Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons)

Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons)
Cap badge of the Queen's Own Highlanders
Active 1961–1994
Country  United Kingdom
Branch British Army
Type Line Infantry
Role Armoured Infantry
Size One Battalion
Part of Scottish Division
Garrison/HQ Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh
Motto(s) Cuidich 'n Righ (Help the King)
March Quick: Pibroch o Donal Dubh/March of the Cameron Men/Cabarfeidh (There's also a Military Band/Pipes called Queen's Own Highlanders used to march off)
Commanders
Colonel-in-Chief HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
Insignia
Tartan Seaforth Mackenzie (trews)
Cameron of Erracht (pipers and drummers kilts)
Troops from the Queen's Own Highlanders searching for enemies during a patrol in 1963 during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation

The Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons), officially abbreviated "QO HLDRS," was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. It was in existence from 1961 to 1994.

History

The regiment was formed on 7 February 1961 at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, with the amalgamation of 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders and 1st Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.[1]

The battalion was sent to Singapore in April 1961 from where it was deployed to Brunei in December 1962 in order to help suppress the Brunei Revolt at an early stage of the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.[2] On return to Scotland in January 1964, it was based at Milton Bridge Camp, a former facility for German Prisoners of War, located south east of Glencorse Barracks.[2] In June 1964 the battalion moved to Mercer Barracks at Osnabrück Garrison, part of British Army of the Rhine, remaining there until August 1966 when the battalion moved to Wavell Barracks in Berlin.[2]

The battalion returned to Redford Barracks in September 1968 from where units were deployed to Sharjah in May 1969.[2] In April 1971 the battalion returned Osnabrück Garrison and moved into Belfast Barracks: from their units they were deployed to Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles.[2] In June 1976 the battalion returned to Scotland, this time to Ritchie Camp from where more units were deployed to Northern Ireland.[2] Then in March 1980 the battalion was despatched for a tour at Stanley Fort in Hong Kong before moving to Tidworth in November 1981.[2] Units of the battalion saw action in the Falklands War the following year.[2] The battalion moved to Alexander Barracks, Aldergrove in November 1983 and on to Fort George in November 1985.[2] In March 1988 the battalion moved to Buller Barracks in Münster from where units were deployed to Northern Ireland again and to the Gulf War in 1991.[2] The battalion returned to Scotland again in October 1993 and moved into Dreghorn Barracks this time.[2]

Due to the Options for Change defence review the battalion was amalgamated with 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders on 17 September 1994 to form 1st Battalion, Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons).[3]

Regimental museum

The Highlanders' Museum is based at Fort George.[4]

Traditions

The regiment wore the MacKenzie tartan kilt and Cameron trews, with the reverse for the band members along with all members of Headquarters Company.[5]

Colonel-in-Chief

Regimental Colonels

Colonels of the regiment were:[6]

Allied regiments

The regiment had the following alliances:[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons)". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on December 30, 2005. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Queen's Own Highlanders". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Welcome". The Highlanders' Museum. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  5. ↑ "Regimental tartans". Tartans Authority. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons)". regiments.org. Archived from the original on 30 December 2005. Retrieved 13 February 2017.

Further reading

  • Regimental H.Q., Queen's Own Highlanders. Queen's Own Highlanders: A Short History. Inverness: Highland Printers, 1961.
  • Regimental H.Q., Queen's Own Highlanders. Queen's Own Highlanders 1961–1971. Inverness: A. Learmonth & Son, 1971.
  • Lieutenant Colonel Fairrie, Angus. "Cuidich'n Righ": A History of the Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons). Inverness: Regimental H.Q., Queen's Own Highlanders, 1983.
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