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Scottish regiment

April 17, 2023

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.

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

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 predate 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Former regiments

British India

Auxiliary Force (India) (1920-1947)

Canada

Main article: Canadian-Scottish regiment

Current regiments

 
Members of the Calgary Highlanders assist in flood relief efforts during the 2013 Alberta floods
 
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 operated a Scottish regiment, 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 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:[13]

See also

References

  • Barnes, RM, The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments, London, Sphere Books Limited, 1972.
  1. ^ W. Y. Carman, pages 146 & 152, "British Military Uniforms From Contemporary Pictures"
  2. ^ Major R. M. Barnes, "The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments", page 282, Sphere Books 1972
  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. ^ a b . 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. ^ 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.

External links

  • Quick Guide to Scottish Regiments
  • Royal Regiment of Scotland | Scottish Military Heritage Centre

April 17, 2023
scottish, regiment, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, februar. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Scottish regiment news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 The Eagle of the French 45th Ligne captured by the Royal Scots Greys during the Battle of Waterloo 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 Contents 1 History 1 1 Lowland regiments 1 2 Highland regiments 2 Scottish regiments in the United Kingdom 2 1 Current regiments in the British Army 2 2 Former regiments in the British Army 2 3 Private regiment 3 Scottish regiments in other armies 3 1 Australia 3 1 1 Current regiments 3 1 2 Former regiments 3 2 British India 3 2 1 Auxiliary Force India 1920 1947 3 3 Canada 3 3 1 Current regiments 3 3 2 Supplementary Order of Battle 3 3 3 Former regiments 3 4 New Zealand 3 5 South Africa 3 5 1 Current regiments 3 5 2 Former regiments 3 6 United States 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditLowland regiments Edit These generally predate 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 Edit 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 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 EditCurrent regiments in the British Army Edit Members of the Highland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland performing at Gibraltar in 2013 Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Scots Guards Royal Regiment of Scotland 19th Regiment Royal Artillery 105th Regiment Royal Artillery 32 Signal Regiment 154 Scottish Regiment RLC G Messines Company London Guards currently the reserve company of the Scots Guards 51st Highland Volunteers 52nd Lowland Volunteers Additionally the British Army also operate the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry consisting of 3 A Ayrshire Earl of Carrick s Own Yeomanry Squadron in Ayr 4 B North Irish Horse Squadron in Belfast and Coleraine 5 C Fife and Forfar Yeomanry Scottish Horse Squadron in Cupar 6 E Lothians and Border Yeomanry Squadron in Edinburgh 7 Former regiments in the British Army Edit 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 Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment 1725 2006 The Highland Light Infantry City of Glasgow Regiment 1881 1959 The Seaforth Highlanders Ross shire Buffs The Duke of Albany s 1881 1961 The Gordon Highlanders 1881 1994 The Queen s Own Cameron Highlanders 1793 1961 The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Princess Louise s 1881 2006 The Highlanders Seaforth Gordons and Camerons 1994 2006 The following units were formerly a part of the British Army s Lowland Brigade The brigade was amalgamated into the Scottish Division in 1968 The Royal Scots The Royal Regiment 1633 2006 The Royal Scots Fusiliers 1678 1959 The King s Own Scottish Borderers 1689 2006 The Cameronians Scottish Rifles 1881 1968 Former yeomanry of Scotland includes Ayrshire Earl of Carrick s Own Yeomanry Lothians and Border Horse Lanarkshire Yeomanry Queen s Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry Fife and Forfar Yeomanry Lovat Scouts Scottish Horse Fife and Forfar Yeomanry Scottish Horse Queen s Own Lowland Yeomanry Scottish Yeomanry Private regiment Edit 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 EditAustralia Edit Current regiments Edit 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 A Company 2nd 17th Battalion Royal New South Wales Regiment Black Watch B Company 5th 6th Battalion Royal Victoria Regiment Gordon Highlanders A Company 10th 27th Battalion Royal South Australia Regiment Mackenzie Seaforth Highlanders B Company 16th Battalion Royal Western Australia Regiment Cameron Highlanders B Company 41st Battalion Royal New South Wales Regiment Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders 10 Former regiments Edit 30th Battalion The New South Wales Scottish Regiment 1915 1919 1921 1930 1935 1946 1948 1960 61st Battalion The Queensland Cameron Highlanders 10 1938 1946 British India Edit Auxiliary Force India 1920 1947 Edit The Calcutta Scottish 1914 1947 Canada Edit Main article Canadian Scottish regiment Current regiments Edit Members of the Calgary Highlanders assist in flood relief efforts during the 2013 Alberta floods 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 42nd Field Artillery Regiment Lanark and Renfrew Scottish RCA 48th Highlanders of Canada The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada Princess Louise s The Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment of Canada The Calgary Highlanders The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Duke of Edinburgh s Own The Canadian Scottish Regiment Princess Mary s The Essex and Kent Scottish The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment The Lorne Scots Peel Dufferin and Halton Regiment The Cape Breton Highlanders The Nova Scotia Highlanders The Queen s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada The Stormont Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders The Toronto Scottish Regiment Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother s Own Supplementary Order of Battle Edit The Perth Regiment 1866 1965 Former regiments Edit 13th Scottish Light Dragoons 1866 1936 The Argyll Light Infantry 1863 1954 The Lorne Rifles Scottish 1866 1936 The Essex Scottish Regiment 1885 1954 The Highland Light Infantry of Canada 1886 1954 1957 1965 The Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment 1866 1946 1959 1992 50th Regiment Gordon Highlanders of Canada 1913 1920 The New Brunswick Scottish 1946 1954 The Pictou Highlanders 1871 1954 The North Nova Scotia Highlanders 1936 1954 The Prince Edward Island Highlanders 1875 1946 The Cumberland Highlanders 1871 1936 The Scots Fusiliers of Canada 1914 1965 New Zealand Edit The New Zealand Army formerly operated a Scottish regiment 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 Edit Current regiments Edit 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 Chief Makhanda Regiment First City Regiment Gonnema Regiment Cape Town Highlanders Regiment Solomon Mahlangu Regiment Transvaal Scottish Regiment Bambatha Rifles Witwatersrand Rifles Former regiments Edit Pretoria Highlanders 1939 2017 United States Edit 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 13 12th Illinois Infantry Regiment 1861 1865 79th New York Volunteer Infantry 1858 1876 See also EditMilitary of Scotland Garde EcossaiseReferences EditBarnes RM The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments London Sphere Books Limited 1972 W Y Carman pages 146 amp 152 British Military Uniforms From Contemporary Pictures Major R M Barnes The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments page 282 Sphere Books 1972 The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry MOD Retrieved 6 November 2015 A Ayrshire EOCO Yeomanry Sqn MOD Retrieved 6 November 2015 B North Irish Horse Sqn MOD Retrieved 6 November 2015 C FFY SH Sqn MOD Retrieved 6 November 2015 E Lothians and Border Yeomanry Sqn MOD Retrieved 6 November 2015 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 John Murray 11th Duke of Atholl retired South African surveyor who inherited one of Scotland s most ancient titles The Scotsman 19 May 2012 a b Register and Index of Scottish Regiments Regiments org archived Archived from the original on 11 October 2007 Retrieved 6 February 2011 Laying up of the New Zealand Scottish Regiment colours Dunedin City Council 8 April 2016 Retrieved 29 October 2018 New Reserve Force unit names www defenceweb co za defenceWeb 7 August 2019 Retrieved 9 January 2020 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 External links EditQuick Guide to Scottish Regiments Royal Regiment of Scotland Scottish Military Heritage Centre Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Scottish regiment amp oldid 1140829177, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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