Scottish regiment

Last updated

The Eagle of the French 45th Ligne captured by the Royal Scots Greys, during the Battle of Waterloo. ScotsGreys.jpg
The Eagle of the French 45th Ligne captured by the Royal Scots Greys, during the Battle of Waterloo.

A Scottish regiment is any regiment (or similar military unit) that at some time in its history has or had a name that referred to Scotland or some part thereof, and adopted items of Scottish dress. These regiments were created after the Acts of Union in 1707 between England and Scotland, either directly serving Britain during its various wars, or as part of the military establishments of Commonwealth countries. Their "Scottishness" is no longer necessarily due to recruitment in Scotland nor any proportion of members of Scottish ancestry.

Contents

Traditionally, Scottish regiments cultivate a reputation of exceptional fierceness in combat and are often given romantic portrayals in popular media. Within Scotland itself, regiments of the Scottish Lowlands did not adopt as distinctively "Scottish" (specifically Scottish Highland) uniforms until the late Victorian Era and even then the kilt, that most distinctive aspect of the Highland soldier, was not adopted wholesale.

History

Lowland regiments

These generally pre-date the more widely known Highland regiments (see below). The senior Lowland regiment was the Royal Scots (the Royal Regiment) which dates from 1633. The Royal Scots Fusiliers and the King's Own Scottish Borderers were subsequently raised in 1678 and 1689 respectively. Throughout the 17th, 18th and most of the 19th centuries these Scottish regiments served widely and with distinction. They did not, however, differ significantly in appearance or public perception from the bulk of the line infantry of the British Army. In 1881, the introduction of the Cardwell system of reforms provided the opportunity to adopt a modified form of Scottish dress for the Lowland regiments. Comprising doublets and tartan trews this gave the Lowlanders a distinctive identity, separate from their English, Welsh, Irish and Highland counterparts. [1] At the same time, the absence of kilts (except for pipers) and the substitution of Kilmarnock bonnets for feather bonnets prevented confusion between Lowlanders and their Highland counterparts. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was created at the same time from the merging of two existing numbered regiments. [2]

Highland regiments

Depiction of a Highland soldier in 1801. Highland Soldiers.jpg
Depiction of a Highland soldier in 1801.

The original Highland regiments were raised in the 18th century with the object of recruiting rank and file solely from the Scottish Highlands. However, due to the Highlands becoming extensively depopulated through the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Highland regiments of the British Army have witnessed a long-term decline in the proportion of recruits from the Highlands and have long recruited many Lowland Scots and others. The major 20th century exceptions to this rule were the First and Second World Wars, when many Highland men joined up. Around the time that the first Highland regiments were raised the Highlands had recently been a hotbed for several revolts against the establishment, namely the Jacobite Rebellions, so the loyalties of the Highlanders were often deemed suspect in the early history of the Highland regiments.

The first Highland regiment, the Black Watch, was originally raised from clans openly loyal to the status quo in order for the government to better police the Highlands, which were deemed to be both rebellious and lawless by the contemporary British establishment. However, due to a pressing need for personnel in North America during the Seven Years' War, William Pitt the Elder made the decision to raise new Highland regiments to fight in this global conflict. The war ended in victory and among other things, Canada was secured as a part of the British Empire, while the British East India Company's position in India was consolidated and expanded, both at the expense of the French. These Highland regiments were disbanded after the war, but other Highland regiments were raised later and, like the rest of the British Army, saw service in various wars including in the Napoleonic Wars.

Depiction of The Thin Red Line at the Battle of Balaclava. Highland regiments played a conspicuous role in conflicts throughout the Victorian era. Robert Gibb - The Thin Red Line.jpg
Depiction of The Thin Red Line at the Battle of Balaclava. Highland regiments played a conspicuous role in conflicts throughout the Victorian era.

By the Victorian era, the loyalty of the Highlanders was no longer suspect. Queen Victoria had a personal interest in things Scottish, in particular relating to the Highlands. In addition, Highland regiments had played a conspicuous role in such Victorian conflicts as the Crimean War and the putting down of the Indian Mutiny. The Highland regiments earned a reputation which influenced the mindset of those Scottish regiments which were Lowland in origin. This resulted in the wearing of tartan by Lowland regiments which had previously worn uniforms not clearly distinguishable from their Irish, Welsh and English counterparts. In the case of the Highland Light Infantry, the distinction between Highlanders and Lowlanders was slightly blurred: although classified as a non-kilted Highland regiment it was recruited from Glasgow in Lowland Scotland and bore the title of "City of Glasgow Regiment".

Scottish bagpipes have been adopted in a number of countries, largely in imitation of the pipers of Highland regiments which served throughout the British Empire. Highland regiments were raised in a number of Commonwealth armies, often adopting formal honorary affiliations with Scottish regiments of the British Army.

Scottish regiments in the United Kingdom

Current regiments in the British Army

Members of the Highland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland performing at Gibraltar in 2013. SCOTS BAND 081 OUT.jpg
Members of the Highland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland performing at Gibraltar in 2013.

Additionally, the British Army also operate the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, consisting of: [3]

Former regiments in the British Army

A member of the Black Watch fires a rifle grenade in 1917. In 2006, the Black Watch was reorganized into a battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. Black Watch firing rifle grenade in 1917.jpg
A member of the Black Watch fires a rifle grenade in 1917. In 2006, the Black Watch was reorganized into a battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The following units were formerly a part of the British Army's Highland Brigade. The brigade was amalgamated into the Scottish Division in 1968.

The following units were formerly a part of the British Army's Lowland Brigade. The brigade was amalgamated into the Scottish Division in 1968.

Former yeomanry of Scotland includes:

Private regiment

The Atholl Highlanders is a ceremonial Scottish regiment which not part of the British Army but under the command of the Duke of Atholl, based at Blair Castle. It was presented with colours by Queen Victoria in 1844, giving the regiment official status. [8] It is the only legal private army in Europe. [9]

Scottish regiments in other armies

Australia

Current regiments

The 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment is one of five Scottish battalions presently operating in the Australian Army. 5-6 RVR ANZAC Day 2008.JPG
The 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment is one of five Scottish battalions presently operating in the Australian Army.

There are presently five Scottish "Kilted Companies" in the Australian Army Reserve. They include:

Former regiments

British India

The Auxiliary Force maintained one Scottish regiment, the Calcutta Scottish, from 1914 to 1947.

Canada

Current regiments

Flood2013 137 Calgary Highlanders Calgary Flood 2013.jpg
Members of the Calgary Highlanders assist in flood relief efforts during the 2013 Alberta floods
Remembrance Day 2017 in Ottawa Canada 13.jpg
Members of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa march during the 2017 Remembrance Day parade

There are 16 Canadian-Scottish infantry regiments, and one Canadian-Scottish artillery regiment in Canada's Primary Reserve. The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada is the senior Canadian-Scottish infantry regiment of the Canadian Army.

Canadian-Scottish regiments in the Canadian Army Reserve:

Supplementary Order of Battle

Former regiments

New Zealand

The New Zealand Army formerly included the New Zealand Scottish Regiment. Initially raised as an infantry regiment in January 1939, it was later converted into an armoured unit of the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps. The unit was formally disbanded on 16 April 2016. [11]

South Africa

Current regiments

The South African Army has maintained several Scottish regiments with the South African Army Infantry Formation. All regiments are reserve units of the South African Army. In 2019, a number of reserve units, including the Scottish regiments, were renamed in an effort to better reflect "the military traditions and history of indigenous African military formations". [12] These regiments include:

Former regiments

United States

79th New York Volunteer Infantry was one of two Scottish regiments maintained by the Union Army during the American Civil War. The Seventy-Ninth Regiment (Highlanders) New York State Militia (Boston Public Library).jpg
79th New York Volunteer Infantry was one of two Scottish regiments maintained by the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The United States Army (or the Union Army during the American Civil War) formerly operated two Scottish regiments. One of these regiments operated as a part of the New York State Militia prior to the American Civil War. Scottish regiments formerly maintained by the United States Army includes: [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Infantry of the British Army comprises 49 infantry battalions, from 19 regiments. Of these, 33 battalions are part of the Regular army and the remaining 16 a part of the Army Reserve. The British Army's Infantry takes on a variety of roles, including armoured, mechanised, air assault and light.

The 2003 Defence White Paper, titled Delivering Security in a Changing World, set out the future structure of the British military, and was preceded by the 1998 Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and the 2002 SDR New Chapter, which responded to the immediate challenges to security in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001. Published under the then Secretary of State for Defence, Geoff Hoon, the report effectively introduced a series of cutbacks to core equipment and manpower and the scaling back of a series of future capital procurement projects. This was justified due to the implementation of a policy termed Network Enabled Capability. The review also outlined a major restructuring and consolidation of British Army Infantry regiments.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)</span> Military unit

The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">52nd Lowland Volunteers</span> Military unit

The 52nd Lowland Volunteers is a battalion in the British Army's Army Reserve or reserve force in the Scottish Lowlands, forming the 6th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, also known as 6 SCOTS. Due to its erstwhile association with the 1st Regiment of Foot, it is the senior Reserve line infantry battalion in the British Army. It is one of two Reserve battalions in the Royal Regiment of Scotland, along with 51st Highland, a similar unit located in the Scottish Highlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">51st Highland Volunteers</span> British Army battalion

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 Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming is a British Army training establishment that provides instruction on Scottish pipe band music to military pipers and drummers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottish Division</span> Infantry command of the British Army

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 British Army is listed according to an order of precedence for the purposes of parading. This is the order in which the various corps of the army parade, from right to left, with the unit at the extreme right being highest. Under ordinary circumstances, the Household Cavalry parades at the extreme right of the line. Militia and Army Reserve units take precedence after Regular units with the exception of The Honourable Artillery Company and The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers.

<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">Royal Regiment of Scotland</span> Infantry regiment of the British Army

The Royal Regiment of Scotland (SCOTS) is the senior and only current 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.

The 19th Light Brigade is an Army Reserve formation of the British Army. As the 19th Infantry Brigade, it fought in the First and Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military history of Scotland</span> Aspect of Scottish history

Historically, Scotland has a long military tradition that predates the Act of Union with England in 1707. Its soldiers today form part of the armed forces of the United Kingdom, more usually referred to domestically within the UK as the British Armed Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland</span> Military unit

HQ 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland is a Regional Point of Command, Brigade of the British Army.

All units of the Canadian Armed Forces have an order of precedence that determines seniority; it often decides such matters as which unit forms up to the right of other units on a ceremonial parade, or the order in which marches or calls are played at a mess dinner.

During the First World War the British Armed Forces was enlarged to many times its peacetime strength. This was done mainly by adding new battalions to existing regiments. Although sometimes identified by shoulder titles, generally the new battalions could not be identified from appearance. Consequently, the units in this list have been assembled considering only those as having a uniquely different cap badge.

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 155th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service in both the First and the Second World Wars. Assigned to the 52nd (Lowland) Division, the brigade saw active service in the Middle East and on the Western Front during the First World War. During the Second World War, now the 155th Infantry Brigade, it continued to serve with the 52nd Division in Operation Dynamo, and later in North-western Europe from late 1944 until May 1945.

The 45th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service in both the First and the Second World Wars with 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division.

References

  1. Carman, W. Y. (1957). British Military Uniforms from Contemporary Pictures. London: Leonard Hill. pp. 146, 152.
  2. Barnes, R. Money; Allen, C. Kennedy (1972) [1956]. The Uniforms & History of the Scottish Regiments. Sphere Books. p. 282.
  3. "The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry". MOD . Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  4. "A (Ayrshire (EOCO) Yeomanry) Sqn". MOD. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  5. "B (North Irish Horse) Sqn". MOD. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  6. "C (FFY/SH) Sqn". MOD. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  7. "E (Lothians and Border Yeomanry) Sqn". MOD. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  8. "Queen Victoria and the fascinating royal story behind the Duke of Atholl's private army revealed". Daily Record. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  9. "John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl, retired South African surveyor who inherited one of Scotland's most ancient titles". The Scotsman. 19 May 2012.
  10. 1 2 "Register and Index of Scottish Regiments". Regiments.org (archived). Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  11. "Laying up of the New Zealand Scottish Regiment colours". Dunedin City Council. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  12. "New Reserve Force unit names". www.defenceweb.co.za. defenceWeb. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  13. "Names of three of four Cape Town Army Reserve Force units changed". 30 June 2022.
  14. Troiani, Don; Coates, Earl J.; McAfee, Michael J. (2002). Don Troiani's Regiments and Uniforms of the Civil War. Stackpole Books. pp. 42–43. ISBN   0-8117-0520-X.