THE STORY OF THE ABERDEEN WAPINSCHAW

	1909
2008	2008	2008

•  The Wapinschaw, or weapon-show, was devised to compel the inhabitants of burghs and parishes to gather periodically to exhibit their arms and to show not only that they possessed weapons appropriate to their individual stations in life, and in good order, but that they were able to use them.

•  The first Wapinschaws were held over 580 years ago, for in 1424, in the reign of James I, Parliament, sitting at Perth , passed what is probably the shortest Act in the statute book.

•  It was probably the brevity of this Act that made it necessary only one year later for Parliament to pass another Act which described the procedure to be followed at these meetings, the persons by whom they were to be conducted and the penalties that would result from failure to obey. From then on for more than 300 years there are numerous enactments in the statute book and the proceedings of the Privy Council of Scotland relating to 'Wapinshawingis' and preparedness to defend the realm.

•  In Aberdeen , the earliest reference to such a gathering in the minutes of the Town Council occurs in 1496 when the burgesses were required

‘to compeir personalie one Monunday the XVIII day of July instant at the Cunnegar Hill'

•  The establishment of the National Rifle Association which held annual competitions in England led to the development of the Aberdeen Wapinschaw into a 3 day meeting in July 1862 with competitions for rifles, carbines and artillery, the 68 pounder guns firing at targets floating almost a mile out in Aberdeen bay.

•  In 1869 Queen Victoria presented the first of the prizes which she gave annually throughout her lifetime. Thereafter King Edward VII continued the practice and King George V presented a challenge cup. This generous encouragement has been of inestimable value to the Wapinschaw and the present Association is very proud that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is its patron.

•  With the exception of the years of the First and Second World Wars, the Wapinschaw has been held annually since 1862. Throughout, the Association has attempted to keep the competitions reasonably in line with current shooting practices whilst at the same time trying to maintain the traditional atmosphere of the meeting.

•  In more recent years the Wapinschaw was financially supported by the Highland Territorial and Auxiliary Volunteer Reserve Association (TAVRA) (now Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA)) and in 1996 Highland RFCA assumed the running of the event. Highland RFCA supplied members of the Committee, premises and financial support. The Committee was drawn from RFCA, tri-service Reserve Forces and Cadet Personnel and Civilian Gun Clubs.

•  In 2004, 51st (Scottish) Brigade became the sponsor of the Wapinschaw, supplying manpower, materials and infrastructure in support

•  In 2010, due to financial cutbacks in the MoD, 51st (Scottish) Brigade removed all support for the Wapinschaw.

•  HRFCA continues to give financial support.

•  The Committee comprising volunteers and members from the Cadet and Gun Club organisations assumed the running of the Wapinschaw.

•  A magnificent collection of trophies is presented for competition.