The Queens Own Cameron Highlanders

Regiment - Year and Title

• 1948 - 2nd Battalion disbanded.
• 1961 - Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons), on amalgamation with The Seaforth Highlanders.
• 1994 - 1st Battalion The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons), on amalgamation with The Gordon Highlanders.

The regiment had scarcely completed its equipment when it was ordered to Flanders to support the armies under the Duke of York against the French. Following that campaign orders were issued for the 79th to be drafted into four other regiments, but after a stormy interview between Cameron and the Duke of York the order was rescinded. The regiment was then sent to Martinique where it suffered so severely from disease and from illegal drafting that on its return to this country it had to be largely re-formed in 1798. The first campaign in which the 79th came into personal conflict with the enemy was in 1799 in Holland, where it gained its first battle honour for its share in the attack on Egmont-op-Zee. In 1801 it formed part of Sir Ralph Abercromby's expedition to Egypt and for its services was granted the distinction of the Sphinx superscribed "Egypt".

From 1809 to 1813 the regiment was engaged under the Duke of Wellington in driving the French out of Portugal and Spain. It took part in all the major battles of the Peninsular campaign and specially distinguished itself at Fuentes d'Onor. The 79th was one of four regiments specially mentioned by Wellington in his dispatch on the battle of Quatre Bras in the Waterloo campaign of 1815. At Waterloo the 79th formed square and withstood the charges of the enemy cavalry whilst the pipers played spirited airs inside the square and one, Piper Mackay, played round the outside. All its senior officers were either killed or wounded and the regiment returned to its bivouac under the command of Lieutenant Alexander Cameron, a nephew of the founder.

The regiment was in the Highland Brigade in the Crimean War and won special praise for its conduct on the Alma and at Sevastopol.

In the Indian Mutiny it was present at the final capture of Lucknow and in the subsequent pursuit captured the colours of the 7th Oude Irregular Infantry and four of the enemy's guns.

In 1873 Queen Victoria directed that the regiment should thenceforth he styled "The Queen's Own " and the facings were changed from green to blue to denote the royal connection. The Thistle, ensigned with the Imperial Crown, was also granted as a badge. When the army was reorganised in 1881 the 79th became the only single battalion regiment.

At Tel-el-Kebir, in the Egyptian campaign of 1882, Private Donald Cameron was the first man in the brigade to gain the top of the enemy's trenches.

A second Battalion was raised in 1897.

At Atbara in 1898 the regiment had the honour of leading the British brigade.

In the South African war of 1899-1902 General Smith-Dorrien said of the Camerons, "You have done more marching than any other regiment in South Africa but I have never met a more uncomplaining regiment".

In the war of 1914-1918 the Camerons raised 13 battalions and fought with much distinction on the Western Front and in Mesopotamia and Macedonia. At the battle of Loos, five battalions took a prominent part. Only the 1st and 2nd battalions were regulars, the others consisted of the Special Reserve, Territorial and War Service battalions.

In the 1939-1945 war the regiment served in France 1939-1940, Burma, Western Desert, Eritrea, Sicily, Italy and Northwest Europe.

Regimental Tartan

• Kilts of 79th or Erracht Cameron tartan. It was worn by both battalions and the band.

Regimental Tartans

• Kilts of MacKenzie tartan, trews of Cameron of Erracht tartan for all ranks except the pipers and bandsmen.
• For the pipers and bandsmen, the reverse of above; kilts of Cameron of Erracht tartan, and trews of Mackenzie tartan.

Regimental Tartans

• 78th Mackenzie tartan, 79th Cameron of Erracht and the 92nd Gordon tartan.
• It was decided that the regiment, less the pipers and drummers, should wear the Gordon tartan kilt and a patch of Cameron tartan in the Balmoral bonnet.
• The pipers and drummers wear the Cameron kilt and a patch of Gordon tartan in the Balmoral bonnet.
• The regiment as a whole also wear trews of Mackenzie tartan.

The Highlanders are still an active serving regiment in the British Army.