Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)
| The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland | |
|---|---|
| Active | 28 March 2006-present |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 British Army |
| Type | Line Infantry |
| Role | Mechanized Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade |
| Garrison/HQ | Bourlon Barracks, Catterick Garrison, United Kingdom |
| Motto(s) | Nemo Me Impune Lacessit (No One Assails Me With Impunity) |
| Commanders | |
| Royal Colonel | HRH The Duke of Edinburgh |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical Recognition Flash |
 |
| Tartan |
Government Cameron of Erracht (Pipers kilts and plaids) |
| Hackle |
Blue From Queens Own Cameron Highlanders/Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons) |
| The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) | |
|---|---|
|
Cap Badge of the Highlanders | |
| Active | 17 September 1994 - 28 March 2006 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Heavy Protected Mobility |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Motto(s) | Cuidich 'n Righ (Help the King) |
| March | Quick: Wee Highland Laddie |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | HRH The Duke of Edinburgh |
| Insignia | |
| Tartan |
Gordon (kilt) Seaforth Mackenzie (trews) Cameron of Erracht (pipers and drummers kilts) |
The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS) is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Prior to 28 March 2006, the Highlanders was an infantry regiment in its own right; The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons), part of the Scottish Division. The regiment was the only one in the British Army with a Gaelic motto - Cuidich 'n Righ which means "Help the King".[1]
History
The regiment was formed on 17 September 1994 as part of the Options for Change defence review, by the amalgamation of the Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons) and the Gordon Highlanders.[2]
In 2004, as part of the restructuring of the infantry, it was announced that The Highlanders would be amalgamated with the other Scottish infantry regiments into the single large Royal Regiment of Scotland. The amalgamation took place on 28 March 2006. As with the other Scottish regiments, the Highlanders were permitted to retain their former name as the new battalion's primary title, with the battalion number as a subtitle.[2]
The battalion was based in Bad Fallingbostel, as part of 7 Armoured Brigade, the descendants of the Second World War's Desert Rats, equipped with the Warrior Infantry Vehicle[3] until 1 September 2015 when they moved to Bourlon Barracks in Catterick Garrison.[4] The battalion is now a heavy protected mobility battalion forming part of 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade.[5]
Uniform and traditions
The regiment wore the Gordon tartan when in kilts and the Seaforth Mackenzie when in trews. The pipers and drummers continue to wear the regimental cap badge and kilts in the Cameron of Erracht tartan. The battalion primarily recruits from the Hebrides, the Northern Isles, the mainland counties of Inverness-shire, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland, Caithness, Moray and Nairnshire, and from the traditional Gordon heartlands in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. The Battalion Headquarters is located at Cameron Barracks in Inverness.[6]
The battalion is the mainstay of the British Army's only shinty team, The Scots Shinty Club. Due to the 4th Battalion's regular placements abroad, the team only plays in cup matches.[7]
Colonel-in-Chief
- 1994–: F.M. HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT, OM, GBE, AC, QSO
Regimental Colonels
Regimental colonels were: [8]
- 1994–2001: Gen. Sir John Jeremy George Mackenzie, KCB, OBE, ADC
- 2001–2006: Brig. The Hon. Hugh Brisbane Henry Ewart Monro, MBE
- 2006: Regiment amalgamated with The Royal Scots, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, The Black Watch and The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders to form The Royal Regiment of Scotland
Alliances
Canada - The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own)- Canada - The 48th Highlanders of Canada
- Canada - The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
- Canada - The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
- Canada - The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own)
Australia - 5th/6th Bn, The Royal Victoria Regiment via The Victorian Scottish Regiment- Australia - 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment
- Australia - The Royal South Australia Regiment
- Australia - The Royal Western Australia Regiment
New Zealand - The Otago and Southland Regiment- New Zealand - The Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawke's Bay Regiment
South Africa - The Cape Town Highlanders
Royal Navy - HMS Sutherland- Royal Navy - HMS Victorious
Lineage
| Lineage | |||
| The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) | The Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons) | The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders | |
| The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's) | The 72nd (Duke of Albany's Own) Highlanders | ||
| The 78th Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs) | |||
| The Gordon Highlanders | The 75th (Stirlingshire) Regiment of Foot | ||
| The 92nd (Gordon Highlanders) Regiment of Foot | |||
References
- ↑ "Cuidich 'n Righ Single Malt Scotch Whisky". The Highlanders Museum. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- 1 2 "Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- ↑ "4 SCOTS". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- ↑ "Turning Catterick Into A "Super Garrison"". Forces TV. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ↑ "Regular Army Basing Announcement" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ↑ "Regimental Museum of The Queen's Own Highlanders". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- ↑ "SCOTS Camanachd – Armed Forces Shinty Club". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- ↑ "The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)". Regiments.og. Archived from the original on 9 February 2006. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
External links
- 4 SCOTS - on the British Army official website
- The Gordon Highlanders Museum