Highland Regiments is a term applied to regiments in the British army originally raised in the Highlands of Scotland. Their origin is found in certain companies of Highlanders armed by government about 1725-1730, for the purpose of keeping order in the Highlands, and called the Black Watch from the sombre colours of their tartans. These were embodied as a regiment of the regular army in 1739, the first Highland regiment being the 43rd, afterwards the 42nd, which bore a distinguished part in almost all the wars in which Britain had been engaged.
Seven other regiments were raised at different times, the 71st and 72nd in 1777; the 74th in 1787; the 78th or Rossshire Buffs in 1793; the 92nd or Gordon Highlanders in 1796; the 93rd or Sutherland Highlanders in 1800; and the 79th or Cameron Highlanders in 1805. The Highland Regiments and the old corresponding regiments consisted of the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 1st battalion 42nd Foot, 2nd battalion 73rd Foot, 3rd battalion Royal Perth Militia; The Highland Light Infantry, 1st battalion 71st Foot, 2nd battalion 74th Foot, 3rd and 4th battalions. 1st Royal Lanark Militia; the Seaforth Highlanders (Rossshire Buffs, Duke of Albany's), 1st. battalion 72nd Foot, 2nd battalion 78th Foot, 3rd battalion Highland (Rifle) Militia; the Queen's own Cameron Highlanders, 1st battalion. 79th Foot, 2nd battalion Highland Light Infantry Militia; the Gordon Highlanders, 1st battalion 75th Foot, 2nd batralion 92nd Foot, 3rd battalion Royal Aberdeenshire Militia; Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders), 1st battalion 91st Foot, 2nd battalion 93 Foot, 3rd battalion Highland Borderers Militia, 4th battalion Royal Renfrew Militia. Each regiment had its own distinctive tartan, some retaining the kilt, others wearing trousers. There were also several Highland volunteer regiments which were brigaded with the various corps mentioned. Research Highland Regiments
A kilt or philabeg is the lower portion of the old Highland dress, which combined kilt and plaid in one. In the older costume, the kilt, arranged in folds, was belted to the waist, and the plaid fastened by a shoulder brooch; but in the newer, the folds are already sewn and the plaid is detachable. Research Kilt
A sporran or sporan is a leather (sometimes seal skin) pouch or purse usually covered with fur and adorned with ornamental tassels and traditionally worn by the Scottish highlanders in front of the kilt. In Wales the sporran is known as the ysgrepan and is made of goat skin and covered with horse hair, but is otherwise very similar to the Scottish. Research Sporran
Abbreviations
Research Highland Regiments
