Highland Regiments - A Highland Perspective

[PeterSandy]

People throughout the world are interested in the authentic history of the kilted soldiers from the Scottish Highlands. Too much has been written about them by writers who never took the trouble to learn their language. Perhaps Scotland.com/forums, based in America, will permit the Highland diaspora to read something about those brave men from a Scottish Highland perspective.

First, here is a paper written by William MacKenzie.


Transactions



Second, the following editorial helps to explain why Gaelic-speaking Highlanders tended not to enlist sometime after Waterloo until the beginning of the Great War in 1914.




The Highlanders and the Army. (The Oban Times, Feb. 12, 1898)



Lochiel, presiding over the annual reunion of the Cameron Association in the Queen’s Rooms, Glasgow, was able to congratulate that flourishing society on the vitality with which clan feeling continues to distinguish the modern Highlander, but confesses himself at a loss to understand why there is now so little trace of the enthusiasm with which, in former days, the Highlander found his way into the military service of his country. This, too, at a time when the people of the Highlands are so much crowded into corners where they can neither be so comfortable nor so prosperous as in olden times.



Lochiel refused to entertain the notion that Highlanders should in any special way be regarded as food for powder. He would have the Highlands “provide their quota of men, and no more.” The family of Lochiel has not been behind in this respect. The young Chief, Donald Walter Cameron, who was on Thursday night presented by the association with a suitable address on the occasion of his coming of age, was able, in returning thanks, to tell the meeting that he served Her Majesty in the same regiment which his grandfather led at Waterloo. An obelisk in Kilmallie bears that it is “sacred to the memory of Colonel John Cameron, Eldest son of Sir Ewen Cameron of Fassfern, Baronet, whose mortal remains, transported from the field of glory, where he died, rest here with those of his fathers. During twenty years of active military service, with a spirit which knew no fear, and shunned no danger, he accompanied or led in marches, sieges, and battles, the gallant 92nd regiment of Scottish Highlanders, always to honour, and almost always to victory; and at length, in the forty-second year of his age, upon the memorable 16th of June, A.D., 1815, was slain in command of that corps, while actively contributing to achieve the decisive victory at Waterloo, which gave peace to Europe.” The obelisk affectionately records how Colonel Cameron was “lamented by that unrivalled general to whose long train of successes he had so often contributed; by his country from which he had repeatedly received marks of the highest consideration; and by his sovereign, who graced his surviving family with those marks of honour which could not follow to this place him whose merit they were designed to commemorate.”



Young Lochiel, in his military career, could not have prouder ancestral traditions to inspire him. If all Highland chiefs had cherished their family traditions as faithfully, the Highlands would not have become for the recruiting officer the barren ground that he finds them today. Lochiel finds his clansmen loyal to him because he and his family have been loyal to them. For at least five-and-twenty generations the chieftainship he holds has descended in direct line from father to son, and it has not been weakened by the results of Highland land law legislation. Lochiel is able to bear testimony that, while his people in Lochaber take advantage of what Acts of Parliament have done for them, they have at the same time been able to “preserve their kindly feeling towards their chiefs.” Why, then, have Highlanders not been able to preserve their old friendly feeling towards the army?



Curiously enough, this point was discussed at a Highland conference in Glasgow the same evening on which Lochiel met his clansmen there. While Lochiel was asking the question, an attempt was being made to answer it by a little congress of Highland society representatives, convened at the instance of the Glasgow Sutherland-shire Association, including, amongst others, the Inverness-shire, Lewis, Harris, Mull, Iona, Oban and Lorn, Skye, and Barra Associations. The topic of debate was put in the direct form of the query – “Should Highlanders respond to the recruiting appeals of the War Office?” After a long discussion the meeting by a large majority replied in the negative. The grounds of the decision may have been largely fanciful, but some telling points were made, as by the delegate who compared what purblind politicians say of the apathy and indolence of the Highlander with what every patriotic and candid spirit is constrained to say of the same Highlander’s indomitable endurance on the march and unsurpassed bravery in the hour of peril. Another representative found himself no more able than his forebears had been to digest the consideration that, while Highlanders were on the Continent shedding their blood for Government, they were left to learn, by bitter experience, that they had been making it possible for that same Government to deprive them and their families of their homesteads, and to throw the land which belonged by immemorial right to their clans, into the hands of unscrupulous speculators.



But former-day Highlanders do not appear to have felt that their wrongs prevented them from joining the army. After Culloden a detachment from the Duke of Cumberland’s force was sent into Lochaber to sweep all the cattle out of the country and burn the houses. They also murdered many of the people in cold blood. A young Cameron, merely because he had been accused of having a gun in his possession, was shot without form of trial, civil or military; and the young man’s father, Dougall Roy Cameron, concealing himself in ambuscade, shot, as he believed, the officer who had ordered the cruel deed. Dougall made his escape, and was never identified by the royal authorities as the avenger. After having suffered this cruel wrong, and after having so sternly shown his sense of the wrong, Dougall enlisted and served in the royal army. The fair presumption is that he saw no other way in which he could be better provided for.



It is an equally fair presumption that the deaf ear our Highlanders turn to the recruiting sergeant is due to their knowing other ways in which to provide for themselves. It is admitted on all hands that the present rate of inducements to enlist must be raised if the army is to attract the kind of youths of whom it is desirable that it should consist. On the present terms it can attract only the poorest of the poor; and a modern practical philosopher warns us that the man who looks for big apples at the bottom of the barrel is too confiding for this world. But neither should it be forgotten that mercenary considerations are not everything with the Highlander; and it would be well that, in addition to better conditions of service, the War Office were seriously to consider the suggestion of Lochiel as to locating the headquarters of Highland regiments in the Highlands, instead of leaving them to be represented there by an occasional forlorn recruiting sergeant. One great reason why Highlanders flocked to the army in former days was that they found that they could take service with those who were their brothers in flesh and blood as well as comrades in arms, and because they could thus combine loyalty to their country with loyalty to their clans. The passionate devotion with which the Highlander clings to his birthplace, and to his own people, is not understood by the southron because, as a rule, there is so little in southron circumstances and experience that lends itself to such attachment. “The tree of deepest root is found least willing still to leave the ground.” But the Highlander’s clinging is still more to his people than to the earth and stone of his native place; and the old Highland regiments recruited so successfully because the Highlander found that, in their ranks, he would have his own people with him as comrades in the ranks, and generally as officers.



The ideal age of Highland recruiting came to a close when degenerate chieftains took to supplying the War Department with soldiers for a consideration. There is more or less authentic tradition of an English officer calling at a Celtic feudal castle to see his “volunteers” and being told that he would find them all safely tied with ropes in the barn. It must also be kept in view that the Highlander of today has a value in the labour market that did not belong to the Highlanders of former days, cut off as they were from free communication with the outside world. What may be inducement enough for the waifs of our great towns may not be enough for the more self-respecting Highland youth who has made himself as creditably known for becoming behaviour in times of peace as for prowess on the field of battle. Consideration for the superior personal character of the young Highlander, intimate identification of his regiment with its own native district, and fair prospect of employment for him after he has honourably completed his term of service with the colours, are the likeliest means of restoring their old prestige to regiments which are, in the meantime, to a great extent living on their proud traditions.

N.B. Either Donald Walter Cameron, the young chief, or the Oban Times editor got the following detail wrong. Col. John Cameron died while leading the 92nd Highlanders at The Battle of Quatre Bras, not Waterloo. Col. Donald MacDonald led the 92nd two days later at The Battle of Waterloo.

[wullie m]

Check out the Locheil family's record at clearing tenants for sheep!

[PeterSandy]

Originally Posted by wullie m

Check out the Locheil family's record at clearing tenants for sheep!

Wullie,

Truthfully, did you really read and inwardly digest the Transactions' paper and the editorial in so short a time?
The then editor of the Oban Times in 1898, because he was a radical journalist whose paper was being targeted and therefore being denied revenue by the malign influence of the then chief of Clan Campbell, probably did not know of the misdeeds of a Cameron chief 100 years previously. Scholarship has moved on since 1898. Haven't you heard of, for instance, John Prebble and Dr. James Hunter who published their findings in the second half of the twentieth century?
Notwithstanding, the Highland diaspora may wish to learn from the pens of Gaelic-speaking Highlanders of an earlier time even if you don't. Here is an illuminating reply to the 1898 debate:

Should Highlanders Enlist? - Letter to Oban Times - Forfar, 4th June,1898

Sir, - The fire over this question having apparently burnt itself out, you will kindly allow me space to make a few remarks thereanent. Both the affirmative and negative champions have been basing their arguments upon grounds which to me appear quite insufficient to justify the indication of their views. The former plead the upholding of the prestige of Britain’s position, and the mercenary view of wages now and a pension by and by. The latter, the fulfilling of the Scripture precept, “live at peace with all men, “and the prospect of making more of the world by the pen than the sword. Now, while a pleader on the negative side, I advocate none of these views. The question is “Should Highlanders enlist?” and the true answer must be arrived at through reasons fraught with most good, not to individuals, but to the Highland race as Highlanders.

In my opinion, the upholding of British prestige, religious qualms of conscience, and anybody’s dog for a piece, have little or nothing to do with it. We are Highlanders and it is to our present and future interests as a race we have to look. Before parting with our personal liberty and putting our lives at the disposal of another race, let us ask the question, what has that race done or are doing for us to merit this sacrifice on our part? Let us see. In 1872, or only twenty-six years ago, an Act of Parliament came into force compelling Highland children to learn to them a foreign language, and their parents to be harassed by the tax-gatherer to pay for the same. This was what so-called despotic Russia did to unhappy Poland over sixty years ago after her last attempt at liberty, which then sent a thrill of indignation throughout Britain. The Russian education Act of 1832 was denounced as one of the direst tyranny, while the Education Act of 1872 for the Highlands, which is still in force, is declared to be an enlightened, far advanced measure. In 1832 Russian Acts were passed to scatter the Poles and desolate their country. In 1898 we find English Acts in force that are fast driving out the Highlanders and turning their country into deer forests. Over and over again the Poles in vain pleaded with the Russians for the redress of their wrongs, and the latter were stigmatised as tyrants. Over and over again the Highlanders have done the same with the Saxon with the same result, and these account themselves God’s special Christianizing emissaries. Wonderful consistency! Powerful inducements for Highlanders to enlist!

Suppose this generous policy which your military advocates cordially approves of, to continue for another half century, where will there be Highlanders to enlist? Not in the land of the mountain and the flood. No, no, fellow kinsmen, seek in the paths of civil industry that audience and influence which leaves you free-handed to assist as best you can your suffering countrymen in their struggle for race existence. When your language is co-equally with English, acknowledged on the statute book, and your aspirations are upheld by the laws of the common country, then it will be time enough to consider the expediency of adding your quota to the forces of kingdom, not for the purposes of murdering and plundering weaker races, but in defence of your own much prized rights. – I am, etc.

Alexander MacKintosh.

[Lachlan09]

Probably goes to explain why, during the Great War and WW2, Highland regiments, whether Regulars, Territorials or Kitchener volunteers (in the Great War), were populated mainly by non-Highlanders - whether Lowland or English - a) not enough genuine Highlanders to go round and b) competing with the *Royal Navy. Though the Territorials started out with Highland "locals" in 1914 and 1939, by the time they'd been in action and suffered casualties, replacements came from wherever they could be found in the UK.

*When the 91st was being recruited in Argyll and the Isles in 1794 by Duncan Campbell of Lochnell, he noted that there was a shortage of recruits particularly in coastal areas, due to the seafaring locals' preference for service with the Royal Navy.

[wullie m]

Truthfully, I don't have the time to read posts of this length featuring second hand opinions which I'm quite capable of sourcing myself. I would find it astonishing if a West Highland journalist never knew of the clearances in Lochaber a century previous.
The people were better off under the Government factors and it was a sad day when these so-called chiefs had their estates restored, the French had no time for gentry so back they came, queueing to kiss the kings arse. Any rejoicing at their return was short lived. They wanted cash to maintain themselves in style in London and their factors acted accordingly. A Cameron friend of mine's forefathers walked from Banavie to Glasgow, kids and all. I'm very familiar with Hunter and I even have some books from Prebble's own library, with his bookplate. Try using your own opinions in discussions, you might try reading "Bygone Lochaber", which used to be available from the West Highland Museum.

[Duthill]

Originally Posted by PeterSandy

Wullie,
Truthfully, did you really read and inwardly digest the Transactions' paper and the editorial in so short a time?
Haven't you heard of, for instance, John Prebble and Dr. James Hunter who published their findings in the second half of the twentieth century?

I see that p.s is still insulting people's intelligence .
Will this one ever learn ?

[PeterSandy]

Originally Posted by Lachlan09

Probably goes to explain why, during the Great War and WW2, Highland regiments, whether Regulars, Territorials or Kitchener volunteers (in the Great War), were populated mainly by non-Highlanders - whether Lowland or English - a) not enough genuine Highlanders to go round and b) competing with the *Royal Navy. Though the Territorials started out with Highland "locals" in 1914 and 1939, by the time they'd been in action and suffered casualties, replacements came from wherever they could be found in the UK.

*When the 91st was being recruited in Argyll and the Isles in 1794 by Duncan Campbell of Lochnell, he noted that there was a shortage of recruits particularly in coastal areas, due to the seafaring locals' preference for service with the Royal Navy.

Yes, what you say is perfectly true but, as you must know, is not generally known about. The Highland diaspora may wish to discover the views and opinions of their Highland forebears.

Most of what we read about the Highland regiments in the 19th century has been written by military historians. Yet, hidden material is also available in the form of editorials and articles in and letters to the Highland newspapers, usually above pen-names. Most of this material has not been re-published.

One such letter, written by Liam Mac Gill Iosa before the start of The Great War, is interesting in that he gives due credit to soldiers born throughout Scotland, Ireland and England. We can only guess as to Liam's identity given the significance of his Gaelic name (meaningless to the handful of Anglophones who dominate Scotland.com/forums these days), his place of domicile in 1914 and, not least, his telling reference to "the national idea." At that time letters written to radical newspapers were scrutinised by government agents and could ruin the careers of their authors - hence the pen names.

THE CAMERON HIGHLANDERS
[To the Editor of The Oban times]
London, 23rd February, 1914.

Sir, - Not the least interesting portion of your paper is that devoted to the accounts of Gaelic and other societies, by means of which those of us who are “furth of the Realm” are able to follow the doings and sayings of those in the homeland. Perhaps I should have said the sayings and doings, because there are more of the former than the latter; but perhaps in due course the sayings and exhortations may be turned into deeds. In all seriousness, however, it is very gratifying to see the gradual progress of the Gaelic and the national idea, and of renewed interest in all things pertaining to our race, although we have to read with regret from week to week of old and valued workers in the cause being removed by the hand of death.

My present purpose is to ask if some little mistake has not been made by Captain Allan Cameron when speaking at the Cameron gathering, as reported in your columns. It would seem as if he made the statement that the 79th Cameron Highlanders were recruited from the Cameron Clan, or the district of Lochaber. This struck me as being inaccurate, but as it did not seem to be so to several Highlanders to whom I mentioned the matter here, and might pass current with a great number of your readers, I should like if you will allow me to point out that the 79th Regiment, recruited by Allan Cameron of Erracht, and stated to be a full battalion of 1000 men, contained only 47 individuals of the name Cameron. Taking other names, such as Campbell, Fraser, Munro, to be Highland, and putting down every Mac as being from the so-called “Highlands,” we get 190 more Highlanders, and this leaves us with a full three-quarters of the Regiment to be accounted for. A glance at the names on the muster roll, as published some years ago by Mr D. Murray Rose, very clearly shows us that the recruiting sergeants had done their work very well throughout the South and West of Scotland, for Ayrshire and Galloway are well to the fore, while names such as John Dougherty, Michael Dougherty, Peter Doyle, are reminiscent of the sister isle, and to what country but England can we relegate such names as John Akery, William Blakely, Robert Dodsdale, Barnabas Goosby, James Unthank, James Townley, etc.? And taking names with initial H. only, we find such as John Honeyman, Daniel Handby, William Harb, Thomas Hoggarth, William Hukpinson, John Hearne, William Henning, Edward Hylands. This is one instance, and a close examination of the muster rolls of the other so-called “Highland” regiments would show the same, and if some others were more “Highland” in their origin, it only took a year or two before succeeding drafts speedily altered the composition of the regiment. It is therefore absurd for four or five counties in the North of Scotland to take to themselves credit for deeds which have been done, and hardships which have been endured, by regiments composed of Scotsmen from every part, with varying numbers of English and Irish, principally the latter, standing with them shoulder to shoulder. Surely the Gaels have plenty to be proud of without always harping upon the military history of the last 150 years.

I hope I have not trespassed too much upon your space. – I am, etc.,

Liam Mac Gill Iosa.