Queen's Own Highlanders

Created in 1961 as a result of the amalgamation of the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders and the Seaforth Highlanders, the Queens Own Highlanders embody the history and traditions of some of Scotlands oldest Highland regiments. Two great Highland families - Cameron of Lochdarroch and Mackenzie of Seaforth - were involved in the formation of the antecedent regiments and their tartans were incorporated in their successors uniform.

During its long history, the regiment has served in the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimea, the Indian Mutiny, the Boer War and the two World Wars of the twentieth century. After the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the Duke of Wellington specifically mentioned the Cameron Highlanders in his dispatches as a result of the bravery shown by Piper Kenneth Mackay, who left the safety of the regiments defensive square to encourage the men by playing the traditional rallying tune Cogadh no Sith (War or Peace - the True Gathering of the Clans).

In 1994, the Queens Own Highlanders amalgamated with the Gordon Highlanders, and in 2006 they became the 4th Battalion of the new Royal Regiment of Scotland. This account of the regiment is therefore a timely memorial to its long and distinguished history.