The major 20th century exceptions to this rule were the First and Second World Wars, when many Highland men joined up. However, due to the Highlands becoming extensively depopulated through the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Highland regiments of the British Army have witnessed a long-term decline in the proportion of recruits from the Highlands and have long recruited many Lowland Scots and others. The original Highland regiments were raised in the 18th century with the object of recruiting rank and file solely from the Scottish Highlands. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was created at the same time from the merging of two existing numbered regiments.
Comprising doublets and tartan trews, this gave the Lowlanders a distinctive identity, separate from their English, Welsh, Irish and Highland counterparts.Īt the same time, the absence of kilts (except for pipers) and the substitution of Kilmarnock bonnets for feather bonnets prevented confusion between Lowlanders and their Highland counterparts. In 1881, the introduction of the Cardwell system of reforms provided the opportunity to adopt a modified form of Scottish dress for the Lowland regiments. They did not however differ significantly in appearance or public perception from the bulk of the line infantry of the British Army. Throughout the 17th, 18th and most of the 19th centuries, these Scottish regiments served widely and with great distinction in the British army. The Royal Scots Fusiliers and the King’s Own Scottish Borderers were subsequently raised in 16 respectively.
The senior Lowland regiment was the Royal Scots (the Royal Regiment) which dates from 1633. The Lowland regiments generally predate the more widely known Highland regiments.
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