Glasgow Highlanders

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For Information

Glasgow Highlanders

5^th (Glasgow Highland) Volunteer Battalion - Highland Light Infantry 1868-1908

The Highland population of Glasgow raised in 1861 three companies of Rifle Volunteers, they served in the 61^st & 93 Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers as the 1^st & 2^nd Highland and Highland Volunteer Rifles respectively. Eventually all men agreed to become part of the 4^th Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers.

A meeting was held on the 24^th April 1868 with men of the Highland battalion of rifle volunteers from Highland residents of Glasgow City who volunteered their services, they eventually were joined by 187 officers and men from the 3 Highland companies of the 4^th Lanark Rifle Volunteers.

The original title of the battalion was the 105^th Lanarkshire (Glasgow Highland) Rifle Volunteers and it consisted of 12 companies, 4 being restricted to the inhabitants of various areas of Glasgow and the Highlands.

From its inception the battalion wore a uniform modelled on that of the 42^nd Royal Highlanders( Black Watch). This was not a surprising choice as the 42^nd were the senior Highland Regiment. What made the Glasgow Highlanders unique in volunteering history is that by the time they had become the 5^th Volunteer Battalion Highland Light Infantry they were wearing a virtually identical uniform to that of the Black Watch. When officers adopted the feather bonnet in 1902 the only difference was that the bonnet hackle was white over red, the Black Watch’s being red.

The difference in uniform may have accounted for the feeling of superiority that the Glasgow Highlanders have always fostered.

1868 of the 12 companies raised in 1868, eight were open to general recruiting, others were raised as follows:-

C Company - from Highland residents of Partick

E Company - from Highland residents of Crosshills

F Company - from natives of the Isle of Islay

G Company- from natives of Argyllshire

1880 10^th Lanark (Glasgow Highland) Rifle Volunteer Corps - 12 Companies

1887 5^th ( Glasgow Highland) Rifle Volunteer Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.

In 1899 the Duke of Argyll, KC, GMG, GCVO, VD, was appointed honorary Colonel.

Battalion HQ and Drill Hall were eventually sited at 81 Greendyke Street and by 1900 six companies were localised as follows

A Company - from Highland residents of Springburn

B Company - from Highland residents of Whiteinch

C Company - from Highland residents of Partick

E Company - from Highland residents of Queens Park

F Company - from natives of the Island of Islay

M Company- from Highland residents of Hillhead

in the same year a 13^th Cyclist Company was raised.

No fewer than 134 members saw action during the Boer War in South Africa serving in various service companies of the Highland Light Infantry as well as the Imperial Yeomanry.

As part of the 1908 reforms, the 5thVolunteer (Glasgow Highland) HLI became the 9^th(Territorial Force) (Glasgow Highland) Battalion Highland Light Infantry until 1939..

In 1939 they became the 1st Battalion The Glasgow Highlanders ( still attached to the HLI), and the two part scroll (“ 9^th Btn HLI”) on the lower part of the badge was changed to a three part scroll “Highland Light Infantry”, with the “Highland” part centred over the Sphinx. The Crown was changed from the Kings type to Queens type in 1953.

The Glasgow Highlanders had three battalions during WW1 and two battalions in WW2, the 1^st was posted to the 157 Brigade ( Lowland) landing in Holland in Oct 1944. The 2^nd served in the 46Brigade ( 15^th Scottish Division) landing in Normandy on the 14^th June 1944.

The Glasgow Highlanders continued to wear the latter badge after WW 2. In 1967 the TA reorganisation reduced the to a company of the 52 Lowland Volunteers. The Glasgow Highlanders continued to wear Black Watch Kilts. I am not sure of the present status of the Glasgow Highlanders.

[sotonmate]

Trevor1

You could try to find the current status from this page from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Briti..._Regiments_1994

If they aren't there they have disappeared into the identity of another Regiment under Government reorganisation.

Best wishes

Sotonmate

[Heid the Ba]

The short version is that the HLI merged with the RSF to form the Royal Highland Fusiliers which became the 2nd battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

If you need the long version then Google is your friend . . .

[BigT]

Just trying to clarify an earlier posting. The Glasgow Highlanders are not may area of interest. I just remeber my Father in Law ( who served in the 9th HLI) pulling me up when I sugested that the HLI wore Mackenzie Tartan. The RHF had avery good display in their Museum.