26th (Cameronian) Regiment of Foot facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 26th (Cameronian) Regiment of Foot
Colours of the regiment in 1862
Active	1689–1881
Country	Kingdom of Scotland (1689–1707)  Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1800)  United Kingdom (1801–1881)
Branch	Army
Type	Line Infantry
Garrison/HQ	Hamilton Barracks, Hamilton
March	"Within a Mile of Edinburgh Town"
Engagements	Nine Years' War War of the Spanish Succession Jacobite risings American Revolutionary War French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars First Opium War Crimean War British Expedition to Abyssinia

The 26th (Cameronian) Regiment of Foot was a famous Scottish infantry (foot soldier) regiment that served in the Scots Army and later the British Army. It was active for a long time, from 1689 to 1881. The regiment was first named after its leader, James Douglas, Earl of Angus. However, people soon started calling it The Cameronians. This name became official in 1751 when it was given the number 26th Foot.

In 1881, the 26th Foot joined with another regiment, the 90th Regiment of Foot (Perthshire Volunteers). Together, they formed a new unit called the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). This new regiment continued the traditions of the Cameronians until it was disbanded in 1968. Today, no army unit carries on the direct history of the 26th Foot.

How the Cameronians Regiment Started

Statue of James, Earl of Angus on the Cameronian Memorial at Douglas

The regiment began as the Cameronian Guard in 1689. It was named after the Cameronians, who were followers of a religious leader named Richard Cameron. These Cameronians were Presbyterians who strongly believed in their faith. They had fought against kings like Charles II and James VII. These kings tried to stop Presbyterianism and force bishops on the Church of Scotland.

This religious conflict ended with the Glorious Revolution. After this, a special meeting in Scotland decided that King James was no longer their king. They offered the crown to William and Mary in April 1689.

In March 1689, King William's Scottish regiments arrived in Edinburgh. Soon after, a new regiment was formed near Douglas. It was made up of Cameronians and led by James, Earl of Angus. It's said that 1200 men joined in just one day, without needing special recruiting efforts. The regiment had 1200 men in twenty companies. Each company had an elder, and the regiment had a Cameronian chaplain. This showed their strong religious background.

Early Service with King William III

The Cameronians officially joined King William II of Scotland (also William III of England) in 1689. On August 21, they won an important victory against Dundee's Jacobite forces at the Battle of Dunkeld. This battle was a turning point in the Jacobite uprising that year.

The regiment also fought in the Battle of Landen in July 1693 during the Nine Years' War. After the war ended in 1697, the English Parliament wanted to reduce the size of the army. To keep the Cameronians active, King William moved them to the Dutch army's payroll. They returned to the English army in 1700.

Fighting in the War of the Spanish Succession

Uniform of the regiment in 1713

When the War of the Spanish Succession began in 1701, the Cameronians were sent to the Netherlands. They joined a large army led by the famous Duke of Marlborough. In 1702 and 1703, the army captured several towns.

In 1704, the Cameronians saw heavy fighting. A group of their soldiers took part in the main British attack at the Battle of Schellenberg in July. Out of 130 men, 19 were killed and 62 were wounded. The regiment then fought at the Battle of Blenheim in July. After the battle, they helped guard 13,000 captured enemy soldiers. The British forces then moved back to the Netherlands for the winter.

In 1705, they fought at the Battle of Elixheim. The rest of that year was fairly quiet. In 1706, the Cameronians took part in the Battle of Ramillies. They faced heavy cannon fire and suffered many casualties, even though they were not in the main attack. Later that year, they helped in several sieges, including at Ath. Here, some Cameronians broke into the fortress walls just before it surrendered.

The year 1707 was quiet for fighting, but many soldiers became sick. In 1708, the regiment was almost sent back to Great Britain because of a possible invasion, but the danger passed. In July, they fought at the Battle of Oudenarde, where they suffered many losses. They then served at the Siege of Lille. During this siege, they helped guard supplies at Wijnendale, where they ambushed a French force. The French lost 6,000 men, while the allies lost only 900. At the end of the year, the Cameronians helped capture Ghent and stayed there for the winter.

In June 1709, they helped during the siege of Tournai. After Tournai was captured, the army moved south. On September 9, they had a short fight with the French outside Mons, where the Cameronians took heavy losses. The main battle, the Battle of Malplaquet, happened on September 11. The Cameronians were in the center of the British line. They bravely fought off French cavalry attacks and were praised for their role in the victory. The regiment lost its lieutenant-colonel in this battle.

In 1710, the regiment helped besiege Douai. They lost 51 men killed and 192 wounded during this siege. After Douai, they helped at a siege in Béthune before returning to Ghent for the winter. In 1711, they marched through northern France and took part in the Siege of Bouchain in August. After some small fights in 1712, they moved to garrison Dunkirk. After the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, they moved to Nieuwpoort and then sailed to Ireland.

Soldier of 26th regiment, 1742

During these campaigns, the Cameronians were thanked by the Duke of Marlborough seven times for their bravery. The 26th later received special honors for "Blenheim," "Ramillies," "Oudenarde," and "Malplaquet."

Service in the Mid-1700s

The Cameronians moved from Ireland to Scotland in late 1715 to fight against the First Jacobite uprising. In November 1715, they arrived in Preston, where a strong Jacobite force held the town. The Cameronians led a direct attack into the town on November 12, but they were pushed back with heavy losses. More regiments arrived the next day, and the Jacobites surrendered. The regiment had 92 casualties in the Battle of Preston. After the rebellion ended, the Cameronians returned to Ireland in 1716.

In 1726, they served as marines on naval ships. Then, they were sent to Gibraltar during a war with Spain in 1727. They did not fight directly in the siege of Gibraltar, which was mostly long-distance bombardments. Nine men were killed or died of wounds, and 29 were injured. The Cameronians stayed in Gibraltar until 1738, then moved to Minorca, and returned to Ireland in 1748.

On July 1, 1751, the regiment was officially named the 26th Regiment of Foot. It received new, standardized regimental flags. The regiment returned to Scotland in 1754 and then moved back to Ireland in 1757, where they stayed for ten years.

North American Service and the American War of Independence

A print showing Ethan Allen's capture of Fort Ticonderoga.

In 1767, the regiment sailed to the North American colonies for garrison duties. When the American War of Independence began in 1775, the 26th Foot was in Lower Canada. Their soldiers were spread out at frontier posts, and the regiment was very small.

On May 10, 36 soldiers and two officers of the 26th were captured at Fort Ticonderoga by American forces. Another group at Fort Crown Point was taken the next day. The main part of the 26th regiment in Canada moved to Fort Saint-Jean in Quebec. An American attempt to capture Montreal was stopped on September 25 by just 36 Cameronians and local militia.

Meanwhile, American forces began to besiege Fort Saint-Jean in September. The fort's defenders, including 550 men from the 26th, had limited food and ammunition. They were forced to surrender in early November. The Americans then moved towards Montreal. The British soldiers there, including a small group from the 26th, tried to escape by boat down the St. Lawrence. But their ships were stopped, and the troops were captured. The regiment's flags were wrapped around a cannonball and dropped into the river so they wouldn't be taken by the enemy.

This mostly ended the 26th's fighting in Canada. In May 1776, reinforcements arrived and helped lift the siege of Quebec City. Later, American prisoners were exchanged for soldiers from the 26th, allowing the regiment to rebuild.

The 26th moved to New York in the autumn of 1776. They camped in Amboy, New Jersey for the winter. In September 1777, they raided into New Jersey and then moved to Staten Island. On October 6, the regiment helped attack Fort Clinton. The fort was captured, but it didn't give them a lasting advantage.

The regiment stayed on Staten Island. In late 1779, they were ordered home. The soldiers were transferred to other units, and the regiment's officers returned to England to recruit new men. By the end of 1780, they had 200 men. They moved to Shrewsbury in 1781, growing to 336 men, and then to Scotland. They stayed in Scotland until October 1783, when they moved to Ireland.

In 1782, Lieutenant-General Sir William Erskine became the regiment's colonel. He asked the King to officially restore the name "Cameronian." The name had not been used for some time. In February 1786, the regiment was officially allowed to use the title "Cameronian" again.

In May 1787, the regiment sailed from Cork with about 350 men and arrived in British North America in August. They were stationed around Quebec, then Montreal, and later at frontier posts along the Niagara River. They moved between Montreal and Quebec over the next years. In 1797, they took in many new men to reach a strength of ten companies.

In May 1800, the regiment moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, then sailed for England in September. On their way back, one of their ships was captured by a French privateer. The soldiers were released but promised not to fight until they were exchanged for French prisoners. In March 1801, Lieutenant-General Andrew Gordon became the regiment's Colonel.

Service in Egypt, 1801–1802

The regiment was ordered to Egypt in May 1801 to help the British army there. They arrived in mid-July and served during the Siege of Alexandria. The regiment sailed for England in late October. Many soldiers suffered from ophthalmia, an eye disease, caught in Egypt. The regiment was allowed to display "Egypt" and an image of the Sphinx on its flags. Twenty-five officers received gold medals from Sultan Selim III.

The regiment returned to England in February 1802, just before the war with France ended. Many men were discharged due to illness or because their service time was up. Recruiting new men was difficult, even when they moved to Scotland in November.

Napoleonic Wars

When the war with France started again in May 1803, the Cameronians were at Fort George in Scotland. They moved south to Stirling in July and received many new recruits. Over 1300 new men joined, allowing the regiment to form a second battalion.

The first battalion moved to Ulster in December, followed by the second. In August 1804, both battalions moved to the Curragh for large training exercises. In December, the battalions were reorganized. The first battalion took all men who could serve overseas, while the second battalion had men who could only serve at home. This left the first battalion with 600 men and the second with almost twice that number.

In 1805, the regiment moved to Germany as part of the Hanover Expedition, then returned home. In October 1809, it was sent to Spain for the Peninsular War. It fought at the Battle of Corunna in January 1809, then moved to the Netherlands for the Walcheren Campaign. It returned to Spain in June 1811 but then served in Gibraltar until the end of the war due to much sickness. The second battalion, formed in 1804, stayed in the United Kingdom and was disbanded in Scotland in 1813 without seeing active service.

Irish Service, 1822–1827

The Cameronians were transferred to Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland, in November 1822. They garrisoned the city and patrolled roads. However, discipline suffered because soldiers could easily socialize in town. Drunkenness and minor rule-breaking increased.

In January 1824, the regiment moved to Kinsale, then to Tralee in October. It grew from eight to ten companies in March 1825. In October, it moved to scattered stations around Naas, County Kildare.

In 1826, the regiment was sent to England due to riots in Lancashire, but soon returned to Ireland. They were stationed at the Royal Barracks, Dublin. During this time, the number of soldiers running away (deserting) increased sharply. Forty-two men deserted in 1826–27, compared to 37 in the previous eight years. The regiment moved to Richmond Barracks in January 1827. In July, they left Dublin for various postings around Waterford. They were ordered to England in late 1827 to prepare for service in colonies. They arrived in Chatham in November, where older men were discharged.

Service in India, 1828–1840

The 26th sailed for India in May 1828, arriving at Fort St. George, Madras, in September. This was the regiment's first time serving in India. They took on new men in November and had a peaceful time as part of the city's garrison.

In July 1830, the regiment was ordered to Calcutta, then to Chinsurah. They were then told to march to Karnal in north-western India. They left Chinsurah in December, having lost 13 men to cholera. After a long march, they arrived at Meerut in March 1831. They had marched 900 miles in 80 days. The next few years were quiet garrison duties, with about 20 men dying each year from disease.

On August 21, 1834, the regiment was ordered to prepare for active service due to a dispute with a local prince. They marched for Marwar on October 1. However, ten days later, they learned that the Rajah of Jodhpur had made peace, and troops were no longer needed.

In early 1836, the regiment moved to Ghazipur. They stayed there for less than a year, then were ordered to Calcutta in December. This march was easier than before, and they arrived at Fort William in January 1838. They remained there through 1838 and 1839. In 1840, they received orders to prepare for overseas service.

Fighting in China, 1840–1842

The regiment sailed from Calcutta on March 24, 1840, with 900 men. They were heading to Singapore to join a force for service in China. The force arrived off Chusan on July 4 and captured it easily the next day. The 26th camped on a hill, but hard work, bad land, and poor food soon caused illness. By September, 400 men were sick. In October and November, about 80 men died each month. By the end of 1840, 240 men had died, and only 110 were healthy.

All healthy men moved north to help attack the Bogue forts. These forts fell on January 7, 1841. After a peace attempt failed, the regiment helped capture the forts again on February 26. The force moved upriver, taking Canton on May 24. The 26th fought off a Chinese counter-attack on May 30. They then moved to Hong Kong after another treaty was signed. While resting in Hong Kong, the 26th went on an expedition against Amoy in August. They then moved up the coast to Ningbo in December.

They arrived at Ningbo on February 7, 1842, and served as garrison. The town was attacked on March 9–10, but the 26th was not involved in the defense. A few days later, they attacked two fortified camps nearby. In early May, Ningbo was evacuated, and the 26th moved north to help attack Chapu. Here, the 26th saw heavy fighting, with three men killed before the town was taken.

The regiment then moved with the main force up the Yangtze River towards Shanghai and Nanking. The 26th was part of the force that stormed Chinkiang on July 21. They landed outside Nanking on August 11 and stayed there while the Treaty of Nanking was signed. Then they left, reaching Hong Kong on October 30. The regiment was allowed to display "China" and an image of a dragon on its flags for its service in this expedition.

Return Home, 1843–1850

The regiment sailed from Hong Kong on December 20, 1842. At Singapore, they learned they were going to England. They stopped in Calcutta for a few weeks, then sailed for England in late February 1843. They had over a thousand men, but 44 died of disease on the way. On their journey, they became the first British Army unit to officially visit Napoleon's tomb on Saint Helena. Through July and August, the regiment took on garrison duties in south-east England. In September, they moved north to Edinburgh Castle.

Over the winter, the regiment had discipline problems. This was partly because they were in Scotland, where men could easily leave. Also, many experienced non-commissioned officers had died or become sick in China. By spring 1844, things improved. On May 3, they received new flags at Bruntsfield Links. Lady Douglas, wife of the commander of forces in Scotland, presented them. A group was sent to Dundee due to unrest but returned without needing to fight. This was their only active duty in Scotland. In August, they moved to northern England.

They moved to various places around Newcastle upon Tyne for the winter, then to Manchester in April 1845. The regiment was still small after the China expedition, and many "inferior" men were recruited in Manchester. In June, they moved to Belfast for the winter, then to Enniskillen in April 1846. After Enniskillen, the 26th moved south to Dublin in August. They stayed there for the winter, then moved to Buttevant, County Cork, in August, and to Cork itself in April 1848. As was common for Irish postings, most companies were spread out in different towns. The regiment finally came together again in June 1849.

In August 1849, two companies of the Cameronians formed a guard of honour for Queen Victoria when she visited Cork. This was their last major activity in Ireland. In December, they were ordered to prepare for foreign service. The regiment split into a four-company depot and a six-company service battalion. The service battalion sailed for Gibraltar in March 1850. The depot stayed in Ireland until May, then moved to Jersey.

Colonial Service, 1850s–1880s

Uniform of the regiment in 1866

The depot left Jersey in May 1851 and moved to Monmouthshire. In November 1852, the regiment was told it would go to the West Indies. But this was changed in early 1853 due to health concerns for troops there, and the regiment was ordered to Canada instead. On June 9, the day they arrived in Montreal, a group of soldiers helped local police control a crowd. A mob stormed a church where an anti-Catholic preacher was speaking. Soldiers tried to form a line, but rioters pushed through. Shots were fired, and several people were killed. The regiment had to patrol the streets all night. About 40 people were killed or wounded. The regiment left Montreal in July and sailed from Quebec to Bermuda in November.

Major-General Sir Philip Bainbrigge became the regiment's colonel in March 1854. In April 1855, the regiment received two extra companies of untrained men. Most experienced soldiers from the depot had joined other regiments for the Crimean War. In 1856, they received the new Enfield rifled musket, which required a lot of training.

The regiment left Bermuda in October 1859 and sailed for Ireland. They stayed there for a year, then moved to Edinburgh in 1861. They received new flags in April 1862 and moved to Aldershot the next month. That year, Major-General Sir George Henry MacKinnon became the regiment's colonel.

The regiment shipped to Bombay in July 1865, then moved to Belgaum. They did not see active service in India. But in late 1867, they were ordered to prepare for an expedition to Abyssinia. The Cameronians landed on March 31, 1868, with new Snider-Enfield rifles. They marched inland towards Magdala. After a month, they learned the fighting had ended. The regiment returned to the coast, boarded ships for Bombay, and arrived on June 11. They received the "Abyssinia" honor for this operation, which they completed without any casualties or fighting.

In Bombay, the regiment was sent to Calcutta, stationed at Dum Dum. They moved into the city at the end of the year, then to Faizabad in early 1870. Here, they had a cholera outbreak, with 34 deaths among soldiers and their families. However, the 26th was ranked the best regiment in India for rifle-shooting and second-best in the entire British Army. At the end of 1872, they moved to Morar, Gwailor, where they continued their shooting success. The 26th was ranked third in 1873 and first in the whole army in 1874.

The regiment returned home in 1875, stationed at Clarence Barracks in Portsmouth. They received the new Martini-Henry rifle. After learning to use the new rifle, the Cameronians regained their excellent shooting skills and were ranked third in the Army in 1876. In August 1876, the 26th was shipped to Glasgow, moving into the Gallowgate Barracks.

During a diplomatic problem in early 1878, the regiment was prepared for overseas service. They received hundreds of reservists and volunteers to reach full strength. However, the danger of war passed in July, and they were stood down.

They moved to Aldershot in October 1878 for large training exercises. In August 1880, they sailed for Malta. In 1881, the Maltese garrison was ordered to South Africa as reinforcements after a British defeat in the First Boer War. But by the time their ships reached Gibraltar, the war had ended. The 26th changed direction and arrived in Portsmouth in April, moving to Shorncliffe Army Camp.

Joining Other Regiments

In the 1870s, as part of army reforms, single regiments were linked to share a single base. The 26th was linked with the 74th (Highland) Regiment at Hamilton Barracks in Hamilton.

However, in the early 1880s, further reforms changed this system. The 26th was now linked with the 90th Regiment of Foot (Perthshire Volunteers). The two regiments officially joined together in 1882 to form the Scotch Rifles Cameronians. This name was quickly changed to the Cameronians (Scotch Rifles), and then to the more modern Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). The 26th, being the older regiment, became the 1st Battalion. The 90th became the 2nd Battalion.

The 26th paraded as a separate regiment for the last time on June 26, 1882. They wore a new green uniform, as rifle regiments traditionally wore green instead of the red of other regiments. Their flags were stored and later officially placed in Glasgow Cathedral in 1885. Rifle regiments traditionally did not carry flags.

Special Traditions

Because the regiment started from a religious movement, it gave bibles to all new soldiers. This tradition continued even after it joined with other regiments. Also, the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) were the only regiment in the British Army that carried their weapons into church. This tradition began in the Covenanter days when they posted armed guards during church services to watch for enemies. The Cameronians kept this practice even after joining the British Army. They would place two sentries at each of the four corners of the church. This tradition continued until the regiment was disbanded.

The regiment's uniforms had deep yellow facings (the color on the lapels, cuffs, and collars) after 1751. They also wore a tartan, or Scotch plaid, forage cap instead of a plain uniform one, at least in the 1800s. Even though the 26th was not officially a Highland regiment, it had a small group of men who served as pipers, which are recorded as far back as the 1820s.

The regiment displayed the special honors "Corunna" and "Abyssinia" on its flags. It also had a Sphinx badge with "Egypt" written on it and a dragon badge with "China" on it. The honors "Blenheim," "Ramillies," "Oudenarde," and "Malplaquet" were also given to the 26th, but not until 1882. So, only its successor, the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), ever displayed these.

Victoria Crosses Awarded

The Victoria Cross is the highest award for bravery in the British military. These were awarded to members who served with the 90th Perthshire Light Infantry, which later joined the Cameronians:

• Private Edmund John Fowler, Zulu War (March 28, 1879).
• Lieutenant Henry Lysons, Zulu War (March 28, 1879).

Battle Honors

The regiment earned these special honors for its bravery in battles:

• War of the Spanish Succession: Blenheim; Ramillies; Oudenarde; Malplaquet;
• Napoleonic Wars: Egypt; Corunna;
• Later wars: China; Abyssinia

Regimental Colonels

These are some of the leaders (Colonels) of the Regiment:

• 1689–1692: Col. James Douglas, Earl of Angus
• 1692–1693: Col. Andrew Monro
• 1693–1705: Maj-Gen. James Ferguson
• 1705–1706: Col. William Borthwick of Johnstoneburn
• 1706: F.M. John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair (Lord Dalrymple), KT
• 1706–1720: Lt-Gen. George Preston
• 1720–1760: Lt-Gen. Philip Anstruther

26th Regiment of Foot (after 1751)

• 1760–1763: Lt-Gen. Edward Sandford
• 1763–1775: Maj-Gen. John Scott
• 1775–1782: Gen. Lord Adam Gordon
• 1782–1795: Lt-Gen. Sir William Erskine of Torrie, Bt.

26th (The Cameronian) Regiment of Foot (after 1786)

• 1795–1801: Lt-Gen. Hon. Sir Charles Stuart, KB
• 1801–1806: Lt. Gen. Andrew Gordon
• 1806–1813: Lt-Gen. John Elphinstone, 12th Lord Elphinstone
• 1813–1838: Gen. George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie, GCB
• 1838–1854: F.M. Sir John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton, GCB, GCMG, GCH
• 1854–1862: Gen. Sir Philip Bainbrigge, KCB
• 1862–1881: Gen. George Henry Mackinnon, CB