Scottish Horse: Difference between revisions
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== Decorations and Awards == |
== Decorations and Awards == |
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[[Image:VCWilliamJohnEnglish.jpg|thumb|120px|[[William John English|Lt Col English VC]]]] |
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=== Victoria Cross === |
=== Victoria Cross === |
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Lt [[William John English]] VC (later Lt Col) was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroism on 3 July 1901 in South Africa whilst serving as a Lieutenant in The Scottish Horse. |
Lt [[William John English]] VC (later Lt Col) was awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] for his heroism on [[3 July]] [[1901]] in South Africa whilst serving as a Lieutenant in The Scottish Horse. |
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The citation read: |
The citation read: |
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''This officer, with five men, was holding the position at Vlakfontein on 3 July 1901 during an attack by the Boers. Two of his men were killed and two wounded, but the position was still held, largely owing to the lieutenant's personal pluck. When the ammunition ran short, he went over to the next party and obtained more; to do so he had to cross some 15 yards of open ground, under a heavy fire at a range of from 20 to 30 yards.'' |
''This officer, with five men, was holding the position at [[Vlakfontein]] on 3 July 1901 during an attack by the Boers. Two of his men were killed and two wounded, but the position was still held, largely owing to the lieutenant's personal pluck. When the ammunition ran short, he went over to the next party and obtained more; to do so he had to cross some 15 yards of open ground, under a heavy fire at a range of from 20 to 30 yards.'' |
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== Honorary Colonels and Commanding Officers == |
== Honorary Colonels and Commanding Officers == |
Revision as of 18:02, 27 April 2009
The Scottish Horse | |
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Active | 1900-1956 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Army |
Type | Yeomanry |
Role | Formation Reconnaissance Infantry Artillery Army Air Corps |
Size | One Regiment |
Colors | Black and Gold |
March | The Scottish Horse The Garb of Old Gaul |
Engagements | Anzio |
Insignia | |
Regimental Tartan (Murray of Atholl) | |
Stable Belt Colours |
The Scottish Horse was a Yeomanry Regiment of the British Territorial Army from 1900 to 1956 when it was amalgimated with the The Fife and Forfar Yeomanry.
Raised in South Africa in 1900 for service in the Boer War. The Regiment saw heavy fighting in both the Great War as 13th Battalion of The Black Watch and in World War II as part of The Royal Artillery.
Today the combined regiment is perpetuated by "C" (FFY/SH) Squadron of The Queen's Own Yeomanry based in Cupar,Fife and 655(Scottish Horse) Squadron Army Air Corps based in Northern Ireland.
History
Formation and the Boer War1900-1902
The Scottish Horse raised for the South African War in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Pietermaritzburg and expanded to two regiments.
The 1st and 2nd Scottish Horse formed from Australian volunteers, drafts from Scotland and South Africa. In 1902 both regiments were disbanded at Edinburgh Castle, after repatriating Australians and discharging South Africans.
Later in 1902 The Scottish Horse were reconstituted as two regiments by the Duke of Atholl, both claiming descent from the original Scottish Horse:
- A British Army Regiment (who's history is below)
- Volunteer Regiment in Transvaal Army (By June 1906, it was 396 men strong, however, it was disbanded in 1907 in favour of the Transvaal's Imperial Light Horse.)
Scottish Horse Imperial Yeomanry 1903-1913
Returnign to Scotland after the Second Boer War initially as an Imperial Yeomanry Regiment of four Squadrons the Scottish Horse was made the county Yeomanry Regiment for Perthshire, Aberdeenshire, Elgin, Nairn, and Argyllshire. By 1908 the Scottish Horse had been expanded to two Regiments (eight Squadrons in total) with its Headquarters at Dunkeld co-located with the Headquarters of the 1st Regiment.
Great War 1914-1918
The First Scottish Horse Brigade
The 1st and 2nd Scottish Horse were expanded with the creation of the 3rd Regiment in August 1914 and the Scottish Horse Brigade was then formed with these three Regiments in September 1914.
By January 1915 the Scottish Horse Brigade was attached to the 50th Division, on coastal defence duties in the UK.
Gallipoli and Egypt
By August 1915 the regiment was ready for foreign service and ended up dismounted landing at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on 2 September 1915 attached to 2nd Mounted Division.
December 1915 saw the 1st,2nd and 3rd Regiments evacuated from Gallipoli and moved to Egypt. Due to heavy casualties the Scottish Horse Brigade was absorbed into 1st Dismounted Brigade on Suez Canal defences in Feb 1916.
Macedonia
By October 1916 the 1st and 2nd Regiments formed 13th (Scottish Horse Yeomanry) Battalion, the Black Watch (with the 3rd Regiment forming into the 26th Squadron, the Machine Gun Corps and continuing to serve in Egypt).
The 13th (Scottish Horse Yeomanry) Battalion of The Black Watch were sent to fight in Salonika as part of the 81st Brigade in 27th Division. It was during this time that the water colour titled "Sport In War" was painted showing the Officers of the 13th Regiment hunting in Macedonia just after returning from a raid on Hungarian Lines.
Western Front
With victory looming on the Macedonia front the Regiment was transferred to 149th Brigade, 50th Division in the Western Front in June 1918. They remained on the front until the end of the war.
The Scottish Horse Mounted Brigade
Three more Regiments were formed in August and September 1914 and attached to 1st Scottish Horse Mounted Brigade. They were converted into cyclist units in July 1916 and remained in the Great Britain until 1918 when they were moved to Ireland.
Inter-War Years 1919-1939
In 1920 the Scottish Horse reconstituted as part of the Territorial Army with it HQ again at Dunkeld.
World War II 1939-45
Starting the war as reconnaissance mounted cavalry, the horse were withdrawn at Dunkeld and after a brief wait dismounted.
In 1940 The Scottish Horse Regiment was split to become the 79th (The Scottish Horse) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery and 80th (The Scottish Horse) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery.
During the war, the regiment won a Distinguished Service Order, 14 Military Crosses, an OBE, 7 MBEs, 2 Distinguished Conduct Medals, 19 Military Medals and 83 Mentions in Despatches. From Fife Today.
The Post War Period 1945-1956
In 1947 the Scottish Horse rejoined the Territorial Army list with an HQ back at Dunkeld.
They were transferred from the Royal Artillery to become part of the Royal Armoured Corps. At this time the Regiment was made up of two Squadrons of Scottish Horse and the third from theLovat Scouts.
This was to be short lived and by 1949 the Lovat Scouts had be roled as Artillery leaving the Scottish Horse and The Royal Armoured Corps.
In 1956 an amalgimation was announced with the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry and on 31 October 1956 the Scottish Horse become part of anew Regiment know as the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse.
Battle Honours
The battle honours were displayed on the guidons of the Scottish Horse which are now laid up in Dunkeld Cathedral.
The battle honours were carried forward on to the guidon of the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse and are repsented today, on to the guidon of the Queen's Own Yeomanry.
Boer War
- South Africa 1900-02
The Great War
- Beaurevoir
- Selle
- Sambre
- France and Flanders 1918
- Macedonia 1916-18
- Gallipoli 1915
- Rumani
- Egypt 1915-16
The Second World War
- Badge of the Royal Regiment of Artillery badge with year-dates "1943-45"
- North-West Europe
- Sicily
- Italy
Decorations and Awards
Victoria Cross
Lt William John English VC (later Lt Col) was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroism on 3 July 1901 in South Africa whilst serving as a Lieutenant in The Scottish Horse.
The citation read:
This officer, with five men, was holding the position at Vlakfontein on 3 July 1901 during an attack by the Boers. Two of his men were killed and two wounded, but the position was still held, largely owing to the lieutenant's personal pluck. When the ammunition ran short, he went over to the next party and obtained more; to do so he had to cross some 15 yards of open ground, under a heavy fire at a range of from 20 to 30 yards.
Honorary Colonels and Commanding Officers
List of Colonel Commandant (1900-1920)/ Honorary Colonels (1920-1956) |
List of Commanding Officers | |
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South Africa (1900-02) |
The Duke of Atholl KT PC GCVO CB DSO | |
Imperial Yeomanry (1902-1914) |
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The Great War (1914-1919) |
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Scouts and Yeomanry (1920-39) |
Lt Col RA Bartram MC | |
79th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery (1939-45) |
The Duke of Atholl KT PC GCVO CB DSO The Duchess of Atholl DBE DCL LL.D FRCM |
Lt Col RA Bartram MC |
80th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery (1939-45) |
Lt Col RMT Campbell-Preston | |
Armoured Reconnaissance (1947-56) |
The Duchess of Atholl DBE DCL LL.D FRCM Col RA Bartram MC |
Lt Col TG Cooper 4/7 DG Lt Col Lindsay DSO Lt Col RMT Campbell-Preston Lt Col M Lyle |
Other Notable Commanders and Soldiers
- John Baird, 1st Viscount Stonehaven Bt, GCMG, DSO, PC, JP, DL (27 Apr 1874 – 20 Aug 1941) British Conservative politician,and the eighth Governor-General of Australia
- Sir James Ramsay Montagu Butler (20 Jul 1889 – 1 Mar 1975) was a British politician and academic
- Jock Wilson - (7 Sept 1903 – 29 Sept 2008) was a British serviceman, who was Great Britain's oldest D-Day veteran
- Noel Skelton (1 Jul 1880 - 22 Nov 1935) was a Scottish Unionist politician
- Willie Thornton- (3 Mar 1920 – 26 Aug 1991) was a Scottish footballer and manager.
Seniority in The British Army
This table shows how the Regiment's place in the Army List moved through its history
Year | Preceded by | Title | Followed By |
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1913 | The Lovat Scouts (Dragoons) |
The Scottish Horse (Dragoons) |
unknown |
1916 | 12th (Labour) Bn of The Black Watch |
13th (Scottish Horse) Bn of The Black Watch |
14th (Fife and Forfar Yeomanry) Bn of The Black Watch |
1939 | 78th (Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry) Medium Regt of RA |
79th and 80th (Scottish Horse) Medium Regt of RA |
84th (Sussex) Medium Regt of RA |
1955 | East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry (Royal Armoured Corps) |
The Scottish Horse (Royal Armoured Corps) |
Royal Regiment of Artillery(Volunteers) |
Accoutrements
SH Cap Badge
The cross of St Andrew with a sprig of laurel on one side and a branch of juniper leaves on the other. The King's and in turn Queen's crowns on top were later additions.
Crops
A long schooling whip with silver top was carried by all Officers and SNCOs
Tartan
The Duke of Atholl's Tartn, Murray of Atholl, was worn by the Officers and Men in various forms of dress.
The evening dress for Officers included a kilt. Junior Offiers wore their family tartan but once an Officer reached Feild Rank (Major or above) that he was expected to wear the Regimental Tartan.
Pipers (know as Trumpeter on the Establishment) wore the Tuliibardaine Tartan.
Head Dress
Full Dress: Slouch hat with kakhi and black silk in the pogri (only the Commanding Officer would wear the silk Murray of Atholl tartan in the pogri) a cap badge with backing of yellow/red or blue (depending on if with soldier was in 1st 2nd or 3rd Regiment) and black cock feather
Working Dress: The Atholl Bonnet, a tam o'shannter type headress in navy with a green, white and red check band, with red tourrie (bobble) on top.
Stable Belt Colours
Black belt with three gold stripes - colours taken from The Duke of Atholl's crest.
SH Pipes and Drums
The pipe band of the Scottish Horse was largely drawn from the musician of the Atholl Highlanders
Affiliations and Alliances
South Africa - Transvaal Scottish Regiment
Bibliography
- “The Scottish Horse 1900-1946” by The Duchess of Atholl
- “The Scottish Horse 1939-1945” by R A S Barbour MC (History 79th & 80th (Scottish Horse) Medium Regiments Royal Artillery
- “The Scottish Horse 1900-1956” by Lt Col RMT Campbell-Preston
- "The Uniforms of the British Yeomanry Force 1794-1914-The Lovat Scouts & Scottish Horse" by the Robert Ogilby Trust
- Asplin, Kevin. The Roll of the Imperial Yeomanry, Scottish Horse & Lovats Scouts, 2nd Boer war 1899-1902, being an alphabetical listing of 39,800 men of these volunteer forces who enlisted for the 2nd Boer war, listing regimental details, clasps to Queens South Africa medal and casualty status . [Limited ed. of 100 copies]
- Asplin, Kevin. The Roll of the Imperial Yeomanry, Scottish Horse & Lovats Scouts, 2nd Boer war 1899-1902, being an alphabetical listing of 39,800 men of these volunteer forces who enlisted for the 2nd Boer war, listing regimental details, clasps to Queens South Africa medal and casualty status . [2nd ed.] Doncaster : DP&G Publishing
Additional References not fully devoted to the Regiment
- “A military history of Perthshire 1660-1899" by The Duchess of Atholl
- “A military history of Perthshire 1899-1902" by The Duchess of Atholl
- "The sword of the North:Highland memories of the Great War" by Dougald MacEchern
Memorials, Archives and Museums
The Cathedral contains a memorial to the Scottish Horse and a book of remembrance with the names off all who fell in the World Wars. In addition both of the guidons of the Scottish Horse are also lain up in the Cathedral. Each year on Remembrance Sunday the Regimental Association participates in the Church service in Dunkeld.
- Scottish National War Memorial
The memorial was built after a proposal in 1917 by the Duke of Atholl in Edinburgh Castle contains a memorial and book of remembrance to all Scottish Regiments including the Scottish Horse.
- Boer War Cross of Iona
Two identical statue both in the shape of a Cross of Iona with a superimposed claymore and lion rampant in bronze. The inscription reads "Nemo me impune lacessit 1900". One is on the esplanade at Edinburgh Castle and the other is on Caledonia Hill, Kensington Ridge Johannesburg . The later is cared for by the Transvaal Scottish Association
- Blair Castle Collection
The Castle contains some of the Murray family's personal actifacts relating to the various family members's time in time in the Regiment
- The Regimental Archive
The Regimental Archive is extensive and it is held held at The Chapter House, Dunkeld Cathedral and can be viewed by appointment. Dunkeld Cathedral Chapter House
The Scottish Horse Locomotive
A LMS Royal Scot Class express passenger locomotive number 6129 was named after the Regiment. It was built in Sep 1927 and decommissioned in Jun 1964[1].
External links and references
- Yeomanry regiments of the British Army
- Regiments of Scotland
- Highland regiments
- Territorial Army
- Military units and formations established in 1900
- Military units and formations of the Second Boer War
- Scottish Horse officers
- Military history of the United Kingdom
- Regiments of the British Army in World War II
- Regiments of the British Army in World War I