Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland

| image = Queen's Own Highlanders.gif

| caption = Former cap badge of the Highlanders

| dates = 17 September 1994 – present

| country = {{flag|United Kingdom}}

| branch = {{army|United Kingdom}}

| type = Infantry

| command_structure = 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade

| role = Mechanized Infantry

| size = Battalion
743 personnel{{cite web|url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2018-11-22/194616|title=Army – Question for Ministry of Defence|page=1|access-date=14 December 2020}}

| current_commander =

| garrison = RHQ – Cameron Barracks{{cite web|url=http://www.qohldrs.co.uk/html/contacts.htm|title=Contacts for Queen's Own Highlanders|access-date=24 February 2021}}
Battalion – Catterick Garrison

| ceremonial_chief =

| ceremonial_chief_label = Colonel-in-Chief

| colonel_of_the_regiment =

| nickname =

| motto = Cuidich 'n Righ (Help the King)

| colours =

| march = Quick: Wee Highland Laddie

| mascot =

| battles =

| notable_commanders =

| anniversaries =

| identification_symbol_2 = [https://web.archive.org/web/20100919022713/http://www.regiments.org/tradition/tartans/gordon.htm Gordon (kilt)]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20101011211649/http://www.regiments.org/tradition/tartans/mackenz.htm Seaforth Mackenzie (trews)]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20071016203921/http://www.regiments.org/tradition/tartans/camerone.htm Cameron of Erracht (pipers and drummers kilts)]

| identification_symbol_2_label = Tartan

| identification_symbol = 70px

| identification_symbol_label = Tactical Recognition Flash

| identification_symbol_3 = Blue
From Queens Own Cameron Highlanders/Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons)

| identification_symbol_3_label = Hackle

}}

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 one of only two in the British Army with a Gaelic motto – Cuidich 'n Righ which means "Help the King".{{Cite book|title=Queen's Own Highlanders: A Short History.|page=6. Regimental H.Q., QO Hldrs}} (The other is the Royal Irish Regiment.){{cite web|url=https://www.royal-irish.com/stories/a-tradition-is-born-the-origin-of-the-motto-faugh-a-ballagh-and-the-royal-irish-green-hackle|title=A Tradition is Born - the Origin of the motto 'Faugh a Ballagh' and the Royal Irish Green Hackle|publisher=Royal Irish|access-date=26 April 2018|archive-date=12 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112162056/http://www.royal-irish.com/stories/a-tradition-is-born-the-origin-of-the-motto-faugh-a-ballagh-and-the-royal-irish-green-hackle|url-status=dead}}

History

File:Royal Regiment of Scotland Saddleworth Moor.jpg during the 2018 United Kingdom wildfires.]]

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.{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/highlanders-seaforth-gordons-and-camerons.html|title=Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)|publisher=British Army units 1945 on|access-date=25 May 2014}}

The new regiment undertook a two-year tour of Northern Ireland from April 1995, and were stationed at Ebrington Barracks in County Londonderry. After being based in various locations around the United Kingdom, the battalion was deployed to Bosnia in 2003.{{Cite book|title=The Highlander. The Regimental Journal of The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordon and Cameron), Winter 2003, Volume 9, Number 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. They therefore became The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Prior to amalgamation, the battalion moved to the Bergen-Hohne Garrison, Bad Fallingbostel, in Germany,{{cite web|url= http://baor-locations.org/StBabsFally.aspx.html |title=St Barbara Barracks| publisher=BAOR Locations| access-date=18 February 2020}} as part of 7 Armoured Brigade, the descendants of the Second World War's Desert Rats, equipped with the Warrior Infantry Vehicle.{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/26342.aspx|title=4 SCOTS|access-date=25 May 2014}} From here they undertook six-month tours of Iraq in 2005–06{{Cite book|title=The Highlander. The Regimental Journal of The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordon and Cameron), Winter 2005, Volume 11, Number 2.}} and 2008, and Afghanistan in April 2011.{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12951114|title=Scottish soldiers deploy to Afghanistan|work=BBC News |date=3 April 2011 |access-date=18 February 2020}}

In September 2015 the battalion moved from Germany to Bourlon Barracks in Catterick Garrison,{{cite web|url=http://www.forces.tv/85289220|title=Turning Catterick Into A "Super Garrison"|publisher=Forces TV|access-date=1 September 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924014532/http://www.forces.tv/85289220|url-status=dead}} where they became a heavy protected mobility battalion forming part of 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade.{{cite web|url=http://www.aff.org.uk/linkedfiles/aff/latest_news_information/cregulararmybasingannouncementgridunclas.pdf |title=Regular Army Basing Announcement |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=8 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814181412/http://www.aff.org.uk/linkedfiles/aff/latest_news_information/cregulararmybasingannouncementgridunclas.pdf |archive-date=14 August 2016 }}

As a result of Army 2020 Refine restructure, the battalion joined the Strike Experimentation Group in 2020.{{Cite book|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/632554/2017-02130.pdf|title=Information on the Army 2020 refine exercise|publisher=Ministry of Defence (UK)|year=2017|location=Marlborough Lines Andover, Hampshire United Kingdom}}

Uniform and traditions

While the 4 SCOTS now wear the [http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb309/hammersfan_01/Tartans/Sutherland.gif Government 1A pattern tartan], prior to amalgamation in 2006 the regiment wore the Gordon tartan when in kilts and the Seaforth Mackenzie when in trews. The battalion's pipers and drummers wear kilts in the Cameron of Erracht tartan. The battalion 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.culture24.org.uk/sc000178|title=Regimental Museum of The Queen's Own Highlanders|access-date=25 May 2014}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.shinty.com/news/scots-camanachd-armed-forces-shinty-club/|title=SCOTS Camanachd – Armed Forces Shinty Club|access-date=25 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110121948/http://www.shinty.com/news/scots-camanachd-armed-forces-shinty-club/|archive-date=10 November 2012|url-status=dead}}

Colonel-in-Chief

1994–2006: Field Marshal The Duke of Rothesay (The King since 2022) {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KG|KT|GCB|OM|AK|QSO|CD|PC|ADC}}
2006–2021: Field Marshal The Duke of Edinburgh, {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KG|KT|OM|ONZ|AK|GCVO|GBE|QSO|GCL|CC|CMM|CD|PC|ADC(P)}}

Regimental Colonels

Regimental colonels were:{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/072H%28SGC%29.htm |title=The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) |publisher=Regiments.org |access-date=28 February 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209011139/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/072H%28SGC%29.htm |archive-date=9 February 2006 }}

1994–2001: Gen. Sir John Jeremy George Mackenzie
2001–2006: Brig. Hugh Brisbane Henry Ewart Monro
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

{{CAN}} - The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own)
{{CAN}} - The 48th Highlanders of Canada
{{CAN}} - The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
{{CAN}} - The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
{{CAN}} - The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own)
{{AUS}} - 10th/27th Bn, Royal South Australia Regiment
{{AUS}} - 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment via The Victorian Scottish Regiment and historically 37th/52nd Battalion (Australia)
{{AUS}} - 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment
{{AUS}} - The Royal South Australia Regiment
{{AUS}} - 16th Battalion, The Royal Western Australia Regiment - Formally the 16th Battalion, The Cameron Highlanders of Western Australia
{{NZL}} - The Otago and Southland Regiment
{{NZL}} - The Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawke's Bay Regiment
{{RSA}} - Cape Town Highlanders
{{navy|United Kingdom}} - HMS Sutherland
{{navy|United Kingdom}} - HMS Victorious

Lineage

|- style="text-align: center; background: #F08080;"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="4"|Lineage

|- style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan="5" style="width:20%; "| The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)

| rowspan="3" style="width:20%; "| The Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons)

| colspan="2" style="width:20%; "| The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders

| rowspan="2" style="width:20%; text-align:center;"|The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's)

| style="width:20%; text-align:center;"|The 72nd (Duke of Albany's Own) Highlanders

| style="width:25%; text-align:center;"|The 78th Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs)

| rowspan="2" style="width:20%; text-align:center;"| The Gordon Highlanders

| colspan="2" style="width:20%; text-align:center;"| The 75th (Stirlingshire) Regiment of Foot

| colspan="2" style="width:20%; text-align:center;"|The 92nd (Gordon Highlanders) Regiment of Foot

References

External links

[http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/26342.aspx 4 SCOTS] - on the British Army official website
[https://www.thehighlandersmuseum.com/ The Highlanders Museum]
[http://www.gordonhighlanders.com/ The Gordon Highlanders Museum]

Category:Highland regiments

Category:Infantry regiments of the British Army

Category:Royal Regiment of Scotland