CAMERON HIGHLANDERS
(1793 – 1961)
CAMERON HIGHLANDERS
(1793 – 1961)
FOUNDING THE REGIMENT…
FOUNDING THE REGIMENT…
The regiment was raised by Sir Alan Cameron of Erracht formed during the midst of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793. It was originally known as the 79th Regiment of Foot (Cameronian Volunteers) named after the powerful Clan Cameron.
The Cameron’s first operations were not overly successful; having been deployed to Flanders in 1794 to take part in the French Revolutionary Wars, the regiment fell to a quick defeat. Under the threat of disbandment, the Camerons were instead sent to the West Indies and were stationed in Martinique for two years.
Known as the 79th Regiment of Foot (Cameron Highlanders) from 1804, the Camerons fought throughout Europe for the next twenty years; they played a vital role in the Peninsula War, and in defeating the French at Waterloo in 1815.
The regiment became known as the 79th Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders in 1873. Serving mainly in Africa throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the regiment also fought in WWI and WWI before being amalgamated with the Seaforths in 1961.
The regiment was raised by Sir Alan Cameron of Erracht formed during the midst of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793. It was originally known as the 79th Regiment of Foot (Cameronian Volunteers) named after the powerful Clan Cameron.
The Cameron’s first operations were not overly successful; having been deployed to Flanders in 1794 to take part in the French Revolutionary Wars, the regiment fell to a quick defeat. Under the threat of disbandment, the Camerons were instead sent to the West Indies and were stationed in Martinique for two years.
Known as the 79th Regiment of Foot (Cameron Highlanders) from 1804, the Camerons fought throughout Europe for the next twenty years; they played a vital role in the Peninsula War, and in defeating the French at Waterloo in 1815.
The regiment became known as the 79th Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders in 1873. Serving mainly in Africa throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the regiment also fought in WWI and WWI before being amalgamated with the Seaforths in 1961.
HISTORIC WARS…
HISTORIC WARS…
79TH REGIMENT OF FOOT (CAMERONIAN VOLUNTEERS)
French Revolutionary Wars; The Netherlands, 1794-1799
79TH REGIMENT OF FOOT (CAMERONIAN HIGHLANDERS)
Second Battle of Copenhagen; Denmark, 1807
Peninsula War; Spain and France, 1808
Battle of Waterloo; Belgium, 1815
Crimean War; Ukraine, 1854-1856
The Indian Uprising; India, 1857
THE QUEEN'S OWN CAMERON HIGHLANDERS
Anglo-Egyptian War; Egypt and Sudan, 1882
Mahdist War; Sudan, 1898
Boer War; South Africa, 1899-1900
79TH REGIMENT OF FOOT (CAMERONIAN VOLUNTEERS)
French Revolutionary Wars; The Netherlands, 1794-1799
79TH REGIMENT OF FOOT (CAMERONIAN HIGHLANDERS)
Second Battle of Copenhagen; Denmark, 1807
Peninsula War; Spain and France, 1808
Battle of Waterloo; Belgium, 1815
Crimean War; Ukraine, 1854-1856
The Indian Uprising; India, 1857
THE QUEEN'S OWN CAMERON HIGHLANDERS
Anglo-Egyptian War; Egypt and Sudan, 1882
Mahdist War; Sudan, 1898
Boer War; South Africa, 1899-1900
BATTLE HONOURS & AWARDS…
BATTLE HONOURS & AWARDS…
VICTORIA CROSSES
Between 1899 and 1918, the Cameron Highlanders were awarded a total of four Victoria Crosses. This is the most prestigious military honour, and is awarded for conspicuous gallantry “in the presence of the enemy”. One was awarded during the Second Boer War (1899 – 1900), and three during World War I (1914 – 1918).
View the names and details of each Cameron recipient of the Victoria Cross here.
BATTLE HONOURS 1799 - 1902
Egmont op Zee (1799)
Egypt (+ SPHINX) (1801)
Corunna (1809)
Busaco (1810)
Furentes d’Onor (1811)
Salamanca (1812)
Pyrenees (1813)
Nivelle (1813)
Nive (1813)
Toulouse (1814)
Peninsula (1809 – 1814)
Waterloo (1815)
Alma (1854)
Sevastopol (1855)
Lucknow (1858)
Tel-el-Kebir (1882)
Egypt 1882
Nile 1884 – 1885
Atbara (1898)
Khartoum (1898)
South Africa 1900 – 1902
The Camerons were also awarded 62 Battle Honours in WWI, and 60 during WWII.
VICTORIA CROSSES
Between 1899 and 1918, the Cameron Highlanders were awarded a total of four Victoria Crosses. This is the most prestigious military honour, and is awarded for conspicuous gallantry “in the presence of the enemy”. One was awarded during the Second Boer War (1899 – 1900), and three during World War I (1914 – 1918).
View the names and details of each Cameron recipient of the Victoria Cross here.
BATTLE HONOURS 1799 - 1902
Egmont op Zee (1799)
Egypt (+ SPHINX) (1801)
Corunna (1809)
Busaco (1810)
Furentes d’Onor (1811)
Salamanca (1812)
Pyrenees (1813)
Nivelle (1813)
Nive (1813)
Toulouse (1814)
Peninsula (1809 – 1814)
Waterloo (1815)
Alma (1854)
Sevastopol (1855)
Lucknow (1858)
Tel-el-Kebir (1882)
Egypt 1882
Nile 1884 – 1885
Atbara (1898)
Khartoum (1898)
South Africa 1900 – 1902
The Camerons were also awarded 62 Battle Honours in WWI, and 60 during WWII.
INSIDE THE MUSEUM…
INSIDE THE MUSEUM…
The Highlanders’ Museum follows the story of the Camerons from their formation in 1793 until 2006. The Museum collection contains a remnant of the original Colours of the 79th Camerons, which were presented at Stirling by Sir Alan Cameron in January 1794.
An officers’ uniform of the 79th Cameron Highlanders included a red doublet jacket with green facings and gold-coloured brass buttons. An original example of this uniform dating back to the early nineteenth century is on display in the Cameron Room.
The Highlanders’ Museum follows the story of the Camerons from their formation in 1793 until 2006. The Museum collection contains a remnant of the original Colours of the 79th Camerons, which were presented at Stirling by Sir Alan Cameron in January 1794.
An officers’ uniform of the 79th Cameron Highlanders included a red doublet jacket with green facings and gold-coloured brass buttons. An original example of this uniform dating back to the early nineteenth century is on display in the Cameron Room.