle against such 'irregular' groups as folkies, hippies, anarchists, student hostels and even political parties; and other uniformed 'regular' opponents, such as Alf's, Black Mac's Death's Head Hussars, the Auckland Revolutionary Army, and the NZ Colonial Brigade. This article concerns the political movement supporting the restoration of the House of Stuart, not the earlier Jacobean period. ... Stuart is a semi-common surname and male first name. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... An army composed of full time professional soldiers form a standing army. ...

Brief history

The 1st Flying Claymores were the first company in the regiment, quickly followed by the 2nd McBormann Fusiliers, both based in Hamilton.

The name was changed to the McGillicuddy Highland Army in 1985, shortly after the Wellington-based 3rd Laird's Own Borderers (established in March 1984) was officially incorporated into the Army, and its members welcomed into the Clan. Wellington (Te Whanganui-a-Tara or Poneke) is the capital of New Zealand, the countrys second-largest urban area and the most populous national capital in Oceania. ...

The success of the Clan's political wing, the McGillicuddy Serious Party in the 1987 and 1990 NZ General Elections saw a rapid growth in McGHA membership, with new regiments founded in Auckland (The 5th Thane of Gordonton's Own Islemonn), Christchurch (The 6th Jahkirk Highland Tossers), and Dunedin (The Blues and Greys). At its peak in late 1992, the McGHA consisted of some eight uniformed regiments boasting a combined membership of over 100 pacifist warfarers. The McGillicuddy Serious Party (McGSP) was a satirical political party in New Zealand. ... The Auckland Metropolitan Area, or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ... Situated on the Eastern coast, Christchurch is the principal city of the South Island of New Zealand. ... Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, located in coastal Otago. ...

Current status

As of 2005, the Clan McGillicuddy has no 'standing' uniformed regiments, although the McGHA has never been formally dissolved. Many clan members still answer the Laird's calls to arms, and the Clan will still happily meet in battle any opponents who wish to challenge them.

Sources

Largely taken from issues of the Clan McGillicuddy's magazine Th'Noo in particular issue number 10/11.

External links

McGillicuddy Highland Army Rivals:

• Alf's Imperial Army
• KAOS, Killing As Organised Sport