Nor was he above doing a kindly action, even though asked in not the most polite fashion. Once he happened to be visiting his friend Sir Charles Dalrymple, at Newhailes, dressed in plain rustic costume. He had scarcely entered the grounds, and closed the gate behind him, when he heard a shrill voice calling out, 'Hae, man! come and open the gate, will ye?' Looking round, Colonel Wauchope descried two fish-women with their creels on their backs, vainly endeavouring to effect an entrance. On the request being repeated, he at once turned back, politely opened the gate, and walked on! They had taken him for one of the workmen, and were rather disconcerted when they afterwards discovered who had been acting the part of porter for them.
Such acts of courtesy came natural to Colonel Wauchope: they were not put on for occasion. Whether in openhanded generosity and hospitality, or in the mere opening of a gate, he exemplified Emerson's idea of what a gentleman should be. As that writer expresses it, 'When I view the fine gentleman with regard to his manners, methinks I see him modest without bashfulness; frank and affable without impertinence; obliging and complaisant without servility; cheerful and in good humour without noise. These amiable qualities are not easily obtained, neither are there many men that have a faculty to excel this way. A finished gentleman is perhaps the most uncommon of all the characters in life.'
The miners' strike
Colonel Wauchope stood well by the miners through their long enforced idleness, with all its concomitant troubles, and when the time of distress was at last over and the pits had resumed work, the men determined to show their appreciation of his conduct by a public recognition of their esteem. On the 3rd May 1895, a large gathering took place in the New Craighall schoolroom, presided over by the manager of the works, when an illuminated address expressive of their gratitude, affection, and admiration, was presented to him in a silver-mounted casket. That he valued such an expression of affection from 'his own people,' as he liked to call them, goes without saying. In acknowledging the gift he said: 'This address will stand foremost among our household gods. On the face of it is a view of the old house of Niddrie, where for centuries my forefathers have lived before me. I will say that in distant lands and in moments of danger, my thoughts have always been of my old home and the people of Niddrie and this neighbourhood. And as to my poor services, I feel proud when they are brought to the notice of my own people in my own country. And you may depend, that when the hour of danger is, if there is one thing that supports me in that hour, it is the knowledge that those at home are thinking about me, and should I fall, that their thoughts would be kindly towards me when I am no more.' Referring to a passage in the address that spoke of his relationship as owner of the soil to his dependants being ever of a kindly nature, he said: 'I would be no man at all if I were not pleased to hear that.' Then as for the unfortunate strike some months ago: 'I knew there were difficulties, and I stepped forward in a small way to try and help my countrymen and women. As for strikes, I don't like them. They are not good for our pockets, they are not good for our tempers, and they are unfortunate in every respect. It is an ill wind that blows nobody good, however, and that strike has done this good for me—it has given me this presentation, which shall for ever be valued. The strike will also have done good to the community, inasmuch as it has shown that when difficulties are around us, and trials and tribulations come, we can stand shoulder to shoulder.' After a graceful allusion to Mrs. Wauchope as one desirous of doing her duty, and who in the address had been called his 'Gentle Consort,' the Colonel concluded amid great applause by thanking them all for the great kindness which had prompted such a meeting.
It does one good in these times, when capital and labour are too often in antagonism, to find such cordiality of affection and identity of interest.
Departure from Edinburgh
After three years' residence in Edinburgh Castle, the and Battalion of the Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) received orders in the autumn of 1896 to take up their quarters in the city of York, and accordingly on 26th September they left Edinburgh, where they had so long enjoyed the esteem of the citizens for their excellence of conduct. Colonel Wauchope and his gallant Highlanders paraded at seven in the morning at the Castle Esplanade, and although one hundred and seventy of the regiment were at the time at Ballater as a guard of honour to Her Majesty, the muster was five hundred and fifty strong. It spoke volumes for their discipline and good conduct, that Colonel Wauchope was able to say as the regiment was addressed before their departure, that 'there was not a single absentee from parade, nor yet a prisoner.'
The Black Watch were garrisoned in York for the following eighteen months, and both officers and men gained for themselves in that ancient cathedral city much popular favour. Effective discipline and systematic drill were never relaxed, and what they might lose in ease or pleasure was compensated by admirable efficiency.
In the Sussex military manoeuvres of August and September 1897, Colonel Wauchope with a brigade of the Black Watch went from York to take a part in the proceedings. Joining the force of General Burnett, which had fallen back from Waltham, and had bivouacked overnight near Arundel, Wauchope's timely reinforcement enabled him to retrace his steps westwards. Passing through the ducal Arundel Park, he struck across Houghton Forest, deploying his battalions as the area of conflict neared, and encountered the opposing force under General Gosset, when some smart skirmishing (continued for several days) took place at Burton Down, Dignor Hill, and Bury Hill. The attempt to drive Burnett and Wauchope back over the river Arun, though gallantly attempted, was ultimately declared by the umpires to have failed. Wauchope and his brigade were reported as having done splendidly.