Glasgow Highlanders
Encyclopedia
The Glasgow Highlanders was a former Territorial Army regiment in the British Army
, it eventually became part of The Highland Light Infantry regiment in 1881, which later became The Royal Highland Fusiliers
in 1959. It was amalgamated into the 52nd Lowland Volunteers in 1967.
Rifle Volunteers, also known as the Glasgow Highland Regiment, which was formed in 1868 by a group of Highland migrants to Glasgow as part of the civilian Volunteer Force
and initially wore the uniform and based its cap badge upon that of The Black Watch
. It consisted of 12 companies. The various battalions of the Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers eventually became volunteer battalions of either the Highland Light Infantry
or the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) after Childers Reforms
in 1881, with the 105th becoming part of the former, and renumbered as the 10th Lanarkshire Volunteer Rifles, which was changed to the 5th (Glasgow Highland) Volunteer Battalion in 1887. They were based at Greendyke Street drill hall
near Glasgow Green
and were distinctive because they continued to wear their kilts in contrast to the rest of the HLI, who wore trews
.
Detachments were sent to South Africa
during the Second Boer War
and earned the battalion its first battle honour
, for service on the Modder River
.
. During the First World War
they recruited another two home-based battalions, one of which was a Bantam
battalion, which were used to supply manpower to the 1st Battalion in France, which served with distinction with the Highland Light Infantry under the 2nd Division at the battles of Festubert
and Loos
. In May 1916 they transferred to the 33rd Division and fought at the Somme (at High Wood
), Arras
and Passchendaele. After the end of the war, the Glasgow Highlanders were disbanded along with the rest of the Territorial Force
. The story of the Battalion in the Great War would later be dramatised in the 1995 Bill Bryden
play, The Big Picnic, starring Jimmy Logan
.
in Maryhill
in 1935. When war was declared in 1939 the battalion went to war again and also raised a second battalion, they fought valiantly as part of the 52nd (Lowland) Division and 15th (Scottish) Division in the Second World War
, most notably during the capture of Walcheren Island during the Battle of the Scheldt
in November 1944.
(City of Glasgow Regiment) and in 1959 transferred from the Highland Light Infantry to the new Royal Highland Fusiliers
Regiment without change of title. In 1967, with the formation of the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR), the battalion laid up its colours and was amalgamated with the other TA battalions of Regiments in the Lowland Brigade
, which were reformed as companies in three new TAVR battalions.
The name of the Glasgow Highlanders was initially carried on through HQ (Glasgow Highlanders) Company of the 52nd Lowland Volunteers and C (Glasgow Highlanders) Company of the 3rd (Territorial) Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers. With the disbandment of the latter in 1969, it was only carried on by HQ (Glasgow Highlanders) Company of the 1st Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers
. It later changed its affiliation to The Royal Highland Fusiliers
in 1973, thus formally ending the existence of a Glasgow Highlanders unit within the Territorial Army. The Glasgow Highlanders' name was continued by a platoon of the Army Cadet Force
, attached to 52nd Lowland Regiment
. However in 2007, this ACF unit changed its affiliation to 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland and became F Platoon RHF (Maryhill) But still have the history of the Glasgow Highlanders taught to them.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, it eventually became part of The Highland Light Infantry regiment in 1881, which later became The Royal Highland Fusiliers
Royal Highland Fusiliers
The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
in 1959. It was amalgamated into the 52nd Lowland Volunteers in 1967.
History
They were originally formed as the 105th LanarkshireLanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
Rifle Volunteers, also known as the Glasgow Highland Regiment, which was formed in 1868 by a group of Highland migrants to Glasgow as part of the civilian Volunteer Force
Volunteer Force (Great Britain)
The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated with the British Army after the Childers Reforms in 1881, before forming part of the...
and initially wore the uniform and based its cap badge upon that of The Black Watch
Black Watch
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
. It consisted of 12 companies. The various battalions of the Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers eventually became volunteer battalions of either the Highland Light Infantry
Highland Light Infantry
The Highland Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. In 1923 the regimental title was expanded to the Highland Light Infantry ...
or the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) after Childers Reforms
Childers Reforms
The Childers Reforms restructured the infantry regiments of the British army. The reforms were undertaken by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers in 1881, and were a continuation of the earlier Cardwell reforms....
in 1881, with the 105th becoming part of the former, and renumbered as the 10th Lanarkshire Volunteer Rifles, which was changed to the 5th (Glasgow Highland) Volunteer Battalion in 1887. They were based at Greendyke Street drill hall
Drill hall
A drill hall is a place such as a building or a hangar where soldiers practice and perform military drill. In the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, the term was also used for the whole headquarters building of a military reserve unit, which usually incorporated such a hall...
near Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green is a park situated in the east end of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde. It is the oldest park in the city dating back to the 15th century.In 1450, King James II granted the land to Bishop William Turnbull and the people of Glasgow...
and were distinctive because they continued to wear their kilts in contrast to the rest of the HLI, who wore trews
Trews
Trews are men's clothing for the legs and lower abdomen, a traditional form of tartan trousers from Scottish apparel...
.
Detachments were sent to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
and earned the battalion its first battle honour
Battle honour
A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags , uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible....
, for service on the Modder River
Battle of Modder River
The Battle of Modder River was an engagement in the Boer War, fought at Modder River, on 28 November 1899...
.
TF and WWI
In 1908 they became the 9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry, when they became part of the 52nd (Lowland) Division in the new Territorial ForceTerritorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
. During the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
they recruited another two home-based battalions, one of which was a Bantam
Bantam (military)
A bantam, in British army usage, was a soldier of below the British Army's minimum regulation height of 5ft. 3ins.During the First World War, the British Army raised battalions in which the normal minimum height requirement for recruits was reduced from 5'3" to 5'...
battalion, which were used to supply manpower to the 1st Battalion in France, which served with distinction with the Highland Light Infantry under the 2nd Division at the battles of Festubert
Battle of Festubert
The Battle of Festubert was an attack by the British army in the Artois region of France on the western front during World War I. It began on May 15, 1915 and continued until May 25.-Context:...
and Loos
Battle of Loos
The Battle of Loos was one of the major British offensives mounted on the Western Front in 1915 during World War I. It marked the first time the British used poison gas during the war, and is also famous for the fact that it witnessed the first large-scale use of 'new' or Kitchener's Army...
. In May 1916 they transferred to the 33rd Division and fought at the Somme (at High Wood
High Wood
High Wood is a small forest near Bazentin le Petit in the Somme département of northern France which was the scene of intense fighting for two months from 14 July to 15 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme.-Background:...
), Arras
Battle of Arras
The name Battle of Arras refers to a number of battles which took place near the town of Arras in Artois, France:*Battle of Arras , a clash between the French and the Spanish...
and Passchendaele. After the end of the war, the Glasgow Highlanders were disbanded along with the rest of the Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
. The story of the Battalion in the Great War would later be dramatised in the 1995 Bill Bryden
Bill Bryden
William Campbell Rough Bryden CBE is a British stage- and film director and screenwriter.-Biography:...
play, The Big Picnic, starring Jimmy Logan
Jimmy Logan
Jimmy Logan OBE, FRSAMD , born as James Allan Short, Dennistoun, Glasgow, was a Scottish performer, producer, impresario and director.-Family:...
.
TA and WWII
In 1920, it was re-established as the Territorial Army, and the Glasgow Highlanders re-raised a single battalion. They later moved to a new HeadquartersWalcheren Barracks
Walcheren Barracks is a Drill hall located at Hotspur Street in Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland. The current building was originally constructed in 1935 as the new Headquarters of the 9th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry, which moved from 81 Greendyke Street near Glasgow Green...
in Maryhill
Maryhill
Maryhill is an area of the City of Glasgow in Scotland. Maryhill is a former burgh. The population of Maryhill is about 52,000. Maryhill stretches over along Maryhill Road...
in 1935. When war was declared in 1939 the battalion went to war again and also raised a second battalion, they fought valiantly as part of the 52nd (Lowland) Division and 15th (Scottish) Division in the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, most notably during the capture of Walcheren Island during the Battle of the Scheldt
Battle of the Scheldt
The Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations of the Canadian 1st Army, led by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds. The battle took place in northern Belgium and southwestern Netherlands during World War II from 2 October-8 November 1944...
in November 1944.
Postwar
In 1949 it was redesignated the 1st Battalion, The Glasgow Highlanders, The Highland Light InfantryHighland Light Infantry
The Highland Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. In 1923 the regimental title was expanded to the Highland Light Infantry ...
(City of Glasgow Regiment) and in 1959 transferred from the Highland Light Infantry to the new Royal Highland Fusiliers
Royal Highland Fusiliers
The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
Regiment without change of title. In 1967, with the formation of the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR), the battalion laid up its colours and was amalgamated with the other TA battalions of Regiments in the Lowland Brigade
Lowland Brigade (Scottish)
The Lowland Brigade is a historical unit of the British Army which has been formed a number of times. It is traditionally Scottish as the name derives from the Scottish Lowlands.-World War II:...
, which were reformed as companies in three new TAVR battalions.
The name of the Glasgow Highlanders was initially carried on through HQ (Glasgow Highlanders) Company of the 52nd Lowland Volunteers and C (Glasgow Highlanders) Company of the 3rd (Territorial) Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers. With the disbandment of the latter in 1969, it was only carried on by HQ (Glasgow Highlanders) Company of the 1st Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers
52nd Lowland Regiment
The 52nd Lowland Regiment now forms the 6th Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, also known as 6 SCOTS. Due to its erstwhile association with the 1st Regiment of Foot, it is the senior Territorial line infantry battalion in the British Army...
. It later changed its affiliation to The Royal Highland Fusiliers
Royal Highland Fusiliers
The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
in 1973, thus formally ending the existence of a Glasgow Highlanders unit within the Territorial Army. The Glasgow Highlanders' name was continued by a platoon of the Army Cadet Force
Army Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9...
, attached to 52nd Lowland Regiment
52nd Lowland Regiment
The 52nd Lowland Regiment now forms the 6th Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, also known as 6 SCOTS. Due to its erstwhile association with the 1st Regiment of Foot, it is the senior Territorial line infantry battalion in the British Army...
. However in 2007, this ACF unit changed its affiliation to 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland and became F Platoon RHF (Maryhill) But still have the history of the Glasgow Highlanders taught to them.