History of the Regiment

The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, the only Rifle Regiment amongst the Scottish regiments of infantry. It was formed in 1881 under the Cardwell Reforms by the amalgamation of two other regiments: the 26th Cameronian Regiment (1689) and the 90th Perthshire Light Infantry (1794).

 

The Cameronians were a unique part of Scottish history for over three hundred years. Their origins lie in the turbulent period of religious and political strife of the 1680′s. Their end came with the defence cuts of the 1960′s; their name finally erased from the Army List in 1995.

 

The original Cameronians were zealous Covenanters. Their devotion to the National Covenant (1638) and the Solemn League and Covenant (1643) meant that they would even do battle to defend their freedom to worship as they chose. Their heartland was in south west Scotland, in Galloway, Ayrshire, and in Clydesdale in particular.

 

When the crown ejected ministers from their parishes for refusing to submit to the rule of bishops, the Covenanters followed them to the hills and worshiped at open air services which came to be called conventicles. As the threat from government forces increased the Covenanters began to carry weapons to their conventicles and to post armed pickets to keep a lookout. This tradition was carried on through war and in peace until the day the Cameronians were eventually disbanded.

 

The Regiment was formed in one day, 14 May 1689, ‘without beat of drum’. They mustered on the holm, on the banks of the Douglas Water in South Lanarkshire. Their first Commanding Officer was William Cleland whilst their Colonel was the 19 year old Earl of Angus, son of the Marquis of Douglas.

 

The Regiment took its name from Richard Cameron, ‘The Lion of The Covenant’. Originally a field preacher he was killed, a bounty on his head, at the battle of Airds Moss in 1680. Cleland had led the Covenanters in battle at Drumclog and Bothwell Brig. His sword, one of the treasures of the Regiment, can still be seen today in the Regimental Museum in Hamilton. There too is the ‘Bloody Banner’ carried by the Covenanters at both battles.

 

Within weeks of their formation The Cameronians saw action as regular soldiers at the Battle of Dunkeld. There they showed their mettle with a staunch defence against a hugely superior number of rebel Highland troops, though it cost the life of the 28 year old Cleland. This fighting spirit was carried on in campaigns all over the world for the next 300 years. From 1750 they, like all of the regiments of the line, were given a number and were thereafter known as the 26th Regiment of Foot, The Cameronians.

Formation of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

As the 18th century drew to a close Britain faced the threat of war with the French. To counter this, the government authorised the raising of a number of new regiments. Amongst them were the 90th (Perthshire Light Infantry) and, in 1881, they were brought together with the 26th of Foot to form what was to become The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).

 

The 90th Perthshire Volunteers were raised in 1794 and by the following year had seen action in France. They acquitted themselves so well throughout the Napoleonic Wars that, on their return from Canada in 1815, they were re-designated as Light Infantry. The 90th Perthshire Light Infantry (or the ‘Perthshire Greybreeks’, as they were known) served in the Crimean War 1854 – 1856 and Private Alexander became the first man in the regiment to win the recently instituted Victoria Cross.

 

In 1857 they were in India where at the relief of Lucknow, one of the most famous operations in the Indian Mutiny, the regiment won a further six Victoria Crosses. After service in 1879 in South Africa during the Zulu War they were sent again to India and it was whilst there, in 1881, that they received news that they were to be given their new title: 2nd Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).

 

Queen Victoria is said to have specially selected the 90th for conversion – one might say promotion – to a rifle regiment by reason of its good service as Light Infantry. Undoubtedly a part of the 90th’s high reputation came from the fact that it had produced some very distinguished senior officers. Thomas Graham rose to Lieutenant General. He was second-in-command to the Duke of Wellington and later made Lord Lynedoch. One of his original officers, Rowland Hill, became Viscount Hill and was Commander-in-Chief of the army 1828 – 1842. Other great 90th figures were Field Marshal Viscount Wolseley (better known as Sir Garnet), who also become Commander-in-Chief, and Field Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood VC. Wood had taken part in the laying-up of old colours of the 90th at Perth in 1872. There were seven officers of the regiment on parade that day; three of them wore the Victoria Cross.

 

The creation of the new regiment, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), was as a result of reforms to the whole structure of the army. It was decided that all line regiments should consist of two regular battalions, one to serve at home whilst the other served abroad, usually in India. Both battalions gave up their standard red coats and adopted the rifle green with black buttons traditional for elite rifle regiments.

 

 

The 2nd Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), with Lieutenant Colonel Cooke in command, comprised 25 officers and 936 men and formed part of the 4th Brigade under Major – General Lyttelton. The 2nd Battalion sailed on the City of Cambridge on 23rd October 1899, and arrived at Durban about 21st November thereafter moving to their initial base at Mooi River on 3^rd December. From there, on 7th December, the Regiment moved a little further inland to Frere and by the 13^th were ready to take part in the battle of Colenso where they were ordered to act as support.

 

On the 15th the 4th Brigade was less heavily engaged than any of the other brigades present.  For this reason, and because it was, according to all accounts, most excellently handled, skilfully taking cover and moving in very extended order, its casualties were few.  At Colenso one company of the Scottish Rifles, along with part of the 3rd King’s Royal Rifles, acted as escort to Captain Jones and his two 4’7 and the 12-pounder naval guns, and the battalion had no losses.

 

On the afternoon of 10th January the brigade marched out from Frere and arrived at Spearman’s Hill, nearly opposite Brakfontein, on the 12th.  On the 16th they crossed the river and occupied some low hills. The Battle of Spionkop has been well-documented elsewhere, suffice to say, when reinforcements were called the Scottish Rifles were summoned. General Lyttelton sent out the 2 Battalion to report themselves to the commander on the top of Spionkop and they carried out their task in a way that won admiration.  The Scottish Rifles arrived at the summit of Spionkop between 2.30 and 3 pm and were pushed into the firing line by companies, which had to move on to the plateau in single file along a narrow path down which the wounded were being carried.  On reaching the plateau the two leading companies became hotly engaged at close range.  Some men of the 2nd and 3rd companies then charged the opposing Boers in flank, in order to relieve the pressure on ‘A’ company; this was successful. Gradually the battalion got extended, and by 4.40 pm had taken up a position across the summit.  At one part, on the right, when the Scottish Rifles pushed forward, the original firing line had quite disappeared, and the Boers were where it should have been, and that within 60 yards of rocks which, if occupied by the Boers, would have enabled them to command our only approach to the plateau.  Like other troops on the hill, the Scottish Rifles fought splendidly and held their ground marvellously well. 

 

Their losses on the day were very heavy.  Four officers and 33 men were killed or died of their wounds; 6 officers and about 60 men were wounded. 

 

In his telegraphic despatch of 27th January 1900 General Buller says, “Our men fought with great gallantry, and I would specially mention the conduct of the 2nd Scottish Rifles and 3rd King’s Royal Rifles, who supported the attack on the mountain from the steepest side, and in each case fought their way to the top, and the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers and 2nd Middlesex, who magnificently maintained the best traditions of the British army; and Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry, who fought throughout the day equally well alongside of them”. 

 

“Nothing could have been grander than the scaling of Spionkop by the Scottish Rifles and 60th of glorious reputation”.  General Buller.

The Brigade remained near Spearman’s till 3rd February then, marched to Swartzkop, further down river. On the 5th February, they again crossed to the north side and attacked the hill known as Vaalkrantz. It was found that the hill was subject to a very severe rifle and shell fire from the front and flanks. Fortunately a wall gave some shelter from rifle-fire. After dusk steps were taken to strengthen the wall and make other defences, but the ground was too rocky to allow proper trenches or gun emplacements to be made. Next morning the Boers opened an exceedingly heavy fire, so heavy that there was great difficulty in getting food or water taken to the men lining the wall.  This firing continued throughout the day.  At dusk on the 6th the 4th Brigade were relieved by Hildyard’s 2nd Brigade.

 

At Vaalkrantz the battalion lost 2 men killed and 1 officer and 33 men wounded.

 

The 4th Brigade took part in the fourteen days’ fighting between the 13th and 27th February, and were at times very heavily engaged.

 

On the 27th the 4th Brigade took part in the last and successful assault on the hill which had defied our people so long.  The Scottish Rifles were split up during most of the fourteen days, one-half being on the left and the other on the right.  The latter assisted in the attack on Pieter’s Hill on 27th February.

 

The losses of the battalion in the fourteen days’ fighting were approximately 3 men killed and 2 officers and 20 men wounded.  Eight officers and 14 men were mentioned in despatches for good work in the relief operations and 2 men, being recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal. 

 

In his list of commendations, dated 30th March 1900, General Buller, in referring to Lieutenant Colonel Cooke, used the words, “who commands an admirably trained battalion”. 

 

The 4th Brigade marched with General Buller in his turning movement via Helpmakaar, and while the 2nd, 10th, and 11th Brigades were turning the Laing’s Nek position, 8th to 11th June, the 4th Brigade operated in front of it.  At Laing’s Nek on 11th June 1900 the battalion’s losses were approximately 1 officer and one man killed, and 1 officer and 6 men wounded.  After the battle of Alleman’s Nek, which completed the success of the turning movement, the 4th Brigade moved over Laing’s Nek and along the railway, reaching Heidelberg before the end of June.  The headquarters of the Scottish Rifles were for over fourteen months at Greylingstad, and during the second phase of the war they were chiefly employed guarding the railway and doing some fighting on either side of it.  The officers of the battalion were sorely struck by the war; 13 were killed or died of wounds, and 10 were wounded.

 

Three officers and 1 non-commissioned officer were mentioned in General Buller’s final despatch of 9th November 1900, 9 officers and 17 non-commissioned officers and men in Lord Roberts’ final despatch, and 6 officers and 6 non-commissioned officers in the despatches of Lord Kitchener.
 

The information here was supplied by the Cameronian Regiment.