Cruachan II (Cruachan of Braes of Greenock), was a dark brown Shetland pony, standing 9 hands high. He was born on the 14th April 1950; his sire was Bergastor of Transy (1360) and his dam Pamina of Transy (4667). He was bred by the wife of Lieutenant Colonel Hyde, an officer in the Regiment, at the Braes of Greenock, Callander.

Cruachan II was presented to the 1st Battalion by Mrs R G Hyde at Princes Street, Edinburgh, on the 17th August 1952, on their return from Hong Kong and Korea. Enormous crowds lined the streets to watch the subsequent parade, and although it was his first appearance, he was very well behaved.

He immediately caught the imagination of the public and was always in demand for events such as the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Horse of the Year Show. He also saw service throughout many parts of the world including: Berlin, Cyprus, Lemgo, Osnabruck, Edinburgh, Elgin, Stirling, Colchester and Catterick.

“A highlight should have been his appearance with the Buckingham Palace Guard in 1979, but with a cussedness which we all know well; he managed to dodge all guard mountings and paraded only for dismounting until returned to Catterick under close arrest by Lieut. Colonel Purves Hume!” Colonel A W Scott Elliot

For parades Cruachan II wore a green saddlecloth bordered with yellow, on each side of which was embroidered the Regimental badge and cipher in gold and silver thread. To complete his tack he wore a bridle, which was picked out in green and yellow, a black leather roller and a crupper.

Although Cruachan II could be temperamental and stubborn at times, which was often made worse by his weakness for bottles of beer, he was always popular with the soldiers.

“He’d be taken out of the Castle, stopping at the Castle Hotel on the way for a bottle of Guinness. He’d then be taken through the town where it’s said he’d try to kick and bite as many as possible. Then it was up to the hospital to visit the children’s ward – he always seemed to behave himself there right enough. On his way back he’d stop dead at the Hotel and refuse to budge until he got another bottle of Guinness… On more than one occasion he spent a few hours in the guard house for being drunk on duty – the poor Pony Major was always locked up with him.” Bill Anderson
 
“A birthday party was held at Ritchie Camp to celebrate Cruachan’s birthday... Well wishers from far and near came to offer him good luck for the future and to record the event. The birthday cake, made of a secret regimental recipe, was cut by the Commanding Officer and from then on Cruachan tucked in with gusto.” Thin Red Line Magazine

Cruachan II served with the Regiment until 1979 when he was retired to a farm in Oxfordshire, where, following a long and happy retirement, he died aged thirty-five on the 2nd September 1985.

“If there is a Heaven for ponies, he will be there, looking as he used to on parade, his coat, mane and hooves all shining, with a bit of roll from his eye from time to time to warn strangers that one end could nip and the other kick, and asking old friends if they could spare a bottle of beer…” Colonel A W Scott Elliot

Continued: Cruachan III, 1995 - 2009