Military

Before the Civil wars (1642-1649) there was no regular army in England. Regiments were raised to meet a particular requirement and were known by the name of the colonels who formed them. No systematic records of these regiments survive, although, references to individual officers and soldiers can be found in State Papers Domestic and Foreign and other records at the P.R.O and the manuscript department of the British Library can be found.

Records about officers can be traced with only approximate completeness from the years 1660. From the middle of the 18th century preliminary details can be obtained in the army lists, but you will only find sufficient family information if the officer you are researching served after about 1829.

In 1829 systematic records of services were introduced, these were arranged by regiments and officers unfortunate as they may have been were placed on these lists on half pay, this was because after the Napoleonic Wars they and the officers of The Royal Navy had to be reduced in numbers. These records contain the place of birth, details of service, marriage, spouse and children. You will be able to fins these records up to about 1810.

It is here where most of us will find we start our research and we can be more hopeful, the first source I recommend are the soldier discharge papers these cover the years from 1756 to 1913, however, these are only useful if your ancestor was discharged on a pension, not if he died on active service or if he deserted. It is necessary to know the name of the regiment he served in until 1873. From then until 1883 the papers are arranged separately for infantry, cavalry and artillery and so forth.

These papers contain a lot of information, the place of birth, age at enlistment, place of enlistment, physical description, previous occupation, and the intended place of occupation on discharge, some also show medical details and some of the later papers even show next of kin, marriages and children.

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders are perhaps one of the best known Highland regiments and the one with the most romantic associations. The regiments history dates back to 1794 but it assumed it's present form in 1881 following the amalgamation of the 91st Argyllshire Highlanders and the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders. Better known in Scotland simply as The Argylls, the regiment recruits today in central Scotland (in the old counties of Stirlingshire and Clackmannanshire) and in the west of Scotland in Argyll. The Sutherland branch of the regiment is particularly famed for its part in the battle of Balklava (1854) during the Crimean War, while the regiment as a whole is remembered for its action in Aden in 1967 when the Crater District was re-ocupied, and also for the huge publicity campaign mounted in 1968 to "save the Argylls" when it was threatened with disbandment.

The regimental badge is a circle inscribed " Argyll and Sutherland" surrounded by a wreath of thistles. In the centre, the cypher of Princess Louise reversed and interlaced with the princess' coronet mounted above. The boars head of the Duke of Argyll and the cat of the Duke of Sutherland lies within the circle.

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders have two mottoes. The first is Ne Obliviscaris (Do not forget), the motto of the Duke of Argyll, and the second is Sans Peur (Fearless), the motto of the Duke of Sutherland. In both the badge and the motto of the regiment, therefore, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders retain a close association with their clan origins on Campbell and Sutherland lands.

The association with Princess Louise, fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, dates from 1870, when she became engaged to be married to the Marquis of Lorne, the eldest son of the Duke of Argyll, whose ancestors had raised the 91st Highlanders in 1794. In view of this , the 91st Highlanders asked to have the honour of forming the guard at St. George's chapel, Windsor on the day of the wedding. Their request was granted and 100 picked men attended the ceremony in March 1871. Shortly afterward, Queen Victoria asked if she might convey some distinction upon the 91st to celebrate their part in the festivities. The regiment immediately asked to have the kilt restored to them (they wore trews at the time), but the war office would not agree and a compromise was reached whereby the regiment was entitled "Princess Louise's Argyllshire Highlanders" and was permitted in addition, to bear the Boar's Head, the motto Ne Obliviscaris , Princess Louise's coronet and her cypher on their colours.

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders trace their origins to two separate and distinct regiments, the 98th (later 91st) Argyllshire Highlanders and the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders. The Argyllshire Highlanders were raised against a background of the prospect of war against France in 1794. George the third asked several substantial Highland land owners to raise regiments at this time, including the Duke of Argyll. The Duke, however, was not well enough to carry out such a task and he delegated it to his kinsman, Duncan Campbell of Lochnell, who was then a captain in the First Foot Guards. Lochnell had many problems with the recruiting. Over 1000 men were required in the space of three months and, although most of the officers were natives of Argyll, over two-thirds of the men had to be recruited from Lowland towns and from Ireland.

The 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, raised in 1799 by Major General William Wemyss, a nephew of the Earl of Sutherland, was recruited under unusual circumstances for the period. General Wemyss had been particularly successful in recruiting two fencible regiments for home defence from Sutherland estates and lands. The last of these two regiments had just been disbanded when Wemyss set to work to raise the Sutherland Highlanders. Over 250 men joined from the fencibles, while the other 390 or so were raised by levy and ballot on the Sutherland estates, where the men were actively discouraged from joining regiments other than the 93rd Highlanders or the 78th Highlanders. In 1799 and early 1800, a census was taken of each parish on the Sutherland estates and the eligible men were summoned to appear on the open fields next to the parish churches. Not all were willing to go, and not all of the parents were happy to see their sons enter the service. However, the men were drawn up and the general with an aide passed through the ranks with a snuff mill and whisky. To those who were offered snuff the signal was given that they were required for service and the "contract" was sealed with whisky. Only in the isolated far North did this form of enlistment take place at this time.

By 1881, these two historic regiments, which hitherto had no association, were linked to form the 1st and 2nd Battalions The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The two battalions served and fought in India and South Africa. During the First World War, the regiment, with its territorial and service battalion, was present on the battlefields in France, Belgium and Salonica and engaged in some of the fiercest fighting. Six members of the regiment won the Victoria Cross.

During the second world war, The Argylls served in the Battle for France and the retreat to St. Valery (1940) as well as the Western Desert, Crete, Sicily and North West Europe. The 2nd Battalion, which carried on the traditions of the old 93rd Sutherland Highlanders were in Malaya at the time of the Japanese advance on Singapore in 1941. After a grim, difficult and courageous fighting retreat, the remnants of the battalion were marched into captivity.

After the second world war, there followed an extremely difficult period of service for The Argylls in Palestine, outstanding conduct in Korea and arduous duty in Suez, Cyprus, Borneo and Aden. In 1968, news was received of the proposed disbandment of the Argylls. After a huge popular campaign which achieved world wide support, the regiment survived but was reduced to company strength. In 1971, the 1st Battalion was reborn, inheriting the traditions of the two great regiments, the 91st Argyllshire Highlanders and the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders.

When the 91st Argyllshire Highlanders were raised, they were a kilted regiment and wore the Government, or Black Watch, tartan. The 93rd Sutherland Highlanders also wore kilts of the same tartan, which in official records is also sometimes referred to as the Sutherland tartan. This tartan is worn today by the 1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The pipers, drummers and military bandsmen also wear the same sett.

Until relatively recently, the version of the Government tartan worn by the Argylls was of a slightly lighter shade than worn by other regiments and was clearly distinguishable, as is the elaborate silk ribboned panel on the front flap of the kilt worn by officers and senior non-commissioned officers.

Between 1809 and 1864, the 91st Argyllshire Highlanders lost Highland status. Ceasing to wear the kilt, or indeed any tartan at all, they wore the ordinary uniform of regiments of the line. Several attempts were made by their persistent and charismatic commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Bertie Gordon, to restore tartan to the 91st and in 1864, that request was granted. There then followed a considerable debate about what constituted the original tartan of the regiment. The 91st were in India at the time, and there seemed to be no record and no one could remember with any degree of clarity. However, with the help of the Duke of Argyll, the regiment adopted and were permitted to wear Campbell of Cawdor tartan trews, being the Government tartan with a red and light blue stripe, which they wore until 1881.

This notable regiment can trace its origins back to 1689, when it was raised under unusual circumstances. The regiment is an amalgamation of the 26th Cameronian Regiment and the 90th Perthshire Light Infantry which was brought together, albeit reluctantly, in the army reforms of 1881 as The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). since then, their recruiting base has been firmly located in Lanarkshire and the Glasgow area, where The 26th Cameronian Regiment originated.

The badge of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) is a Mullet of the coat of arms of the Douglas family, upon a stringed bugle horn, within two sprays of thistles. The badge reflects the origins of the regiment and its connections with the ancient and powerful Douglas family. It also commemorates their origins in the Light Infantry, as indicated by the bugle horn. Bugles were used in the light infantry regiments to give signals in the field in the same way as the drum was used in infantry line regiments. In 1881, the new amalgamated regiment was designated as a rifle regiment.

The origin of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) is absolutely unique because it is the only regiment in the British army which has a religious foundation, the name "Cameronian" was given to the most militant of the Presbyterian sects which sought to prevent any dilution of the Presbyterian faith, and who upheld the principles of The National Covenant, signed at Greyfriars church yard in Edinburgh on the 28th of February 1638. The Covenanters were virtually outlawed and they resorted to holding their religious worship in secret locations on hillsides, known as conventicles. After numerous trials, endless debate, and frequent battles, and with the arrival of the Protestant William, Prince of Orange to the throne in November 1688, the Covenanters were brought into Government service as The Cameronian Regiment. The first muster took place at Douglas Parish Kirk, Lanarkshire on the 12th of May 1689. Here a declaration was read out, and explained to the assembled men: All shall be well affected, of approved fidelity and of a sober conversion. The cause they are called to appear for, is the service of the King's Majesty and the defence of the Nation, recovery and preservation of the Protestant Religion; and in particular the work of reformation in Scotland, in opposition to Popery, prelacy and arbitrary power in all its branches and steps, until the Government of Church and State be brought back to that lustre and integrity which it had in the best times.

This extraordinary regiment was, therefore, as much a congregation as a military force. Each company had its elder and every man carried a bible. Traditionally, the regiment posted sentinels at church parades and the sermon did not commence until an officer notified the minister with a shout of "All Clear".

The young regiment fought with great bravery and distinction against the Highlanders at Dunkeld in 1689, where it was engaged in a ferocious battle in the area of the cathedral, and amongst the buildings and walls of the town. In 1691, they joined William 3's army in the Netherlands and fought in the War of the League of Augsburg at Steenkirk (1692) and Landen (1693). In 1702, the regiment returned to the continent to fight in the War of Spanish Succession (1701-14). Under the Duke of Marlborough, the Cameronians were present at the capture of Schellenberg (1704) and at Ramillies (1706). In 1709, the regiment, positioned in the centre of the British line, played an important part in the battle of Malplaquet, forcing the French to break and allowing the cavalry to advance. The Cameronians garrisoned both Gibraltar and Minorca during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48) and in 1751 were renamed the 26th Regiment (The Cameronians). The embarked for the American colonies in 1767. In 1775, they formed detachments at the forts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point and after the British defeat at Saratoga in 1777, the regiment was essentially drafted to other units, only a small group returning home to begin recruiting anew.

With the outbreak of the wars with the French, The Cameronians took part in the landings at Aboukir Bay in 1801 and the capture of Alexandria. Subsequently, the regiment was present at the retreat to Corunna (1808) and the Walcheren Expedition in the Netherlands. In July 1811, they arrived in Portugal under the command of the Duke of Wellington, where they saw great hardship but little action and were withdrawn to garrison Gibraltar. The Cameronians took part in the first China War in 1841 and the War in Abyssinia under Lord Napier in 1868.

The 90th Perthshire Light Infantry were raised by Thomas Graham of Balgowan, later General Lord Lynedoch, as the 90th regiment of foot, or Perthshire volunteers, in 1794. Sworn by deep personal commitment to devote his life to fighting the French, he raised the regiment at his own expense. A 2nd battalion was also raised, but these men were drafted to the marines. The 90th were affectionately known as the "Perthshire Grey Breeks" and were designated The Perthshire Volunteers (Light Infantry). Like the 26th Cameronians, they landed at Aboukir Bay in 1801 and then went on to participate in the capture of Martinique (1809) and Guadeloupe (1810), where they captured an eagle standard of the French 80th regiment. In 1815, they were designated as one of the six light infantry regiments and were armed and clothed as such. Duty in the Greek islands was followed by service in Ceylon and South Africa. In 1854, the 90th Perthshire Light Infantry were moved to the Crimea as reinforcements and in 1855, they took part in the famous attack on the quarries in front of the Redan at Sevastopol. On route to China after the Crimean War, they were diverted to take part in suppressing the Indian Mutiny and were present at the siege and relief of Lucknow. In 1878, they again served in South Africa, in the Zulu Wars.

It was with extreme sadness, and great reluctance that they became the 2nd Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in 1881. Following the amalgamation of the 26th and the 90th to form the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the regiment, it was common practice for many years for the 1st Battalion to refer to themselves as only "The Cameronians" and for the 2nd Battalion to refer to themselves only as "The Scottish Rifles". In spite of these difficulties, the regiment served with great distinction during the 2nd Boer War (1889-1902). During the First World War (1914-18), the battle honours "Mons", "Marne", "Neuve", "Neuve Chapelle", "Ypres" and "Gallipoli" were amongst the many that were added to the distinguished battle honours already held. In 1940, the 2nd Battalion were evacuated at Dunkirk, having lost 365 of their comrades as casualties.

During the Second World War, the regiment again earned an enviable reputation in battles as far afield as north west Europe, Italy and Burma. In 1946, the 1st Battalion were placed in suspended animation and the 2nd Battalion was renumbered as the 1st Battalion. However, as a result of force reductions and army reforms and at their own request, the regiment was disbanded and a last conventicle was held on the 14th May 1968.

The Royal Highland Fusiliers is one of Scotland's proudest and most distinguished regiments. The current title dates from 1959 when The Royal Scots Fusiliers and The Highland Light Infantry were amalgamayed to continue their service as a single regiment. The battle honours and service of The Royal Highland Fusiliers record the colourful part which the regiment has played in their country's service from Blenheim in 1704 to Kuwait in 1991. Today, Scotland's second great city, made formal in 1923, and with its West coast burghs, gives The Royal Highland Fusiliers its distinctive, proud, friendly, determined, "no nonsense" characteristics.

The badge of The Royal Highland Fusiliers is a flaming grenade, bearing the monogram "HLI", surmounted by a crown. The regiments motto is "Nemo nos impune lacessit" (No one provokes us with impunity). The grenade with the flaming fuse is taken from the cap-badge of The Royal Scots Fusiliers. It was customery in fusilier regiments to wear the regimental device upon the bowl of the grenade and in the case of The Royal Highland Fusiliers , the letters "HLI" are worn, representing the other half of the 1959 amalgamation. Great confusion is often caused concerning which of the three letters is superimposed upon the other and the badge is thus often misrepresented. In fact, the I forms the base, then the L and finally the H superimposed on the other two. The Royal Highland Fusiliers also wear white hackles or plumes in certain forms of head dress. The white hackle was a standard one for grenadiers and fusiliers and was worn by The Royal Scots Fusiliers from 1768 to 1866. It was restored to the regiment in 1902 to mark its distinguished service during the South African war of 1899-1902.

The R.H.F. can trace their origins to three outstanding regiments: The Royal Scots Fusiliers raised in 1678 as the Earl of Mar's Regiment and numbered 21st, MacLeod's Highlanders raised in 1777, originaly as the 73rd but renumbered as the 71st in 1786 and The Highland Regiment raised in 1787 and numbered 74th. In 1881, the 71st and the 74th regiments were linked and formed the 1st and 2nd Battalions of The Highland Light Infantry. In 1959 the surviving 1st Battalion of The HLI was amalgamated with The Royal Scots Fusiliers to form The Royal Highland Fusiliers. Against the background of these amalgamations and changes of title can be set the distinguished history of each component part.

The Royal Scots Fusiliers were raised by Charles Erskine, 5th Earl of Mar in 1678. At that time, it was customary for a regiment to take the name of its colonel and thus the regiment was entitled The Earl of Mar's Regiment and quickly nicknamed "The Earl of Mar's Grey Breeks", after the colour of their breeches. The regiment was specifically raised for the purpose of dealing with the threat posed by the rebellious Covenanters from the south west of Scotland. After the battle of Bothwell Brig in 1679, The Royal Scots Fusiliers played a part in nearly every major war in the latter 17th, the 18th and the 19th centuries. They fought at Steenkirk (1692), Landen (1693), Blenheim (1704), Ramillies (1706), Oudenarde (1708) and Malplaquet (1709); against the rebellious Highlanders at Sheriffmuir (1715), at Dettingen (1743), and Fontenoy (1745), and again, against the Highlanders at Cullodon (1746). During the American Revolution they were present at Stillwater (1777) and Saratoga (1777) and later at Martinque and Guadalupe (1794). In 1814, the 21st were in America and after the American defeat at Bladensburg they entered Washington where the regiment ate the Preidential banquet prepared to celebrate a British defeat.

This distinguished early history earned the regiment their "Royal" prefix by 1712 and for many years they were also known as "Marlborough's Own". After the union of the English and Scottish Parliaments in 1707, they were titled The Royal North British Fusiliers. In the peace that followed Waterloo, the 21st, amongst other duties was sent to guard convicts in Australia. During the Crimean War the regiment won honours at Inkerman, "The Soldiers Battle" and at Sevastopol. This was followed by action in the Zulu War of 1879, the 1st Boer War and operations in Burma and on the North West frontier of India.

In 1881, the regiment was restyled The Royal Scots Fusiliers, eighteen Battalions served during the first world war with tremendous distinction in France and Flanders, when they were also present in Madagascar, Burma, Sicily, Italy and north west europe. With such a record it is hardly surprising that few other regiments can match such a glittering list of battle honours.

The origins of the 71st Highland Light Infantry are to be found in the regiment raised in 1777 by John MacKenzie, the eldest son of the Earl of Cromarty. He was officially styled "John Mackenzie", known as Lord MacLeod because although he had been stripped of his title following his involvement with the Jaccobites during the unsucsesful "45 rising", he was still known as a lord to his clansmen. Therefore he adopted this rather unusual official styling which did not contradict his status in law but which recognised his standing among his own people. The regiment was originally raised as the 73rd but in 1786 it was assigned the vacant number of 71 which it retained until its subsequent amalgamation with the 74th.

The 74th Highlanders was raised in 1787. Their first colonel was Major General Sir Archibald Campbell of Inverneil. Both the 71st and 74th were raised for Government service as Highland regiments, but recruiting difficulties in the Highlands led them to seek men in Glasgow and the Lowlands. Originaly, both these regiments were kilted. In 1809, the 71st were granted the distinction of being entitled the 71st (Highland Light Infantry) Regiment and wore trews, while in the same year, the 74th lost Highland status and ceased to wear tartan altogether.

Both regiments, who were linked in 1881 to form the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Highland Light Infantry, saw extensive service in Gibraltar, India, The Cape of Good Hope, Buenos Aires, The Peninsular Campaign and Waterloo. No other regiment had more Peninsular battle honours on its colours than the 74th Highlanders.

After 1881 and the formation of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of The Highland Light Infantry, the record of each Battalion was equally outstanding at The Battle of Tel-el-Kebir (1882), during the Boer War, and during both first and second World Wars. Finally, when the strands were drawn together with the amalgamation of The Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1959, there was created the highly honoured and uniquely distinguished regiment of The Royal Highland Fusiliers.

Since 1959, The Royal Highland Fusiliers have seen service in many parts of the world including Aden, Malta, Germany, Cyprus, Gibralter, Northern Ireland and Singapore. The regiment gained new laurals during the Battle for Kuwait in 1991, when one of its officers, Major John Potter, was awarded the Military Cross

The Accrington Pals is probably the best remembered of the battalions raised in the early months of the First World War in response to Kitchener's call for a volunteer army. Groups of friends from all walks of life in Accrington and its neighbouring towns enlisted together to form a battalion with a distinctively local identity my Great Grandfather William Henry Parkinson was one of them, he died on the 1st July 1916 along with many of his friends. In its first major action, the battalion suffered devastating losses in the attack on Serre on 1st July 1916, the opening day of the Battle of the Somme. The losses were hard to bear in a community where nearly everyone had a relative or friend who had been killed or wounded. Although the battalion was to fight again, its Pals character had been irretrievably lost.