Highland Light Infantry

Highland Light Infantry. The Highland Light Infantry was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by amalgamating the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot and the 74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot. Based primarily in Glasgow and the west of Scotland, it was unique as the only Highland regiment to wear trews instead of the kilt. The regiment served with distinction across the British Empire and in both world wars before being amalgamated into the Royal Highland Fusiliers in 1959.

History

The regiment's origins trace to its founding regiments, with the 71st Foot raised in 1777 and the 74th Foot in 1787. It first saw collective action in the Second Boer War, fighting in major engagements like the Battle of Modder River and the Relief of Ladysmith. During the First World War, the regiment expanded to 25 battalions, serving on the Western Front, at Gallipoli, in Mesopotamia, and in Palestine, suffering heavy casualties at battles such as the Battle of Loos and the Battle of the Somme. In the Second World War, battalions fought in the Battle of France, the North African campaign, the Italian campaign, and the Burma campaign, including notable actions at the Second Battle of El Alamein and the Gothic Line. Post-war, it served in British Malaya during the Malayan Emergency before amalgamation.

Regimental traditions

Despite its Highland designation, the regiment wore government tartan trews, a tradition inherited from the 74th Foot, leading to the nickname "The Glesga Keelies." Its motto, "Cuidich 'n Righ," was granted for service to George IV during his 1822 visit to Edinburgh. The regimental march was "The Highland Laddie," and its headquarters were at Maryhill Barracks in Glasgow. The regiment maintained a close association with the city of Glasgow, drawing many recruits from its industrial population, and was affiliated with the Royal Navy warship HMS *Glasgow*.

Battle honours

The regiment was awarded numerous battle honours, reflecting its global service. Key honours from the Napoleonic Wars include Assaye and Cape of Good Hope. First World War honours encompass major engagements like Loos, Somme, Arras, Ypres, and Gallipoli. Second World War honours include Dunkirk, El Alamein, Anzio, Monte Cassino, and Kohima. The regiment also bore honours from colonial campaigns such as the Third Anglo-Maratha War and the Second Anglo-Afghan War.

Notable members

Notable members include General Sir John Moore, a founder of light infantry tactics who served with the 71st; Major John MacKenzie, a recipient of the Victoria Cross during the Waziristan campaign (1919–1920); and Lieutenant Colonel Lorne MacLaine Campbell, awarded the Victoria Cross for leadership at the Battle of Wadi Akarit. The writer John Buchan served with the regiment during the First World War, and Field Marshal Sir William Robertson began his career in the 71st Foot.

Memorials and legacy

The principal memorial to the regiment is the Highland Light Infantry Memorial in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow, sculpted by George Henry Paulin. Other memorials are located at the National War Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh Castle and within Glasgow Cathedral. The regiment's legacy is preserved by the Royal Highland Fusiliers, its successor, and through collections held by Glasgow Museums and the Imperial War Museum. Its history is also commemorated by the Highland Light Infantry Association and in regimental museums.

Category:Infantry regiments of the British Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1881 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1959