Corporal Angus Cameron

A resident of Kingussie in Scotland, Corporal Angus Cameron of the 6th Inverness Rifles twice won the Queen’s Prize at the National Rifle Meeting of volunteers held annually in Wimbledon.

Cameron first won the prize, worth £250, in 1866. According to a report in the Illustrated London News (21 July 1866), ‘The winner, Private Angus Cameron, of the 6th Inverness, is only nineteen years of age, 5 ft 6 in. in height, and wearing the kilt. He is the model of a Highland light infantry skirmisher. Two years ago he became a volunteer, and in his first year’s service obtained the marksman’s badge; but never till this meeting shot with any other than an Enfield rifle or at a range greater than 800 yards. Private Cameron resides at Kingussie, Inverness-shire. […] As soon as the competition had closed, he was caught up on the arms of his countrymen and hurried off to the camp, preceded by the “bull’s-eye” flag of victory.’

‘The last of the prize winners, as already stated, was Private Angus Cameron, an active little Highlander, aged 19, who received with capital bearing and self-composure the gift and congratulations of the Princess [of Wales], to which were added the cordial cheering of the spectators and hearty and fatherly reception by Captain Horatio Ross on the part of his fellow-countrymen’ (Essex Standard, 27 July 1866).

‘The day after the festival at Kingussie in his honour, Angus Cameron was again in his brother’s shop, bearing his honours with becoming meekness and modesty. His temperament almost borders on the phlegmatic, for nothing seems in any way to disturb him. He goes about his duties as quietly and industriously as if nothing had happened to vary the even tenor of his way. One who knew him well remarked “that he had got the money, and he was just the man that would keep it.” The personal appearance of Angus has been pretty accurately described by the London press. He is short, stout, and “every inch a Highlander”’ (Glasgow Evening Citizen, 27 July 1866).

Cameron, by now a Corporal, again won the Queen’s Prize in 1869.

His death in 1923 was reported in the Londonderry Sentinel (9 August 1923). ‘The death has taken place at Blair Atholl, Perthshire, following upon a bicycle accident, of Mr Angus Cameron, formerly a well-known rifle marksman. Mr Cameron, who had been playing golf on the Invertilt course, was cycling to his home at Trinafour on Saturday evening, when a collision with another cyclist took place, Mr Cameron being serious injured and never regaining consciousness. Widely known and highly respected in the Atholl district, Mr Cameron had an extensive knowledge of the Gaelic language, and was a keen sportsman. He had the distinction of twice winning the Queen’s Prize for shooting at Wimbledon, and he was also an enthusiast in several other branches of sport.’

Photographed by A. and G. Taylor of London.