This is a list of battalions of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's), which existed as an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 2006.
When the 91st (Argyllshire Highlanders) Regiment of Foot amalgamated with the 93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot, to become Princess Louise's (Sutherland and Argyll Highlanders) in 1881 under the Cardwell-Childers reforms of the British Armed Forces, nine pre-existent militia and volunteer battalions of Argyllshire, Buteshire, Dumbartonshire, Kinross-shire, Renfrewshire, and Stirlingshire were integrated into the structure of the regiment. Volunteer battalions had been created in reaction to a perceived threat of invasion by France in the late 1850s. Organised as "rifle volunteer corps", they were independent of the British Army and composed primarily of the middle class.
Battalion | Formed | Formerly | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Regular | ||||
1st | 1881 | 1st Battalion, 91st Highlanders | ||
2nd | 1881 | 1st Battalion, 93rd Highlanders | ||
Militia | ||||
3rd (Militia) | 1797 | Highland Borderers Light Infantry Militia [1] | ||
4th (Militia) | 1793 | The Prince of Wales's Royal Renfrew Militia [1] | ||
Volunteers | ||||
1st (Renfrewshire) Volunteer | 1860 | 1st Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers [2] | ||
2nd (Renfrewshire) Volunteer | 1860 | 2nd Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers [3] | ||
3rd (Renfrewshire) Volunteer | 1860 | 3rd Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers [4] | ||
4th (Stirlingshire) Volunteer | 1860 | 1st Stirlingshire Rifle Volunteers [5] | ||
5th Volunteer | 1861 | 1st Argyllshire Highland Rifle Volunteers [6] | ||
1st Dumbartonshire Rifle Volunteers (6th VB) [7] | 1860 | |||
7th (Clackmannan and Kinross) Volunteer | 1867 | 1st Clackmannan and Kinross Rifle Volunteers [8] |
The Territorial Force (later Territorial Army) was formed in 1908, which the volunteer battalions joined, while the militia battalions transferred to the "Special Reserve". All volunteer battalions were renumbered to create a single sequential order. [9]
Battalion | Formerly |
---|---|
5th (Renfrewshire) | 1st (Renfrewshire) Volunteer Battalion |
6th (Renfrewshire) | 2nd (Renfrewshire) Volunteer Battalion (on amalgamation with the 3rd (Renfrewshire) Volunteer Battalion) |
7th | 4th (Stirlingshire) Volunteer Battalion (on amalgamation with the 7th (Clackmannan and Kinross) Volunteer Battalion) |
8th (The Argyllshire) | 5th Volunteer Battalion |
9th (Dumbartonshire) | 1st Dumbartonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps |
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders fielded 27 battalions and lost over 6,900 officers and other ranks during the course of the war. [10] The regiment's territorial components formed duplicate second and third line battalions. As an example, the battalions of the 5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were numbered as the 1/5th, 2/5th, and 3/5th respectively, with the 3rd line battalion becoming reserve battalions later on in the war. The Volunteer Training Corps were raised with overage or reserved occupation men early in the war, and were initially self-organised into many small corps, with a wide variety of names. Recognition of the corps by the authorities brought regulation and as the war continued the small corps were formed into battalion sized units of the county Volunteer Regiment. In 1918 these were linked to county regiments. [11]
Battalion | Formed | Served | Fate | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Regular [12] [13] | ||||
1st | 1881 | Salonika | ||
2nd | 1881 | Boulogne, as Line of communication troops | ||
Special Reserve [12] [13] | ||||
3rd (Reserve) | 1797 | Britain, Ireland | ||
4th (Extra Reserve) | 1793 | Britain | ||
Territorial Force [12] [13] | ||||
1/5th (Renfrewshire) | 1860 | Gallipoli, Western Front | See Inter-War | |
1/6th (Renfrewshire) | 1908 | Western Front | See Inter-War | |
1/7th | 1908 | Western Front | ||
1/8th (The Argyllshire) | 1861 | Western Front | ||
1/9th (The Dumbartonshire) | 1860 | Western Front | See Inter-War | |
2/5th (Renfrewshire) | Greenock, September 1914 | Britain | Absorbed by 2/8th (The Argyllshire) Battalion on 30 November 1915 | |
2/6th (Renfrewshire) | Paisley, September 1914 | Britain | Disbanded on 13 March 1918 | |
2/7th | Stirling, September 1914 | Britain | Disbanded in Autumn 1917 | |
2/8th (The Argyllshire) | Dunoon, September 1914 | Britain | Disbanded on 19 July 1918 | |
2/9th (The Dumbartonshire) | Dumbarton, September 1914 | Britain | Disbanded in October 1917 | |
3/5th (Renfrewshire), 5th (Renfrewshire) (Reserve) from 8 April 1916 | April 1915 | Britain | Disbanded in 1919 | |
3/6th (Renfrewshire), 6th (Renfrewshire) (Reserve) from 8 April 1916 | April 1915 | Britain | Absorbed by 5th (Renfrewshire) (Reserve) Battalion on 1 September 1916 | |
3/7th (Renfrewshire), 7th (Reserve) from 8 April 1916 | April 1915 | Britain | Absorbed by 5th (Renfrewshire) (Reserve) Battalion on 1 September 1916 | |
3/8th (The Argyllshire), 8th (Reserve) from 8 April 1916 | April 1915 | Britain | Absorbed by 5th (Renfrewshire) (Reserve) Battalion on 1 September 1916 | |
3/9th (The Dumbartonshire), 9th (The Dumbartonshire) (Reserve) from 8 April 1916 | April 1915 | Britain | Absorbed by 5th (Renfrewshire) (Reserve) Battalion on 1 September 1916 | |
16th | 1 January 1917 | Britain | Disbanded 1919 | |
New Army [12] [13] | ||||
10th (Service) | Stirling, August 1914 | Western Front | Disbanded 1919 | |
11th (Service) | Stirling, September 1914 | Western Front | Disbanded 26 August 1918 | |
12th (Service) | Stirling, August 1914 | Salonika | Disbanded 1920 | |
13th (Service), 13th (Reserve) from 10 April 1915 | Blackheath, November 1914 | Western Front | Became the 41st Training Reserve Battalion, 9th Reserve Brigade on 1 September 1916 | |
14th (Service) | Stirling, early 1915 | Western Front | Disbanded 1919 | |
15th (Reserve) | Gailes, November 1915 | Britain | Absorbed into the Training Reserve Battalions, 9th Reserve Brigade | |
17th | Deal, 1 June 1918 | Britain | Absorbed into 14th (Service) Battalion in 1918 | |
Volunteer Training Corps [14] | ||||
1st Battalion Argyllshire Volunteer Regiment | Dunoon | Disbanded post war | ||
1st Battalion Dumbartonshire Volunteer Regiment | Helensbrugh | Disbanded post war | ||
2nd Battalion Dumbartonshire Volunteer Regiment | Kirkintilloch, Glasgow | Disbanded post war | ||
1st Battalion Kinross-shire Volunteer Regiment | Kinross | Disbanded post war | ||
1/1st Battalion Renfrewshire Volunteer Regiment | Paisley | Disbanded post war | ||
2/1st Battalion Renfrewshire Volunteer Regiment | Greenock | Disbanded post war | ||
1st Battalion Stirlingshire Volunteer Regiment | Stirling | Disbanded post war |
By 1921, all of the regiment's war-raised battalions had disbanded. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders did not, however, return to its original peacetime size; two of its territorial battalions were amalgamated shortly after the war ended. The Special Reserve reverted to its militia designation in 1921, then to the Supplementary Reserve in 1924; however, its battalions were effectively placed in 'suspended animation'. As World War II approached, the Territorial Army was reorganised in the mid-1930s and many of its infantry battalions were converted to other roles, especially anti-aircraft.
Battalion | Fate |
---|---|
5th (Renfrewshire) | Amalgamated with the 6th (Renfrewshire) Battalion, to form 5th/6th (Renfrewshire) Battalion in 1921 |
6th (Renfrewshire) | Amalgamated with the 5th (Renfrewshire) Battalion, to form 5th/6th (Renfrewshire) Battalion in 1921 |
9th | Transferred to the Royal Artillery, November 1938 and became 54th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery [15] |
The regiment's expansion during the Second World War was modest compared to 1914–1918. National Defence Companies were combined to create a new "Home Defence" battalion, and in addition to this, three battalions of the Home Guard were affiliated to the regiment, wearing its cap badge.
Battalion | Formed | Served | Fate | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Regular | ||||
1st | 1881 | North Africa, Crete, East Africa, Palestine, Italy | See Post-World War II | |
2nd | 1881 | Malaya, Singapore, France, Western Front | See Post-World War II | |
Supplementary Reserve | ||||
3rd | 1797 | See Post-World War II | ||
4th | 1793 | See Post-World War II | ||
Territorial Army | ||||
5th (Renfrewshire) | 1939 | France and Belgium | Transferred to the Royal Artillery, November 1941 and became 91st Anti-Tank Regiment [16] | |
6th | 1939 | France and Belgium | Transferred to the Royal Artillery, November 1941 and became 93rd Anti-Tank Regiment [17] | |
7th | 1908 | France, North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, North West Europe | See Post-World War II | |
8th | 1861 | France, North Africa, Sicily, Italy | See Post-World War II | |
8th | 1861 | France, North Africa, Sicily, Italy | See Post-World War II | |
10th | 1939 | Britain | Reformed the 7th Battalion in 1940 | |
11th (Argyll and Dumbarton) | 1939 | Britain | Reformed the 8th Battalion in 1940 | |
12th (Home Defence) | November 1939 | Britain | Redesignated as 30th Battalion in December 1941 | |
13th (Home Defence) | December 1939 | Britain | Absorbed into the 12th (Home Defence) Battalion, in August 1940 | |
14th (Home Defence) | December 1939 | Britain | Disbanded in October 1940 | |
15th | May 1940, by redesignation of 50th (Holding) Battalion | Britain | Reconstituted as the 2nd Battalion, in 1942 | |
30th | December 1941, by redesignation of 12th (Home Defence) Battalion | Britain | Disbanded in January 1943 | |
Others | ||||
50th (Holding) | 1940 | Britain | Redesignated as 15th Battalion in May 1940 | |
70th (Young Soldier) | September 1940 | Britain | Disbanded 1942 |
Home Guard [18] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battalion | Headquarters | Formation Sign (dark blue on khaki) | Battalion | Headquarters | Formation Sign (dark blue on khaki) |
1st | Oban | ARG 1 | 2nd | Dunoon | ARG 2 |
3rd | Campletown | ARG 3 | |||
In the immediate post-war period, the army was significantly reduced: nearly all infantry regiments had their first and second battalions amalgamated and the Supplementary Reserve disbanded.
Battalion | Fate |
---|---|
1st | Amalgamated with 2nd Battalion on 30 September 1948 |
2nd | Amalgamated with 1st Battalion on 30 September 1948 |
3rd | Disbanded in 1953 |
4th | Disbanded in 1953 |
7th | Disbanded and concurrently amalgamated with the 8th Battalion on 1 April 1967 |
8th | Disbanded and concurrently amalgamated with the 7th Battalion on 1 April 1967 |
Battalion | Fate |
---|---|
7th/8th | Amalgamated with 3rd (V) Battalion, The Black Watch; and 3rd (V) Battalion, The Highlanders to form the 51st Highland Regiment, on 1 July 1999 |
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was amalgamated with the Royal Scots, King's Own Scottish Borderers, Royal Highland Fusiliers, Black Watch, and the Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons), to form the Royal Regiment of Scotland in 2006, under Delivering Security in a Changing World. The 1st battalion became the 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland.
The hackle is a clipped plume or short spray of coloured feathers that is attached to a military headdress, with different colours being associated with particular regiments.
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.
The 51st Highland Volunteers is a battalion in the British Army's Army Reserve or reserve force in the Scottish Highlands, forming the 7th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, also known as 7 SCOTS. It is one of two Reserve battalions in the Royal Regiment of Scotland, along with 52nd Lowland, a similar unit located in the Scottish Lowlands.
The Scottish Division was a British Army Infantry command, training and administrative apparatus designated for all Scottish line infantry units. It merged with the Prince of Wales' Division, to form the Scottish, Welsh and Irish Division in 2017.
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.
The Royal Regiment of Scotland is the senior and only Scottish line infantry regiment of the British Army Infantry. It consists of three regular and two reserve battalions, plus an incremental company, each formerly an individual regiment. However, three regular battalions maintain their former regimental pipes and drums to carry on the traditions of their antecedent regiments.
51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland is an Adaptable Force Brigade of the British Army. It is the regional administrative formation responsible for all the units of the Army Reserve based in Scotland and an Adaptable Force Brigade under Army 2020. The Brigade is also regionally aligned with the Persian Gulf region as part of defence engagement.
The 91st Regiment of Foot was a Line Regiment of the British Army, raised in 1794. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 93rd Regiment of Foot to form the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1881.
154th Infantry Brigade was a formation of Britain's Territorial Force/Territorial Army that was part of 51st (Highland) Division in both World Wars. From its origins in the 19th Century Volunteer Force it was based in Stirling and was composed of Highland battalions. It served on the Western Front in World War I, and after it escaped from France early in World War II it was reformed from its 2nd Line and saw action in North Africa, Sicily and North West Europe. It continued serving postwar until the reduction of the Territorial Army in the 1960s.
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 Highland Cyclist Battalion was a bicycle infantry battalion of the Territorial Force, part of the British Army. Formed as part of the Volunteer Force in 1860, it became a Volunteer Battalion of the Black Watch in 1881. In 1909 it became an independent unit and served in the United Kingdom throughout the First World War. In 1920 it was converted as part of the Highland Divisional Signals.
The Clyde Brigade was a Scottish infantry formation of Britain's Volunteer Force from 1888 to 1902.
The Forth Brigade was a Scottish infantry formation of Britain's Volunteer Force from 1888 to 1902.