Highlander Regiments - Balaclava

[Felix/FFDS]

In the category of "I didn't know that!",

[Smoke2much]

I believe that this is the case Felix.  I am at work right now and thinking about it my books are all packed up as I'm in the middle of moving.

Perhaps Craig will be able to give a definate answer.

Will

[ozzy72]

If memory serves it was English officers in Scottish regiments that were entitled to wear these trousers, as kilts were viewed as the area of Scotsman only, clan loyalties and all that.... Not sure though, its a long time since I was reading this period in history...

Mark

[Hagar]

Does this explain it or just confuse the issue?

http://www.btinternet.com/~james.mckay/highland.htm

The first point, confusion regarding Highland Regiments, Kilted Regiments, and Lowland Regiments may be said to date from 1881, the year in which Mr. Cardwell, the then War Minister, introduced the system of linked Battalions with Territorial connections, and had been fostered by the press, particularly the illustrated press. But, to understand the subject thoroughly, one must go back much further in Regimental histories - to the year 1809 - when, as according to a Horse Guards memo of April 7th of that year, 'the population of the Highlands of Scotland is found to be insufficient to supply recruits for the whole of the Highland Corps on the establishment of His Majesty's Army', it was decided that certain Regiments should no longer be considered on that establishment, and would assume the uniforms of Regiments of the Line. These Regiments were the 72nd, 73rd, 74th, 75th, 91st and 94th. Previous to this, on March 22nd, 1809, the 71st were formed into a Light Infantry Corps, retaining their title of Highland and 'such parts of their national garb as might not prove inconvenient with the duties of a light corps'. This meant, the substitution of the tartan trews for the kilt. In reality, after a short period of wearing the trews, the 71st adopted regulation grey trousers during the rest of the Napoleonic Wars. MacKenzie tartan trews were not readopted until 1834 by the regiment.

Between the years 1809 and 1881 the following Regiments, who had ceased to be Highland in the former years, were restored to the Highland establishment: the 72nd in 1823, the 74th in 1845, and the 91st in 1864 - all wearing the trews.

At the beginning of 1881, five Highland Regiments were in kilts:-

42nd, 78th, 79th, 92nd and 93rd;

and four Highland Regiments in trews:-

71st, 72nd, 74th and 91st.

I assume that members of Highland Regiments generally wore kilts & those in Lowland Regiments wore trews.

To the best of my knowledge I have no Scottish blood. However, my paternal grandfather was a Sergeant Major in the Seaforth Highlanders & wore a kilt. It's a long story. Don't ask.

[Smoke2much]

Balaclava was in approximately 1854 which would mean that the Kilt wearing regiments would be 72nd and 74th.  The famous "Red Coated Devils" were the 93rd Foot, the Sutherland Highlanders which was a kilted regiment.

The 71st Regiment of Foot was a Light Infantry unit in 1854 and thus:

Although the 71st were a Highland regiment they did not wear the kilt. Their uniform consisted of scarlet tunic (buff facings 1st battalion) and scarlet tunic (green facings 2nd battalion) and shako instead of the usual feather bonnet of Scottish regiments. Both battalions wore tartan "trews" in the Mackenzie tartan.

http://www.militarybadges.org.uk/hli/hli.htm

Amazing resource, the web.

The Crimean war was a first for many reasons, not least the photography.  It was the first war during which the majority of the British Line were rifle armed and it was the first time that individual infantrymen took prode in their own marksmanship.  I may be making this up but I believe that many of the reforms instigated at Hythe came about from the experience gained in the Crimea.

Incidentaly it caused what is recognised as the birth of modern Nursing.  But if the old battleaxe met me she would scream LOL.

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Felix: