Highland Light Infantry

Last updated

Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)
Cap Badge HLI small.jpg
Cap badge
Active1881–1959
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Branch Flag of the British Army.svg British Army
Type Infantry
Role Light infantry
Part of Highland Brigade
Garrison/HQ Hamilton Barracks (1881–1921)
Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow (1921–1959)
Nickname(s)"Hell's Last Issue" The regiment was nicknamed 'The Glesga Keelies' during the Peninsular Wars.
MarchQuick- Sean Triubhas (Whistle o'er the Lave o't)
Slow - Garb of Old Gaul
Mascot(s)Elephant
Anniversaries Assaye (September 23)
Insignia
HackleWhite
Tartan MacKenzie Tartan

The Highland Light Infantry (HLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1881. It took part in the First and Second World Wars, until it was amalgamated with the Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1959 to form the Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment) which later merged with the Royal Scots Borderers, the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment), the Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders to form the Royal Regiment of Scotland, becoming the 2nd Battalion of the new regiment.

Contents

History

Early history

The regiment was formed as part of the Childers Reforms on 1 July 1881 by the amalgamation of the 71st (Highland) Light Infantry (as the 1st Battalion) and the 74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot (as the 2nd Battalion) as the city regiment of Glasgow, absorbing local Militia and Rifle Volunteer units. Its exact status was ambiguous: although the regiment insisted on being classified as a non-kilted Highland regiment, it recruited mainly from Glasgow in Lowland Scotland. [1]

The 1st battalion was posted to South Africa in October 1899, after the outbreak of the Second Boer War. The battalion served throughout the war, which ended in June 1902. The battalion of 700 men left Durban for Egypt on the SS Plassy in January 1903, [2] and was subsequently stationed there in the following years. [3]

The 2nd Battalion saw action at the Battle of Tell El Kebir in September 1882 during the Anglo-Egyptian War: Lieutenant William Edwards was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the battle. [4] The battalion was stationed in England from 1883, but moved to India the following year. In February 1900 the battalion departed from Colombo to return home, [5] and in October 1902 they were posted to Jersey, [6] but three months later they were re-assigned to Alderney. [7]

Following heavy British losses in the early part of the Second Boer War in 1899, many of the militia battalions were embodied for active service, including the 3rd battalion Highland Light (formerly the 1st Royal Lanark Militia), under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel William Story. The battalion served throughout the war, and 890 officers and men were reported to return home on the SS Doune Castle in September 1902, after the war had ended earlier that year. [8]

In 1908, the Volunteers and Militia were reorganised nationally, with the former becoming the Territorial Force and the latter the Special Reserve; [9] the regiment now had two Reserve and five Territorial battalions. [10] [11]

First World War

Regular Army

The 1st Battalion landed at Marseille as part of the Sirhind Brigade in the 3rd (Lahore) Division in December 1914 for service on the Western Front [12] and entered the trenches near Festubert. [13] It fought in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915, the Battle of St Julien in May 1915 and the Second Battle of Ypres later in May 1915. [14] It then moved to Mesopotamia in December 1915 [12] and saw action at the Siege of Kut in Spring 1916 and the Battle of Sharqat in October 1918. [14]

Troops of the Highland Light Infantry resting by the roadside on the way up to attack, 24 September 1917. The Battle of Passchendaele, July-november 1917 Q6006.jpg
Troops of the Highland Light Infantry resting by the roadside on the way up to attack, 24 September 1917.

The 2nd Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 5th Brigade in the 2nd Division in August 1914 for service on the Western Front. [12] It saw action at the Battle of Aisne in September 1914, the Battle of Ypres in November 1914, the Battle of Loos in October 1915, the Battle of the Somme in Summer 1916, the Battle of Arras in April 1917, the Battle of Cambrai in December 1917 and the advance to the Hindenburg Line in September 1918. [14]

Territorial Force

Gravestones of HLI soldiers who died in the First World War in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery in Gaza City Gaza War Cemetery 4.jpg
Gravestones of HLI soldiers who died in the First World War in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery in Gaza City

The 1/5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion, the 1/6th (City of Glasgow) Battalion and the 1/7th (Blythswood) Battalion landed at Cape Helles in Gallipoli as part of the 157th Brigade in the 52nd (Lowland) Division in July 1915; after being evacuated to Egypt in January 1916 they moved to Marseille in April 1918 for service on the Western Front. [12] The 1/9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion landed in France as part of the 5th Brigade in the 2nd Division in November 1914 for service on the Western Front. [12]

New Armies

The 10th and 11th (Service) Battalions landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 28th Brigade in the 9th (Scottish) Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front. [12] The 12th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 46th Brigade in the 15th (Scottish) Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front. [12] The 14th (Service) Battalion landed in France as part of the 120th Brigade in the 40th Division in June 1916 for service on the Western Front. [12]

The 15th (Service) Battalion (1st Glasgow), the 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Glasgow) and the 17th (Service) Battalion (3rd Glasgow) landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 97th Brigade in the 32nd Division in November 1915 for service on the Western Front. [12] The 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Glasgow), which was formed from former members of the Glasgow Battalion of the Boys' Brigade and was known as the Glasgow Boys' Brigade Battalion is particularly remembered for an incident at the Frankfurt trench at the Battle of the Ancre, the last offensive of the battle of the Somme, where around 60 men of D company were surrounded and cut off behind enemy lines. Relief attempts failed, but the men of the Frankfurt trench refused to surrender. After refusing to surrender, the Germans stormed the trench and found only 15 wounded men alive, three of whom died soon afterwards. General Sir Hubert Gough praised their stand under Army Order 193. [15] Members of the 17th (Service) Battalion were painted by the war artist Frederick Farrell in Flanders in 1917. [16]

The 18th (Service) Battalion (4th Glasgow) landed in France as part of the 106th Brigade in the 35th Division in February 1916 for service on the Western Front. [12]

Between the Wars

In 1923, the regiment's title was expanded to the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment). [17] David Niven was commissioned into the regiment in 1930 and served with the 2nd Battalion. [18]

Second World War

Lorries carrying men of the 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry towards the front line, 9 June 1942. The British Army in North Africa 1942 E13123.jpg
Lorries carrying men of the 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry towards the front line, 9 June 1942.

The 1st Battalion landed in France in September 1939 as part of the 127th (Manchester) Brigade in the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division for service with the British Expeditionary Force and then took part in the Dunkirk evacuation in June 1940. [19] As part of the 71st Infantry Brigade in the 53rd (Welsh) Division, it later took part in the Normandy landings in June 1944 and saw action at the Battle of the Bulge in January 1945, the Battle of the Reichswald in March 1945 and the final advance into Germany. [19]

The 2nd Battalion moved to Egypt early in the war and saw action at the Battle of Keren in March 1941. [19] It then transferred to the Western Desert and, as part of the 10th Indian Infantry Brigade of the 5th Indian Infantry Division, saw combat at the Battle of Knightsbridge in June 1942 and the Battle of Fuka in July 1942. [19] It took part in the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 and, after a period in Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece, took part in the final advance into Northern Italy. [19]

Churchill tanks of 6th Guards Tank Brigade and troops of the 10th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry during the assault on Tilburg, Holland, 28 October 1944. Churchill tanks of 6th Guards Tank Brigade and troops of the 10th Highland Light Infantry, 15th (Scottish) Division, during the assault on Tilburg, Holland, 28 October 1944. B11419.jpg
Churchill tanks of 6th Guards Tank Brigade and troops of the 10th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry during the assault on Tilburg, Holland, 28 October 1944.

The 5th and 6th Battalions landed in France as part of the 157th Brigade in the 52nd (Lowland) Division in June 1940; after evacuation from Cherbourg later in the month, they landed in Belgium in October 1944 and took part in Operation Infatuate in November 1944 and the subsequent capture of Bremen in April 1945. [19]

The 11th Battalion was converted to armour in 1942, becoming the 156th Regiment in the Royal Armoured Corps, but with the men retaining their Highland Light Infantry cap badges on the black beret of the RAC. [20]

After the War

The Highland Light Infantry was amalgamated with the Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1959 to form the Royal Highland Fusiliers. The regular 1st battalions of the two Regiments combined at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh to form the 1st Battalion of the new regiment (1 RHF). [21]

Uniform

The HLI's full dress in 1914 was an unusual one; comprising a dark green shako with diced border and green cords, scarlet doublet with buff facings and trews of the Mackenzie tartan. [22] Officers wore plaids of the same tartan, while in drill order all ranks wore white shell jackets with trews and green glengarry caps. [23]

The HLI was the only regular Highland regiment to wear trews for full dress, until 1947 when kilts were authorised. An earlier exception was the Glasgow Highlanders who wore kilts and were a territorial battalion within the HLI. The regiment had worn the tartan trews with khaki-drab tropical service uniform until 1900. [24]

Battle honours and colours

The battle honours were as follows: [11]
Borne on the regimental colours, representing actions fought by the 71st and 74th Regiments of Foot or the Highland Light Infantry prior to 1914:

Ten representative battle honours for each of the First and Second World Wars borne on the queen's colours:

Colonels-in-Chief

Regimental Colonels

Colonels of the Regiment were: [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th (Scottish) Division</span> Infantry division of the British Army during the First World War

The 9th (Scottish) Division, was an infantry division of the British Army during the First World War, one of the Kitchener's Army divisions raised from volunteers by Lord Kitchener to serve on the Western Front during the First World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancashire Fusiliers</span> Line infantry regiment of the British Army 1688–1968

The Lancashire Fusiliers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that saw distinguished service through many years and wars, including the Second Boer War, the First and Second World Wars, and had many different titles throughout its 280 years of existence. In 1968 the regiment was amalgamated with the other regiments of the Fusilier Brigade – the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers and the Royal Fusiliers – to form the current Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King's Own Scottish Borderers</span> Military unit

The King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSBs) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. On 28 March 2006 the regiment was amalgamated with the Royal Scots, the Royal Highland Fusiliers, the Black Watch, the Highlanders, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 52nd Lowland Regiment, and 51st Highland Regiment to form the Royal Regiment of Scotland. However, after just a few months the battalion merged with the Royal Scots Battalion to form the Royal Scots Borderers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Highland Fusiliers</span> Scottish infantry battalion

The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders</span> Line infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 2006

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) is a light infantry company (designated as Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland) and was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that existed from 1881 until amalgamation into the Royal Regiment of Scotland on 28 March 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">32nd Division (United Kingdom)</span> Infantry division of the British Army during the First World War

The 32nd Division was an infantry division of the British Army that was raised in 1914, during the First World War. The division was raised from volunteers for Lord Kitchener's New Armies, made up of infantry 'Pals battalions' and artillery brigades raised by public subscription or private patronage. The division was taken over by the War Office in September 1915. It served in France and Belgium in the trenches of the Western Front for the duration of the war. It saw action at the Battle of the Somme, the Pursuit to the Hindenburg Line, the Defence of Nieuport, the German spring offensive, and the Allied Hundred Days Offensive beginning at the Battle of Amiens. After the Armistice it marched into Germany as part of the Army of Occupation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Scots Fusiliers</span> Military unit of the British Army

The Royal Scots Fusiliers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that existed from 1678 until 1959 when it was amalgamated with the Highland Light Infantry to form the Royal Highland Fusiliers which was later itself merged with the Royal Scots, King's Own Scottish Borderers, the Black Watch, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Highlanders to form a new large regiment, the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Highlanders</span> Military unit in the British Army

The Gordon Highlanders was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that existed for 113 years, from 1881 until 1994, when it was amalgamated with The Queen's Own Highlanders to form The Highlanders. Although the 'Gordon Highlanders' had existed as the 92nd Regiment of Foot since 1794, the actual 'Gordon Highlanders Regiment' was formed in 1881 by amalgamation of the 75th (Stirlingshire) Regiment of Foot and 92nd Regiment of Foot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada</span> Military unit

The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada is a Primary Reserve light infantry regiment of the Canadian Army, with companies in Cambridge and Kitchener, and is an infantry sub-unit of 31 Canadian Brigade Group, headquartered in London, Ontario. The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and The Prince Andrew, Duke of York, as members of the Canadian Royal Family, acted as Colonel-in-Chief.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers</span> Military unit

The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was an Irish line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1968. The regiment was formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot and the 108th Regiment of Foot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)</span> Infantry regiment of the British Army, 1881–1968

The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was a rifle regiment of the British Army, the only regiment of rifles amongst the Scottish regiments of infantry. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 26th Cameronian Regiment and the 90th Perthshire Light Infantry. In 1968, when reductions were required, the regiment chose to be disbanded rather than amalgamated with another regiment, one of only two infantry regiments in the British Army to do so, with the other being the York and Lancaster Regiment. It can trace its roots to that of the Cameronians, later the 26th of Foot, who were raised in 1689. The 1881 amalgamation coincided with the Cameronian's selection to become the new Scottish Rifles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seaforth Highlanders</span> British military unit

The Seaforth Highlanders was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, mainly associated with large areas of the northern Highlands of Scotland. The regiment existed from 1881 to 1961, and saw service in World War I and World War II, along with many smaller conflicts. In 1961 the regiment was amalgamated with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders to form the Queen's Own Highlanders, which merged, in 1994, with the Gordon Highlanders to form the Highlanders. This later joined the Royal Scots Borderers, the Black Watch, the Royal Highland Fusiliers and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders to create the present Royal Regiment of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow Highlanders</span> Military unit

The Glasgow Highlanders was a former infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Territorial Force, later renamed the Territorial Army. The regiment eventually became a Volunteer Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry in 1881. The regiment saw active service in both World War I and World War II. In 1959 the Highland Light Infantry was amalgamated with the Royal Scots Fusiliers to form the Royal Highland Fusiliers. The Glasgow Highlanders was later amalgamated into the 52nd Lowland Volunteers in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland Light Infantry of Canada</span> Military unit

The Highland Light Infantry of Canada was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. In 1965, the regiment was amalgamated with The Scots Fusiliers of Canada to form The Highland Fusiliers of Canada.

The 46th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service in both the First and the Second World Wars with the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division.

227th Brigade was an infantry formation of the British Army formed for Home Service under various short-lived titles in the First and the Second World Wars. Later it was upgraded to a field formation composed of Scottish troops, and saw heavy fighting in the Normandy and North West Europe Campaign.

The 156th Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army. The brigade saw active service in both the First and the Second World Wars with the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division.

The 157th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army. The brigade fought in both the First and the Second World Wars, assigned to 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division.

221st Mixed Brigade was a Scottish Home Service formation of the British Army that served under various titles throughout World War I.

The Blythswood Rifles was a Scottish Volunteer unit of the British Army. Raised in Glasgow from 1859, it later became a battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. During World War I it served at Gallipoli, in Egypt and Palestine, in Ireland, and on the Western Front. Converted into an anti-aircraft artillery regiment just before World War II, it served in The Blitz and in the Middle East during the war, and continued in the postwar Territorial Army until 1955.

References

  1. Carman 1985, p. 160.
  2. "Naval & Military intelligence - Troops returning Home". The Times. No. 36984. London. 22 January 1903. p. 8.
  3. Hart′s Army list, 1903
  4. "No. 25198". The London Gazette. 13 February 1883. p. 792.
  5. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36069. London. 19 February 1900. p. 9.
  6. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36896. London. 11 October 1902. p. 12.
  7. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36959. London. 24 December 1902. p. 9.
  8. "The Army in South Africa - Troops returning Home". The Times. No. 36865. London. 5 September 1902. p. 6.
  9. "Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . 31 March 1908. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  10. These were the 3rd and 4th Battalions (Special Reserve), with the 5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion at Hill Street in Glasgow, the 6th (City of Glasgow) Battalion at Yorkhill Street in Glasgow, the 7th (The Blythswood) Battalion at Main Street in Bridgeton (since demolished), the 8th (Lanark) Battalion at Mousebank Lane in Lanark (since demolished) and the 9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion at Greendyke Street in Glasgow (since demolished) (all Territorial Force)
  11. 1 2 3 "Highland Light Infantry". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 14 July 2006. Retrieved 7 May 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Highland Light Infantry". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  13. 1 Bn Highland Light Infantry, Unit War Diary, 1914 Aug - 1915 Dec (TNA WO 95/3929/1), War Office, Dec 1915. Retrieved 9 Nov 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 "1914-1939". Royal Highland Fusliers. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  15. "Glesga Pals: 16th Battalion Highland Light Infantry" . Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  16. "Glasgow's forgotten war artist Fred Farrell". Herald Scotland . 24 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  17. Army Order 221/1923
  18. "Who's Who in Scottish Military History - David Niven". Scottish Military History. 26 December 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1939-1945". Royal Highland Fusiliers. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  20. Forty 1998, p. 51.
  21. "Royal Highland Fusiliers". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  22. Page 26 "Uniform of the Scottish Infantry 1740 to 1900", Scottish United Service Museum, 1973, SBN 11 4903 0
  23. "Highland Light Infantry Chronicle (January 1905-October 1907)". Highland Light Infantry. p. 50. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  24. Page 27 "Uniform of the Scottish Infantry 1740 to 1900", Scottish United Service Museum, 1973, SBN 11 4903 0

Sources