london scottish regimental historyregimental museum uk
 regimental history uk
History of the Regiment

1859 - 1899
The Highland Armed Association of London and The Loyal North Britons had been raised in 1793 and 1803 as part of the country's Volunteer Forces ready to repel Napoleon's threatened invasion of England. These formations were later disbanded and it was not until after the Crimean War that the country's security seemed again to be in danger.
So, in 1859, sponsored by The Highland Society of London and The Caledonian Society of London, a group of individual Scots raised The London Scottish Rifle Volunteers under the command of Lt Col Lord Elcho, later The Earl of Wemyss and March. He decided to clothe the Regiment in Hodden Grey, the homespun cloth known throughout Scotland.london scottish regimental history
Lord Elcho, Earl of Wemyss and March.

This avoided all interclan feeling on the subject of tartan and, as Lord Elcho said "A soldier is a man hunter. As a deer stalker chooses the least visible of colours, so ought a soldier to be clad." The only regiments wearing Hodden Grey are The London Scottish and The Toronto Scottish. The first Honorary Colonel of the Regiment was Field Marshall Lord Clyde (Sir Colin Campbell). Lord Elcho commanded the Regiment for 19 years and then became Honorary Colonel from 1878 to 1900.

Next: 1900 - 1902 >

The History of the Regiment
1859 - 1899
1900 - 1913
1914 - 1919
1920 - 1939
1939 - 1945
1946 -1967
1967 - 1971
1971 - 1992
1992 - 1999
1999 - 2006
2006 - Present Day

History | The Regiment Today | Regimental Associations | Regimental Band
Regimental Museum | Regimental Shop | Events | News
Resources | Old Soldiers | Memorials | Guest Book | Contact Us | Home

© 2002-2013 London Scottish Regiment. All rights reserved.

Privacy Statement

This is not an official MOD/Army web site.
This site was developed by the Regimental Trust without the use of public funds, and does not represent the views or policies of the MOD, or The London Scottish Regiment. The MOD/Army neither provides control, direction, nor any resources or funding for the site. The London Scottish Regimental Trust is a Registered Charity No. 1032157