Scottish regiment
A Scottish regiment is any regiment 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. 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" 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. The senior Lowland regiment was the Royal Scots 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. At the same time, the absence of kilts and the substitution of Kilmarnock bonnets for feather bonnets prevented confusion between Lowlanders and their Highland counterparts. The Cameronians was created at the same time from the merging of two existing numbered regiments.Highland regiments
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.
. 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
Regiments in the British Army
- Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
- Scots Guards
- Royal Regiment of Scotland
- 19th Regiment Royal Artillery
- 105th Regiment Royal Artillery
- 32 Signal Regiment
- 154 Regiment RLC
- The London Scottish
- The Liverpool Scottish
- 51st Highland Volunteers
- 52nd Lowland Volunteers
- A Squadron in Ayr
- B Squadron in Belfast and Coleraine
- C Squadron in Cupar
- E Squadron in Edinburgh
Former regiments in the British Army
- The Black Watch
- The Highland Light Infantry
- The Seaforth Highlanders
- The Gordon Highlanders
- The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
- The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
- The Highlanders
- The Royal Scots
- The Royal Scots Fusiliers
- The King's Own Scottish Borderers
- The Cameronians
- Ayrshire 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
Scottish regiments in other countries
Australia
There are presently five Scottish 'Kilted Companies' in the Australian Army Reserve. They include:- A Company, 2nd/17th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment
- B Company, 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment
- A Company, 10th/27th Battalion, Royal South Australia Regiment
- B Company, 16th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment
- B Company, 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment
Former
- 30th Battalion
- 61st Battalion.
Canada
Canadian-Scottish regiments in the Canadian Army Reserve include:
- 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
- 48th Highlanders of Canada
- The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada
- The Black Watch of Canada
- The Calgary Highlanders
- The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
- The Canadian Scottish Regiment
- The Essex and Kent Scottish
- The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment
- The Lorne Scots
- 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
Former
- The Perth Regiment
New Zealand
South Africa
The South African Army presently maintains four Scottish regiments with the South African Army Infantry Formation. All four regiments are reserve units of the South African Army. Scottish regiments in the South African Army includes:- First City Regiment
- Cape Town Highlanders Regiment
- Transvaal Scottish Regiment
- Witwatersrand Rifles
Former
- Pretoria Highlanders
United States