The 93^rd Sutherland Highlanders were widely acknowledged to be one of the most “Highland” of the Highland regiments. It’s been claimed that shortly before the Crimean War in 1854, only 30 of its members were not born in Sutherland, Inverness-shire or Ross-shire.

But only 16 years earlier, a snapshot of the regiment when it arrived in Canada in 1838 paints a different picture. Of 591 “other ranks” landed at Halifax in Nova Scotia 242 were born in the old Highland Counties of Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Inverness-shire and Nairnshire. Caithness supplied the largest contingent, 80 men; Sutherland, 55, Ross and Cromarty, 46; and Inverness-shire 49. The second-largest contribution to the regiment came from Aberdeenshire, 73 men.

Fife supplied 42 members of the regiment, while Lanarkshire, which included Glasgow, contributed 34, Elgin and Moray, 40, and Perthshire, 33. The regiment counted seven Englishmen and two Irishmen in its ranks. Seven soldiers gave no place of birth and were recorded as being born “in the regiment”, the sons of soldiers and their wives.

More than half of the men, 381 out of 591, were listed as farm workers or labourers on enlistment. Of the 210 recruits who listed a trade, 64 were weavers, 32 were shoemakers and 26 were tailors. One man listed himself as a hairdresser and two as pipers.

Just short of half the soldiers in 1838, a total of 255, had less than five years service, and only 30 had more than 14 years with the colours. Their average age was just short of 25 years old and the average height was 5’8”. Five years after the Crimean War, in March 1861, the 93^rd Sutherland Highlanders reported 92 Englishmen and 100 Irishmen out of a total of 1304 other ranks. Out of 51 officers, 29 were Scots, 18 were English and four were Irish.

 The 93rd Highlanders circa 1854

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Anyway, here's some of the information people have been looking for -

* The Irish regiments' pipers wore saffron kilts. So, if it's a recent photo, then either the Irish Guards or the Royal Irish Regiment. 

*The two Scottish battalions that were captured at Singapore in early 1942 were the 2nd Gordon Highlanders and the 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

* The 1st battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers landed on Sword Beach as part of the 3rd Division on June 6th 1944. The 51st Highland Division's 153 Brigade, (5th Black Watch, 1st Gordon Highlanders and 5/7 Gordon Highlanders) landed in Normandy later the same day. The commander of the 3rd Division, Maj.-Gen. Tom Rennie, would later replace the commander of the 51st Highland, Maj.-Gen.Charles Bullen-Smith, after the latter's performance in Normandy was condemned by General Montgomery. 

* I think best known of the so-called Pals Battalions to be raised in Scotland during the First World War would have been the 16th Royal Scots, often known as McCrea’s Battalion and centred around the Heart of Midlothian football team and its supporters, as well as players from several other east coast clubs. The 15th and 17th Royal Scots were also classed as Pals Battalions. The Highland Light Infantry’s 14th to 18th Battalions were also Pals, with the 15th (Tramways), 16th (Boys’ Brigade) and 17th (Chamber of Commerce) battalions being the best known. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 13th Battalion should also be included. It was also a Bantam Battalion, being formed from men under the usual minimum recruitment height of 5’3”. None of the Highland regiments, nor the KOSB or Royal Scots Fusiliers, had Pals Battalions.

* The Tyneside Scottish, although a Territorial Army artillery unit these days, wear Tam O'Shanters and red hackles to celebrate their long standing association with the Black Watch. 

* Yellow cuffs on a full dress Scottish-pattern scarlet doublet would suggest the Seaforth Highlanders, the Gordon Highlanders, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders or the King's Own Scottish Borderers. 

Read more: Ask Me

As promised, a sample chapter from Scottish Military Disasters. I first became aware of this battle at a bus stop in Norway. My Norwegian language skills were almost non-existent but there seemed to be a road sign announcing "This Way to Dead Scottish People". Sadly, I had a bus to catch and didn't have time to go where the sign was pointing. But a little research back in Scotland quickly solved the mystery.

Massacre in Norway

Kringen 1612

The ambush and massacre of a party of Scottish mercenaries in 1612 proved a key historical event for Norwegian nationalists trying to foster an independence movement from Sweden in the early 17th century. The myth-makers fastened onto the so-called Battle of Kringen as an example of gallant Norwegians banding together to repel a foreign foe. The fact that many of the 116 Scots murdered after the ambush had been virtually kidnapped and forced into mercenary service appears to have been conveniently forgotten.
But what were the Scots doing in Norway in 1612 anyway?

Read more: Book Extract

The Black Watch was the oldest of the Highland regiments. It traces its origins to the para-military force of Highlanders raised to police the north of Scotland in the 1720s. In 1739 it was decided to make it a full part of the British Army.

This is the text of the official commission ordering the creation of 43rd Regiment of Foot.

GEORGE R Whereas we have thought fit, that a regiment
of foot be forthwith formed under your command, and to consist
of ten companies, each to contain one captain, one lieutenant, one
ensign, three Serjeants, three corporals, two drummers, and one
hundred effective private men; which said regiment shall be partly
formed out of six Independent Companies of Foot in the Highlands
of North Britain, three of which are now commanded by
captains, and three by captain-lieutenants. Our will and pleasure
therefore is, that one serjeant, one corporal, and fifty private men,
be forthwith taken out of the three companies commanded by captains,
and ten private men from the three commanded by captainlieutenants,
making one hundred and eighty men, who are to be equally distributed into the four companies hereby to be raised; and the three Serjeants and three corporals, draughted as aforesaid,
to be placed to such of the four companies as you shall judge
proper; and the remainder of the non-commissioned officers and
private men, wanting to complete them to the above number, to be
raised in the Highlands with all possible speed; the men to be
natives of that country, and none other to be taken.
This regiment shall commence and take place according to the
establishment thereof. And of these our orders and commands,
you, and the said three captains, and the three captain-lieutenants
commanding at present the six Independent Highland Companies,
and all others concerned, are to take notice, and to yield obedience
thereunto accordingly.
Given at our Court at St. James's, this 25th day of October,
1739, and in the 13th year of our reign.
By His Majesty's Command,
(Signed) : Wm. Yonge.
To our Right Trusty and Right Well-
Beloved Cousin, John Earl of
Craufurd and Lindsay.

Read more: Men of the Black Watch