Crossroads and Characters

56. SCOTS GREYS AND ROMANS.

In July 1907, there was great excitement in Dunning as 200 Scots Greys and Artillery troops arrived in the village. Near the Dun Knock, the artillery fired several rounds to begin two days of manoeuvres. 'Then the whole company retired to the Cow Park, where rations were handed to man and beast,' said the newspaper. 1,000 troops were expected by the next day. The Cow Park where these soldiers were billeted is part of an area which centuries ago was occupied by a large Roman marching camp, headed by Agricola. Until recently it was thought the famous Battle of Mons Graupius of 83-84 A.D. in which the Romans defeated the natives of what is now Scotland was fought near Dunning. New evidence indicates this was probably not so, although the camp here was almost certainly used by Agricola. And, as you see, by Scots Greys.