| Royal Scots Fusiliers military uniform
prints of the Royal Scots Fusiliers by Richard Simkin. Other Fusilier
prints available on this military art website.
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"The Foote Regiment commanded by ye Earle of Marre" was
raised "on the Scotch establishment" in 1678, and was to be
provided with a grenadier company, which was to have some practical
knowledge of gunnery as well as hand grenades. It was placed on
the English establishment in 1689, and therefore counts its seniority
from that date. It first came under fire at Bothwell Brigg, an
then as "O'Farrell's Fusiliers", clad in red with red facings,
did good work at Steenkirk, Walcourt, and Landen. It served
through Marlborough's campaigns, was in Cutt's brigade with the
"Royal Scots" in their attack on the palisades, and shared in
the victories of Neer Hespen, Ramillies, Oudenarde, Lisle, Wynandale,
Douay, Bouchain, and Malplaquet, bearing these three last and Blenheim
on the colours, and being granted the designation of the "Royal
Regiment of North British Fusiliers" in 1713 instead of the
"Scots Fusiliers" by which the regiment had frequently been
known.
Returning to Scotland in 1714, it was opposed at Sheriffmuir by the
Jacobite army commanded by the son of the first colonel, and agian
fought on its native soil at Culloden. It fought at Dettingen and
Fontenoy, and commenced wearing the curious conical fronted cap long
worn in the army, copied probably from a Prussian source, while the
grenadiers bore on theirs the thistle and crown with the white horse og
Hanover and the motto "Nec aspera terrent". By this time
it was numbered the 21st of the Line. It served at Belleisle in
1761, at Quebec in 1776, and at Stillwater, surrendering with the rest
of Burgoyne's army at Saratoga. Seventeen years later it was again
serving in the West Indies, and was present at the capture of Martinique
and Guadaloupe, receiving the commendation of General Prescott dfor its
ghallantry.
After Bergen op Zoom in 1814 - where a 2nd battalion, formed in 1804,
saw its only foreign service, for it ceased to exist in 1816 - the 1st
battalion sailed the same year from Genoa for America, and saw hard
fighting at Bladensburg, which it bears on its colours; Baltimore, where
it suffered severely; and at the capture of Washington. From this
period until the Crimea it saw no active service, though its valuable
services in the insurrection of the negroes in Demerara after 1819 were
gratefully recognised by the local authorities by the presentation of
mess plate and swords of honour; and it marched thirty four consecutive
days in 1846 to take part in the operation against the Sikhs, but was
not engaged. The battalion embarked for the Crimean campaign in
1854 as part of the 4th division, and fought at the Alma and at
Inkerman, where their general fell. They behaved with the greatest
gallantry at the Redan on the 18th June, 1855, and assisted at the
capture of Kinburn; and bear Sebastopol, as well as the battles
mentioned above, on their colours.
"South Africa, 1879", the last name in their battle roll,
was gained by the 2nd battalion, which was raised in 1858, and saw its
first active service there. By this time the former title of
"Royal North British Fusiliers" had been changed to the
"Royal Scots Fusiliers". They were engaged against the
Zulus at Ulundi, in the operations resulting in the capture of
Sekukuni's Kraal, and against the Boers in the Transvaal, where they
garrisoned Rustenberg, Potchefstroom, and Pretoria, in the early part of
which operations on of their officers, Captain Lambart, was
treacherously taken prisoner, and a similar disgraceful act was
performed at Pretoria, where the Fusiliers, misled by a flag of truce,
left their cover and were fired on, though they had replied to the flag
by a similar emblem. The whole war abounds in such cases.
The Boers seem to have been destitute of every feeling of honour, for
the small garrison of Potchefstroom, reduced to exhaustion, surrendered,
when an armistice has already been concluded some days before.
Their present arduous service in Burmah is the first foreign service
they have seen since the South African troubles.
Two Militia regiments, the Scottish Borderers Militia, and the Royal
Ayr and Wigton Militia, form the 3rd and 4th battalions of the
Fusiliers. The former was raised in 1797, and volunteered for
service both during the Crimean war and the Indian Mutiny; the latter
first appeared in 1802, and was formed from the men of the disembodied
7th North British Militia. They were embodied from 1803 to 1816,
doing duty in different parts of the United Kingdom, and again in 1855,
undergoing several changes of title until the territorial system was
introduced in 1881. The Volunteer battalions are the 1st and 2nd
Ayrshire, raised in 1859, with red uniform and blue facings; and the 3rd
Galloway, with grey and scarlet. The depot is at Ayr. The
uniform of the regiment resembles that of the Royal Scots, but the
head-dress is the usual black racoon skin "cap", with a gilt
grenade in front. The regimental nickname is "Earl of Mar's
Grey Breeks", from the colour of the men's breeches when the
regiment was first raised. Extract from "The British Army and Auxiliary Forces" Colonel
C. Cooper King, R.M.A. , 1894
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Royal Scots Fusiliers by Richard Simkin
Open edition print. Image size 9 inches x 12 inches (23cm x 31cm). Price £14.00
Original chromolithograph. Image size 10 inches x 13 inches. One copy available.. Price £140.00
ITEM CODE UN0244
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A Tigers Tale by Robin Smith.
Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Image size 22 inches x 15 inches (56cm x 38cm). Price £80.00
ITEM CODE RS0019
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The 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers by Frank Feller (P)
Original chromolithograph published 1880. Image size 9 inches x 6 inches (23cm x 15cm). Price £70.00
ITEM CODE UN0486
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Officer, 21st Foot, 1751 by P H Smitherman
This image, in which the details are taken from a portrait, shows an officer of the regiment in undress uniform, such as he might have worn in barracks not on duty or on social occasions. As the eighteenth century progressed the wearing of uniform became more popular with officers, and in the many conversation pieces of family groups then painted we often see one or more members of a family wearing uniform, indicating that it was worn at home and away from the regiment - rather a contrast to the custom of previous years. Moreover, probably for this reason the cut and design of the officers coats became more elegant during the second half of the century. The 21st Foot, later the Royal Scots Fusiliers, were raised in 1678, the first fusilier regiment in the army. As firearms gradually replaced the pike as the main infantry weapon it was an obvious development to raise regiments equipped completely with firearms, and several fusilier regiments were raised at this time. They were equipped with fusils, a light, more efficient and more expensive form of the flintlock used by musketeers of other regiments. They were regarded as picked regiments and had the same privileges of dress as grenadiers, that is to say they wore mitre caps and their coats were more elaborately laced than the rest. Moreover, with one exception, they shared the privilege of the Six Old Corps in wearing their own regimental badge on their mitre caps instead of the royal cipher. This officer, therefore, on duty would wear a mitre cap and carry a fusil, would doubtless have the skirts of his coat turned back, would carry a cartouche box, and would have a ring bayonet in a frog above his sword. We have pictorial evidence, however, that grenadier officers, and possibly therefore fusilier officers, did sometimes go into battle dressed much as this officer is, always, of course, armed with his fusil. On their mitre caps the regiment displayed a device incorporating the cross of Saint Andrew and the thistle, indicating their Scottish origin. They did not assume Scottish dress until 1881.
One available. Image size 14 inches x 10 inches (36cm x 25cm). Price £24.00
ITEM CODE PHS0012
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Private Torrance pumping air into a mine under heavy fire.
One pump had already been damaged, and another was in danger from heavy shellfire. But Private J Torrace, of the 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers (attached 9th Brigade Mining Section) remained at the head of a mineshaft, working the remaining air pump throughout the bombardment. If it had not been for his gallant action the mine would probably have run short of air. He was awarded the D.C.M.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0467
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Private S. Heron Assisting The Royal Engineers to Destroy The Canal Bridge At Jemappes.
On August 23rd 1914, Private S. Heron, of the 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, rendered great assistance to the Royal Engineers who were preparing to destroy the canal bridge at Jemappes, whilst under heavy fire. For his conspicuous courage and coolness he was awarded the D.C.M.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0706
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| Officer, 21st Foot, 1751
by P H Smitherman This image, in which the details are taken from a portrait, shows an
officer of the regiment in undress uniform, such as he might have worn in
barracks not on duty or on social occasions. As the eighteenth
century progressed the wearing of uniform became more popular with
officers, and in the many conversation pieces of family groups then
painted we often see one or more members of a family wearing uniform,
indicating that it was worn at home and away from the regiment - rather a
contrast to the custom of previous years. Moreover, probably for
this reason the cut and design of the officers coats became more elegant
during the second half of the century. The 21st Foot, later the
Royal Scots Fusiliers, were raised in 1678, the first fusilier regiment in
the army. As firearms gradually replaced the pike as the main
infantry weapon it was an obvious development to raise regiments equipped
completely with firearms, and several fusilier regiments were raised at
this time. They were equipped with fusils, a light, more efficient
and more expensive form of the flintlock used by musketeers of other
regiments. They were regarded as picked regiments and had the same
privileges of dress as grenadiers, that is to say they wore mitre caps and
their coats were more elaborately laced than the rest. Moreover,
with one exception, they shared the privilege of the Six Old Corps in
wearing their own regimental badge on their mitre caps instead of the
royal cipher. This officer, therefore, on duty would wear a mitre
cap and carry a fusil, would doubtless have the skirts of his coat turned
back, would carry a cartouche box, and would have a ring bayonet in a frog
above his sword. We have pictorial evidence, however, that grenadier
officers, and possibly therefore fusilier officers, did sometimes go into
battle dressed much as this officer is, always, of course, armed with his
fusil. On their mitre caps the regiment displayed a device
incorporating the cross of Saint Andrew and the thistle, indicating their
Scottish origin. They did not assume Scottish dress until 1881. Private
Torrance pumping air into a mine under heavy fire.
One pump had already been damaged, and another was in
danger from heavy shellfire. But
Private J Torrace, of the 1st Battalion, Royal Scots
Fusiliers (attached 9th Brigade Mining Section) remained at
the head of a mineshaft, working the remaining air pump throughout the
bombardment. If it had not
been for his gallant action the mine would probably have run short of
air. He was awarded the
D.C.M.
Private S. Heron Assisting The Royal Engineers to
Destroy The Canal Bridge At Jemappes.
On August 23rd 1914, Private S. Heron, of the 1st
Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, rendered great assistance to the Royal
Engineers who were preparing to destroy the canal bridge at Jemappes,
whilst under heavy fire. For
his conspicuous courage and coolness he was awarded the D.C.M.
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| Regimental
Books Available: |
Historical
Record and Regimental Memoir of the Royal Scots Fusiliers : Formerly known
as the 21st Royal North British Fusiliers. by James Clark, late
Sergeant. (1885)
This title contains an account ofthe Formation of the
Regiment in 1678 and its subsequent services until June 1885.
Compiled from various authentic sources.
Post: UK- £4.00 (max post for multiple books £6.00).
For Europe £6.00 (each plus one charge of £3.00 recorded fee per
total shipment)
Rest of World £8.00 (each plus one charge of £3.00 recorded fee
per total shipment)
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To order your copy: secure
order form
Paperback Book serial number NMP2409.
185 pages. Price £18.95. |
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