Thin Red Line - 152 years anniversary

[emanday]

One of the most famous events in Scottish military history occurred today in 1854 when the 93rd Highland Regiment (later known as the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) stood firm against a Russian attack during the Battle of Balaklava during the Crimean War. The 93rd were arranged two deep in extended line between Russian cavalry and a large British camp. When the Russians attacked the Scots soldiers were ordered to hold their fire until the enemy came very close, thus breaking the enemy's charge. The action was observed by a war correspondent who termed the phrase a "thin red streak tipped with a line of steel" that has become synonymous with heroic actions by the British army and others ever since.

I might be in Bristol, but I get my Scotsman delivered online every day. This was one of the articles in today's issue.

[CatrionaL]

Mary

As tomorrow is Remembrance Day, it seems an appropriate moment for folks to read/re-read your post.

Best wishes

Catriona

[Maisie]

Mary

I've only just spotted this post. Thanks to you I have realised that yesterday was the 152nd anniversary of the death of George Condie, my gggrandmother's older brother who was in the Scots Fusilier Guards and died of wounds suffered in the Battle of Inkerman. It is only by the happy coincidence of having two family members who are a professional military historian and a very amateur family historian that we identified who he was earlier this year. Before that he had just been a name on a medal at the back of a drawer.

I'll be remembering him tomorrow as representing all the sons of Scotland who looked for a better life as a professional soldier, and fought and died overseas with often no memorial or family to honour them.

Maisie

[emanday]

I used to watch the wreath laying at the Cenotaph and the march past on TV with my Dad.

Ever since, I've never missed it. I always cry, even though, as far as we know so far, none of our ancestors were lost in either of the wars.

[DavidWW]

The history of the naming and numbering of the regular Scottish (and English ) regiments of the British army can be a nightmare, and run a mile if you get into the area of the militia, yeomanry, rifle volunteers etc.

I just happen to have become very interested in the subject, starting from a family history angle some years ago.

There was a major reform in 1881, - the Cardwell reforms created a new structure of amalgamated "paired" regiments for foot regiments above number 25 - those with lower numbers already had 2 or more battalions, - the exception, - isn't there always one , was the 79th of Foot, the Cameron Highlanders, who then had 2 battalions and remained as a regiment of that name.

Part of the idea behind the pairing was that the one battalion would be on foreign service while the other remained at home at the regimental depot, training, recruiting, as well as occasionally providing drafts to their sister battalion abroad to make up losses suffered from action and illness. This mostly worked, except at times of major conflict when both battalions quite often ended up abroad. (There's a famous occasion involving one regiment whose 1st Bn met the 2nd Bn in the middle of nowhere, so they stopped and had a bit of a natter and a wee swally or two, - can't recall if it was Egypt, The Sudan, or South Africa, - nor the regiment - The Gordons??)

Prior to 1881 the 3rd most junior Scottish regiment ("junior" = precedence based on the date of raising) was the 91st (Princess Louise's Argyllshire Highlanders) Regiment of Foot, and the 3rd most junior the 93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot.

In 1881 they were united to form Princess Louise's (Sutherland and Argyll Highlanders). While it has been this regiment that has maintained the "Thin Red Line" tradition, it was the 93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot who were the "thin red streak tipped with a line of steel" at Balaklava. (It was only a bit later that the "Sutherland" and "Argyll" were reversed in the name.)

Hopefully the traditions will now be maintained by The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, - the "super-regiment" formed earlier this year, containing the 6 surviving Scottish regiments of foot (The Royal Scots, 1st of Foot, were amalgamated with the 25th of Foot, the King's Own Scottish Borderers).

For full details of the history of any Scottish regiments, see www.regiments.org , - it's a vast site, so might take a wee bit of time to learn how to navigate, but well worth the effort.

David

[emanday]

Their museum in Stirling Castle is well worth a visit. In fact, the castle itself is fascinating. We were there for hours and were really impressed with the care that is being taken of their artifacts. The soldiers serving there are very proud of their history and can be extremely helpful.

[StewL]

I have a bit of an affinity with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Through my cousin who spent 12 years in the regiment between the 1950's to the late 1960's. He spent time in a few countries including Aden (yes he was in that famous march into the crater district), Germany, Hong Kong and Singapore. I even saw a picture of him in a bar in Singapore He paid off as a sergeant. But during my travels in the Navy I never met up with the regiment. I did have frequent meet ups the Royal Scots Fuseliers though in different parts of the far east But regretably not with an old pal from Scotland who was in the regiment, he never seemed to be there with the Fuseliers when I bumped into them. In my forays into the wonders of the far east

I still remember my cousin fully kilted up on his way to the barracks, and sometimes in his troos. What a sight for a wee laddie, my school pals thought he was the bees knees too.