HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY

The 71st was originally raised in 1777 as the 73rd Highland Regiment (Macleod's Highlanders) by John Mackenzie, commonly called John, Lord Macleod. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London for taking part in the Jacobite Rising of 1745, but was released on account of his youth and went to Sweden where he rose to the rank of General in the Swedish Army. On the outbreak of the American War of Independence he returned home and was granted permission by King George III to raise a regiment. The regiment wore a kilt of the military or 42nd pattern with buff and white lines and feathered bonnet with red and white hackle. In 1786 the title was changed to the 71st, in 1809 to the 71st Glasgow Highland Light Infantry and in 1881 to the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry. The 74th was raised in 1787 and styled "The 74th Highland Regiment of Foot." The uniform was the full Highland dress, the tartan being similar to that of the 42nd Highlanders (now The Black Watch). In 1881 the 74th became the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry. The 71st served with distinction throughout the arduous campaign in the Carnatic against Hyder Ali until the conclusion of peace in 1784. Eight years later the 71st and 74th were both in action in India and at the assault upon Seringapatam in 1792 they fought together for the first time. In 1803 the 74th was presented with special honorary colours to commemorate its most distinguished part in the great battle of Assaye, one of the most decisive in Indian history. In this action every officer present with the regiment, except Quartermaster James Grant, and 384 of the 500 men who formed for battle, were either killed or wounded. The 71st was specially selected by King George III in 1809 to be added to the chosen band of Light Infantry regiments which then formed a corps delite of the Army in the First Peninsular War. Both the 71st and 74th took a prominent part in the battles of the second campaign in the Peninsula from 1810 to 1814. Piper McLaughlin, one of the regimental pipers of the 74th, played his pipes at the head of the advance at the storming of Badajos until the music was stopped by a shot through the bag, and the next year, at the battle of Vittoria, he had both legs shot off whilst playing behind the Colours but continued playing until he died. The 71st formed part of the famous Light Brigade at the battle of Waterloo in 1815 and at one period of the battle the Duke of Wellington himself took refuge in a square of the 71st during a French charge. The 71st in 1834 adopted tartan trews instead of the kilt which was unsuitable for Light Infantry; the trews replacing the plain trousers which the 71st had worn since about 1810. The 74th discontinued the wearing of the kilt whilst on service in India soon after its formation and subsequently practically lost its identity as a Highland regiment. In 1845 it again became a Highland corps wearing tartan trews and diced shako. The tartan was that of the military or 42nd pattern with a white stripe, which tartan (otherwise known as Lamont) it wore until the "linking" in 1881 with the 71st. The 71st also participated in many engagements during the Indian Mutiny. The 71st and 74th were amalgamated in 1881 into one regiment, The Highland Light Infantry, and in the following year of 1882, the 2nd Battalion took a leading part in the decisive battle of Tel-el-Kebir. The 1st Battalion served in South Africa throughout the campaign of 1899-1902 and as part of the Highland Brigade suffered severe losses at Magersfontein. During the war of 1914-1918, when 26 battalions were raised, the regiment saw much service on the Western Front , and in Gallipoli, Egypt, Palestine, Mesopotamia and North Russia. Only the 1st and 2nd battalions were regulars, the others consisted of the Special Reserve, Territorial and War Service -------------------------------------- Regimental Tartan Mackenzie tartan. In 1947 approval was given for the regiment to adopt the dress of a kilted regiment and in January 1948, new patterns of dress were authorised, including a kilt of the Mackenzie tartan. In 1959 the Highland Light Infantry were amalgamated with the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Their new title being the Royal Highland Fusiliers. Regiment - Year and Title 1777 - Raising of the 73rd Regiment known as 'MacLeod's Highlanders'. 1778 - 2nd Battalion raised. 1783 - 2nd Battalion disbanded. 1786 - Renumbered the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot. 1804 - 2nd Battalion re-raised. 1808 - Renamed the 71st (Glasgow Highland) Regiment of Foot. 1809 - Renamed the 71st (Glasgow Highland Light Infantry) Regiment. 1810 - Renamed the 71st (Highland) Light Infantry. 1818 - 2nd Battalion disbanded. 1842 - 2nd Battalion re-raised. 1855 - 2nd Battalion amalgamated with 1st Battalion. 1881 - 1st Battalion The Highland Light Infantry, on amalgamation with the 74th Regiment. Regiment - Year and Title 1787 - Raising of the 74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot. 1809 - Loss of Highland status. 1816 - Renamed the 74th Regiment of Foot. 1845 - Renamed the 74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot. 1881 - 2nd Battalion The Highland Light Infantry, on amalgamation with the 71st Regiment. Regiment - Year and Title 1923 - Renamed The Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment). 1947 - 2nd Battalion amalgamated with the 1st Battalion. 1959 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment), on amalgamation with the Royal Scots Fusiliers.

SCOTLAND'S FAMILY TREE (SFT)