SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS
(1778 – 1961)
SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS
(1778 – 1961)
FOUNDING THE REGIMENT…
FOUNDING THE REGIMENT…
The Seaforth Highlanders were founded in 1778 as the 72nd Regiment, Duke of Albany’s Own Highlanders by Kenneth Mackenzie, Earl of Seaforth. This regiment existed for 15 years, until it was re-named 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot in 1793 (confusingly, the regiment was re-ranked as 78th Regiment, Duke of Albany’s Own Highlanders from August 1778 – September 1786).
By 1793, the 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot has taken part in suppressing the French invasion of Jersey and had taken part in the Second and Third Anglo-Mysuru (Mysore) Wars in India. Having been officially re-ranked as the 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot in 1793, they took part in wars across the globe, from Java, to Mauritius, to Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan.
In 1881, 78th and the historic 72nd were officially amalgamated to form the Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany’s). This regiment existed until 1961, and served in the Anglo-Egyptian War, the Second Boer War, the Second Afghan War, and both World Wars. The interwar period saw the regiment stationed in Shanghai, Hong Kong, India, and Palestine.
The Seaforth Highlanders were founded in 1778 as the 72nd Regiment, Duke of Albany’s Own Highlanders by Kenneth Mackenzie, Earl of Seaforth. This regiment existed for 15 years, until it was re-named 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot in 1793 (confusingly, the regiment was re-ranked as 78th Regiment, Duke of Albany’s Own Highlanders from August 1778 – September 1786).
By 1793, the 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot has taken part in suppressing the French invasion of Jersey and had taken part in the Second and Third Anglo-Mysuru (Mysore) Wars in India. Having been officially re-ranked as the 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot in 1793, they took part in wars across the globe, from Java, to Mauritius, to Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan.
In 1881, 78th and the historic 72nd were officially amalgamated to form the Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany’s). This regiment existed until 1961, and served in the Anglo-Egyptian War, the Second Boer War, the Second Afghan War, and both World Wars. The interwar period saw the regiment stationed in Shanghai, Hong Kong, India, and Palestine.
HISTORIC WARS…
HISTORIC WARS…
72ND REGIMENT, DUKE OF ALBANY’S OWN HIGHLANDERS (1778-1793)
American Revolutionary War (French invasion of Jersey); Jersey, 1779
Second and Third Anglo-Mysuru (Mysore) Wars; India, 1782-92
78th (HIGHLANDERS) REGIMENT OF FOOT (1793-1881)
Second and Third Mahratta War; India, 1803-1805
Napoleonic Wars; Ireland, The Netherlands, Maderia, Java, and Mauritius, 1805-1810
Cape Frontier Wars; South Africa, 1828-1838
First Anglo-Afghan War; India, 1842
Crimean War; Russia, 1855
Anglo-Persian War; Iran, 1857
Indian Uprising; India, 1857-1858
Second Afghan War; Afghanistan, 1878-1880
SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS (ROSS-SHIRE BUFFS, THE DUKE OF ALBANY’S) (1881-1961)
Anglo-Egyptian War; Egypt and Sudan, 1882
Second Sudan War; Sudan, 1896-1898
Second Boer War; South Africa, 1899-1900
72ND REGIMENT, DUKE OF ALBANY’S OWN HIGHLANDERS (1778-1793)
American Revolutionary War (French invasion of Jersey); Jersey, 1779
Second and Third Anglo-Mysuru (Mysore) Wars; India, 1782-92
78th (HIGHLANDERS) REGIMENT OF FOOT (1793-1881)
Second and Third Mahratta War; India, 1803-1805
Napoleonic Wars; Ireland, The Netherlands, Madeira, Java, and Mauritius, 1805-1810
Cape Frontier Wars; South Africa, 1828-1838
First Anglo-Afghan War; India, 1842
Crimean War; Russia, 1855
Anglo-Persian War; Iran, 1857
Indian Uprising; India, 1857-1858
Second Afghan War; Afghanistan, 1878-1880
SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS (ROSS-SHIRE BUFFS, THE DUKE OF ALBANY’S) (1881-1961)
Anglo-Egyptian War; Egypt and Sudan, 1882
Second Sudan War; Sudan, 1896-1898
Second Boer War; South Africa, 1899-1900
BATTLE HONOURS & AWARDS…
BATTLE HONOURS & AWARDS…
VICTORIA CROSSES
Between 1857 and 1918, the Seaforth Highlanders were awarded a total of eighteen Victoria Crosses. This is the most prestigious military honour, and is awarded for conspicuous gallantry “in the presence of the enemy”. Nine Seaforth Victoria Crosses were awarded during the Indian Uprising (1857 – 1858), one during the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878 – 1880), one during the Third Ashanti Expedition (1900), and seven during World War I (1914 – 1918).
View the names and details of each Seaforth recipient of the Victoria Cross here.
BATTLE HONOURS 1782 - 1902
Carnatic (1782 – 1796)
Hindoostan (1782 – 1796)
Mysore (1782 – 1798)
Cape of Good Hope 1806
South Africa 1835
Sevastopol (1855)
Central India (1858)
Piewar Kotal (1878)
Charasiah (1879)
Kabul 1879
Kandahar 1880
Afghanistan 1878 – 1880
Assaye (+ ELEPHANT) (1803)
Maida (1806)
Java (1811)
Koosh-Ab (1857)
Persia (1857)
Lucknow (1857)
Afghanistan 1879 – 1880
Tel-El-Kebir (1882)
Egypt 1882
Atbara (1898)
Khartoum (1898)
Chitral (1895)
Paardberg (1899)
South Africa 1899 – 1902
The Seaforths were also awarded 76 Battle Honours during WWI, and 58 Battle Honours in WWII.
VICTORIA CROSSES
Between 1857 and 1918, the Seaforth Highlanders were awarded a total of eighteen Victoria Crosses. This is the most prestigious military honour, and is awarded for conspicuous gallantry “in the presence of the enemy”. Nine Seaforth Victoria Crosses were awarded during the Indian Uprising (1857 – 1858), one during the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878 – 1880), one during the Third Ashanti Expedition (1900), and seven during World War I (1914 – 1918).
View the names and details of each Seaforth recipient of the Victoria Cross here.
BATTLE HONOURS 1782 - 1902
Carnatic (1782 – 1796)
Hindoostan (1782 – 1796)
Mysore (1782 – 1798)
Cape of Good Hope 1806
South Africa 1835
Sevastopol (1855)
Central India (1858)
Piewar Kotal (1878)
Charasiah (1879)
Kabul 1879
Kandahar 1880
Afghanistan 1878 – 1880
Assaye (+ ELEPHANT) (1803)
Maida (1806)
Java (1811)
Koosh-Ab (1857)
Persia (1857)
Lucknow (1857)
Afghanistan 1879 – 1880
Tel-El-Kebir (1882)
Egypt 1882
Atbara (1898)
Khartoum (1898)
Chitral (1895)
Paardberg (1899)
South Africa 1899 – 1902
The Seaforths were also awarded 76 Battle Honours during WWI, and 58 Battle Honours in WWII.
INSIDE THE MUSEUM…
INSIDE THE MUSEUM…
The Highlanders Museum holds hundreds of fascinating objects relating to the Seaforth Highlanders. One of the most unusual artefacts is a hand written petition dating back to 1778, just months after the regiment’s formation.
The 72nd Highlanders were protesting against being sent to India, which they believed went against the terms of their enlistment. After protests at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, negotiations, and subsequent pardons, the regiment (which was now known as the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders), eventually sailed for India three years later. As anticipated by the soldiers, it was a perilous journey – before arriving in India, the Earl of Seaforth, along with 250 Highland soldiers, died at sea.
The Highlanders Museum holds hundreds of fascinating objects relating to the Seaforth Highlanders. One of the most unusual artefacts is a hand written petition dating back to 1778, just months after the regiment’s formation.
The 72nd Highlanders were protesting against being sent to India, which they believed went against the terms of their enlistment. After protests at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, negotiations, and subsequent pardons, the regiment (which was now known as the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders), eventually sailed for India three years later. As anticipated by the soldiers, it was a perilous journey – before arriving in India, the Earl of Seaforth, along with 250 Highland soldiers, died at sea.