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The Cameron Highlanders proudly bear the name of a Clan whose story is one of hardiness and fidelity to their "Chief and cause". The clan, small in size was able to survive against its neighboring clans, all of whom were more powerful in size and resources, through their tenacity and toughness which matched the rugged crags in which they lived. No regiment can have enjoyed a greater heritage or recruited more formidable fighting men.
In 1745 the Camerons, under their Chief, followed Prince Charles throughout his attempt and in his struggle to regain Scotland's throne; when England faced Napoleon in in 1793 Allan Cameron of Erracht found ready response to his appeal for recruits for 'The 79th Regiment' for which he had been granted a letter of service. He chose as the tartan for his Regiment, the MacDonald tartan to which he had added a yellow stripe. This was a most apt choice since in adddition to Camerons, a large number of MacDonalds had answered his appeal. The associations of other clans spread to all those in Inverness-shire, the recruiting area of the Regiment, whose people continue the Highland traditions and their values. Five Clan Chiefs still live and serve their people in this area; (or that was the case in the 1960's and it probably is still): Cameron of Lochiel, Chief MacLeod of MacLeod, Lord Lovat, The MacKintosh of MacKintosh and Lord MacDonald of MacDonald.
Raised to fight Napoleon it was not long before the Cameron Highlanders were brought to grips with the enemy. They fought under Wellington, throughout his campaign in the Spanish Peninsular and again at Waterloo where they were one of the four regiments to be mentioned by him in his dispatch on the Battle. Two of the other regiments mentioned were the Black Watch and the Gordon Highlanders.
So started a tradition for Highland Regiments which continued throughout the wars of the ninteenth and twentieth centuries until Field Marshall Lord Wavell was able to say in 1950 that "The Highland Regiments still remain the finest fighting force in the British Isles." The Camerons fought in the Crimea, India, The Sudan, and South Africa and in both World Wars of this century, often alongside other Highland Regiments and always with distinction.
Towards the end of the last century Her Majesty, Queen Victoria bestowed on the Regiment the title "Queen's Own" in recognition of their services; the only regiment to be so honored by her during her long reign.
The "Royal" interest has continued until today for the Regiment has been honoured by having as its successive Colonel in Chief, H.M. King George V, H.M. King George VI, and H.R.H. The Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. It has given the regiment a sense of personal service to the Throne. Amongst other distinctions enjoyed, is the wearing of the Royal Stuart tartan by the pipers.
A less happy incident in connection with the Royal Family occured shortly after the regiment was raised when the Commander in Chief, who was the Duke of York, threatened to "draft" the regiment. This made Allan Cameron lose his temper and he is said to have replied to the Duke "You may tell the King, your father, that "he may send us to hell if he likes and I'll go at the head of the regiment; but he durna draft us." The Regiment was saved, but at great cost for they were dispatched to the West Indies where they were decimated by disease. This incident however was the start of yet another tradition -- that the reigment would go anywhere or do anything 'asked' of it.
During it's history it has enjoyed service all over the globe, from Canada in the West to Korea in the EAst and it has provided units as machine gunner, mounted infantry, infantry and artillery when such special duties were required. It is the only Scottish Regiment to have provided a Parachute Battalion in WWII and during the retreat to Dunkirk the Camerons fought in the kilt; the last regiment to do so.
As is natural in the story of fighting men, many friendships have been made by the Camerons, some officially recognized by affiliations to regiments in Canada, The United States of America, Australia and New Zealand. Other links were made in battle, such as that with the 1/6 Rajputana Rifles during world war II which, though not official, is deeply cherished. A Pipe tune was composed to honour this friendship.
Americans may be interested to know that in the 'War between the States', a Regiment was formed in New York called the '79th New York Volunteers' which mobilized in the Cameron Regimental tratan and went to war under a Colonel Cameron.
They have a sister regiment, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada and the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, and they also make contact with the famous Clan Societies in North America, where (by the way), many, many Camerons live.
If I have left any affiliations out, please forgive the ommission by the author.
Author,
Nancy MacCorkill, F.S.A. Scot USA
Historian of the Ancient Clans of Scotland
Author, Journalist, Poet
Clans Gunn, Wallace, Keith (Marshall) and MacLeod of Lewis
"All rights reserved 4/12/97 ongoing and inclusive, N. MacCorkill".
"Author asserts her full copyright rights, article must not be
duplicated, in part, or whole, in any media, without written
permission from author, N MacCorkill."All Rights Reserved 1996 inclusive N. MacCorkill
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