The bunting was out in Balintore for the return from the Boer War of Sergeant Major George Robert Johnstone, son of James Johnstone, flesher. George left to fight the Boers as a trooper in the Scottish Horse and was at the heart of the fighting in South Africa, but through his ability and daring he was rapidly promoted through the ranks. As he was been driven from Fearn station he was met by friends who removed the horse from the carriage and then the young men pulled the carriage the rest of the way to Balintore cheering as they went. The whole village turned out to greet the hero home. George returns to South Africa in two weeks time to take up a lucrative position with a mining company in Johannesburg.