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Scottish regiments aremilitary units which at some point during their existence have had a form of connection withScotland. Though themilitary history of Scotland dates back to the era ofclassical antiquity, the first organised Scottish military units were formed in theMiddle Ages, mostly to serve in theAnglo-Scottish Wars or theHundred Years' War. Numerous Scottish units also fought in theWars of the Three Kingdoms, and during the 1660Stuart Restoration theScots Army was established as the army of theKingdom of Scotland.
As a result of theActs of Union 1707, the Scots Army was merged with theEnglish Army to form theBritish Army, which contained numerous prominent Scottish regiments. Several Scottish regiments were also raised by the armies of theBritish Empire, including theAustralian Army,Canadian Army andSouth African Army. TwoUnion army regiments which served in theAmerican Civil War also cultivated a "Scottish" identity. Scottish regiments often adopt elements of theculture of Scotland, includingbagpipes,kilts,feather bonnets and theGlengarry. Scottish regiments and in particular Highland regiments, made a significant contribution to the military expansion,history and maintenance of theBritish Empire in the 19th and 20th centuries.[1]
These generally pre-date the more widely known Highland regiments (see below). The senior Lowland regiment was theRoyal Scots (the Royal Regiment) which dates from 1633.The Royal Scots Fusiliers andthe 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 tartantrews this gave the Lowlanders a distinctive identity, separate from their English, Welsh, Irish and Highland counterparts.[2] 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.[3]
From 1739 to 1800 some fifty nine Highland regiments were raised.[4] The original Highland regiments were raised in the 18th century with the object of recruiting rank and file solely from theScottish Highlands. However, due to the Highlands becoming extensively depopulated through the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Highland regiments of theBritish 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, theBlack 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 theSeven 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 theBritish Empire, while theBritish East India Company's position in India was consolidated and expanded, both at the expense of theFrench. 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 theNapoleonic Wars.
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 theCrimean War and the putting down of theIndian 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 theHighland 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".
Scottishbagpipes 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.
By 1878 army regiments had been reformed, with nineteen nominally Scottish regiments, four of them with two battalions each.[5] The Scottish regiments, along with their Scottish soldiers accompanied missionaries, merchants and engineers in imperial service, serving throughout the British Empire in the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Imperial service in a Scottish regiment became an outlet for many working class soldiers and for the upper classes as professional officers, often seeking fortune and employment outside the British Isles after their time in the regiment.[6]
In 1959, the Royal Scots Fusiliers and the Highland Light Infantry merged to form the Royal Highland Fusiliers.[7] In 1994, the Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons) and the Gordon Highlanders were combined into The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons).[8]
In March 2006, the remaining Scottish regiments were amalgamated into theRoyal Regiment of Scotland.[9] The new regiment combined several traditional Scottish regiments into a single regiment.[10] It also retained the identities of its antecedent battalions with their former regiment names as subtitles, as well as their common insignia. Initially, it consisted of six regular and two territorial battalions, with some battalions later amalgamated or restructured.[11][12] The formation was part of a broader restructuring of the British Army, announced in 2004 under a defence review, aiming to reduce and streamline the organisation of infantry battalions.[13] The Royal Regiment of Scotland will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2026.[14]
Additionally, the British Army also operate theScottish and North Irish Yeomanry, consisting of:[15]
The following units were formerly a part of the British Army'sHighland Brigade. The brigade was amalgamated into theScottish Division in 1968.
The following units were formerly a part of the British Army'sLowland Brigade. The brigade was amalgamated into the Scottish Division in 1968.
Former yeomanry of Scotland includes:
TheAtholl Highlanders is a ceremonial Scottish regiment which not part of theBritish Army but under the command of theDuke of Atholl, based atBlair Castle. It was presented withcolours byQueen Victoria in 1844, giving the regiment official status.[20] It is the only legalprivate army in Europe.[21]
There are presently five Scottish "Kilted Companies" in theAustralian Army Reserve. They include:
TheAuxiliary Force maintained one Scottish regiment, theCalcutta Scottish, from 1914 to 1947.
There are 16 Canadian-Scottish infantry regiments, and one Canadian-Scottish artillery regiment in Canada'sPrimary Reserve. The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada is the senior Canadian-Scottish infantry regiment of theCanadian Army.
Canadian-Scottish regiments in the Canadian Army Reserve:
TheNew Zealand Army formerly included theNew Zealand Scottish Regiment. Initially raised as an infantry regiment in January 1939, it was later converted into an armoured unit of theRoyal New Zealand Armoured Corps. The unit was formally disbanded on 16 April 2016.[23]
TheSouth African Army has maintained several Scottish regiments with theSouth African Army Infantry Formation. All regiments arereserve 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".[24] These regiments include:
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TheUnited States Army (or theUnion army during theAmerican Civil War) formerly operated two Scottish regiments. One of these regiments operated as a part of theNew York State Militia prior to theAmerican Civil War. Scottish regiments formerly maintained by the United States Army include:[26]
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