The 1st battalion was posted to South Africa in October 1899, after the outbreak of the Second Boer War. The battalion served throughout the war, which ended in June 1902. The battalion of 700 men left Durban for Egypt on the SS Plassy in January 1903,[2] and was subsequently stationed there in the following years.[3]
The 2nd Battalion saw action at the Battle of Tell El Kebir in September 1882 during the Anglo-Egyptian War: Lieutenant William Edwards was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the battle.[4] The battalion was stationed in England from 1883, but moved to India the following year. In February 1900 the battalion departed from Colombo to return home,[5] and in October 1902 they were posted to Jersey,[6] but three months later they were reassigned to Alderney.[7]
Following heavy British losses in the early part of the Second Boer War in 1899, many of the militia battalions were embodied for active service, including the 3rd battalion Highland Light (formerly the 1st Royal Lanark Militia), under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel William Story. The battalion served throughout the war, and 890 officers and men were reported to return home on the SS Doune Castle in September 1902, after the war had ended earlier that year.[8]
In 1908, the Volunteers and Militia were reorganised nationally, with the former becoming the Territorial Force and the latter the Special Reserve;[9] the regiment now had two Reserve and five Territorial battalions.[10][11]
The 1/5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion, the 1/6th (City of Glasgow) Battalion and the 1/7th (Blythswood) Battalion landed at Cape Helles in Gallipoli as part of the 157th Brigade in the 52nd (Lowland) Division in July 1915; after being evacuated to Egypt in January 1916 they moved to Marseille in April 1918 for service on the Western Front.[12] The 1/9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion landed in France as part of the 5th Brigade in the 2nd Division in November 1914 for service on the Western Front.[12]
New Armies
The 10th and 11th (Service) Battalions landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 28th Brigade in the 9th (Scottish) Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front.[12] The 12th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 46th Brigade in the 15th (Scottish) Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front.[12] The 14th (Service) Battalion landed in France as part of the 120th Brigade in the 40th Division in June 1916 for service on the Western Front.[12]
The 15th (Service) Battalion (1st Glasgow), the 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Glasgow) and the 17th (Service) Battalion (3rd Glasgow) landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 97th Brigade in the 32nd Division in November 1915 for service on the Western Front.[12] The 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Glasgow), which was formed from former members of the Glasgow Battalion of the Boys' Brigade and was known as the Glasgow Boys' Brigade Battalion is particularly remembered for an incident at the Frankfurt trench at the Battle of the Ancre, the last offensive of the battle of the Somme, where around 60 men of D company were surrounded and cut off behind enemy lines. Relief attempts failed, but the men of the Frankfurt trench refused to surrender. After refusing to surrender, the Germans stormed the trench and found only 15 wounded men alive, three of whom died soon afterwards. General Sir Hubert Gough praised their stand under Army Order 193.[15] Members of the 17th (Service) Battalion were painted by the war artistFrederick Farrell in Flanders in 1917.[16]
The 18th (Service) Battalion (4th Glasgow) landed in France as part of the 106th Brigade in the 35th Division in February 1916 for service on the Western Front.[12]
Between the Wars
In 1923, the regiment's title was expanded to the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment).[17]David Niven was commissioned into the regiment in 1930 and served with the 2nd Battalion.[18]
Second World War
Lorries carrying men of the 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry towards the front line, 9 June 1942.
Churchill tanks of 6th Guards Tank Brigade and troops of the 10th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry during the assault on Tilburg, Holland, 28 October 1944.
The 5th and 6th Battalions landed in France as part of the 157th Brigade in the 52nd (Lowland) Division in June 1940; after evacuation from Cherbourg later in the month, they landed in Belgium in October 1944 and took part in Operation Infatuate in November 1944 and the subsequent capture of Bremen in April 1945.[19]
The 11th Battalion was converted to armour in 1942, becoming the 156th Regiment in the Royal Armoured Corps, but with the men retaining their Highland Light Infantry cap badges on the black beret of the RAC.[20]
The HLI's full dress in 1914 was an unusual one; comprising a dark green shako with diced border and green cords, scarlet doublet with buff facings and trews of the Mackenzie tartan.[22] Officers wore plaids of the same tartan, while in drill order all ranks wore white shell jackets with trews and green glengarry caps.[23]
The HLI was the only regular Highland regiment to wear trews for full dress, until 1947 when kilts were authorised. An earlier exception was the Glasgow Highlanders who wore kilts and were a territorial battalion within the HLI. The regiment had worn the tartan trews with khaki-drab tropical service uniform until 1900.[24]
Battle honours and colours
The battle honours were as follows:[11]
Borne on the regimental colours, representing actions fought by the 71st and 74th Regiments of Foot or the Highland Light Infantry prior to 1914:
^These were the 3rd and 4th Battalions (Special Reserve), with the 5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion at Hill Street in Glasgow, the 6th (City of Glasgow) Battalion at Yorkhill Street in Glasgow, the 7th (The Blythswood) Battalion at Main Street in Bridgeton (since demolished), the 8th (Lanark) Battalion at Mousebank Lane in Lanark (since demolished) and the 9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion at Greendyke Street in Glasgow (since demolished) (all Territorial Force)
_Division,_during_the_assault_on_Tilburg,_Holland,_28_October_1944._B11419.jpg)
