Originally formed as the 51st Highland Volunteers in 1967, as a result of the amalgamation of Territorial Battalions within the infantry Regiments of the Highland Brigade, the name commemorated the 51st (Highland) Division of the Territorial Force, within which many of the Regiment's antecedent Territorial Battalions served during the First and Second World Wars.
The current Battalion traces its lineage back to the reserve Rifle Volunteer units that were originally raised in the Scottish Highlands as part of the Victorian Volunteer Force by Lord Lieutenants in every county.[2] These included Highland units from the north-west of Scotland such as the Argyllshire Rifle Volunteers,[3] the Inverness-shire Rifle Volunteers,[4] the Ross-shire Rifle Volunteers[5] and the Sutherland Rifle Volunteers.[6] However, the lineage also includes elements of the Forfarshire Rifle Volunteers,[7][8] the Perthshire Rifle Volunteers,[9] the Fifeshire Rifle Volunteers,[10] the Elginshire Rifle Volunteers,[11] the Aberdeenshire Rifle Volunteers,[12][13][14][15] the Banffshire Rifle Volunteers,[16] the Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers,[17][18] and the Clackmananshire Rifle Volunteers.[19]
After the Armistice, the Territorial Force and its formations were disbanded. It was re-established, by the Territorial Army and Militia Act 1921, as the Territorial Army however, and the original Highland Territorial Battalions were reconstituted, although there were several amalgamations.[28]
The Black Watch (TA Battalions), c. 1921
The Seaforth Highlanders (TA Battalions), c. 1921
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (TA Battalions), c. 1921
The Gordon Highlanders (TA Battalions), c. 1921
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (TF Battalions), c. 1921
4th/5th (Dundee and Angus) Battalion, The Black Watch, at Parker Street in Dundee
4th/5th (Ross, Sutherland and Caithness) Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders, at Old Bank Road in Golspie
4th Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, at Rose Street in Inverness
4th (The City of Aberdeen) Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders, at Guild Street in Aberdeen
5th/6th (Renfrewshire) Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, at High Street, Paisley
6th/7th (Perth and Fife) Battalion, The Black Watch, at Tay Street in Perth
6th (Morayshire) Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders, at Cooper Park in Elgin
5th/7th (Buchan, Mar and Means) Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders, at Mugiemoss Road in Bucksburn (since demolished)[29]
7th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, at Princes Street in Stirling
8th (Argyllshire) Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, at Queen Street in Dunoon
During the Second World War these units again saw action as part of 51st (Highland) Infantry Division but many troops were detained as prisoners of war in Germany after more than 10,000 members of the division were taken prisoner at St Valery.[30]
Post-war restructuring and Cold War
In August 1946 the 51st (Highland) Division was disbanded. Shortly afterwards however the formation was revived as part of the 51st/52nd (Scottish) Division, created via an amalgamation with the 52nd (Lowland) Division. They once again became a Territorial Division upon demobilisation in 1948.[31]
The Black Watch (TA Battalions), c. 1947
The Seaforth Highlanders (TA Battalions), c. 1947
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (TA Battalions), c. 1947
The Gordon Highlanders (TA Battalions), c. 1947
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (TA Battalions), c. 1947
4th/5th (Dundee and Angus) Battalion, The Black Watch, at Parker Street in Dundee
11th (Ross-shire) Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders, at Ferry Road in Dingwall
4th Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, at Rose Street in Inverness
4th/7th Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders, at Guild Street in Aberdeen
7th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, at Princes Street in Stirling
6th/7th (Perth and Fife) Battalion, The Black Watch, at Tay Street in Perth
5th/6th (Banff, Buchan and Donside) Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders, at Mugiemoss Road in Bucksburn
8th (Argyllshire) Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, at Queen Street in Dunoon
In 1950, the 51st/52nd (Scottish) Division was split, restoring the independence of the 51st Highland Division, which took regional command of Territorial Army units based in the Scottish Highlands, including the TA infantry battalions of the Highland Brigade regiments.[32]
British forces contracted dramatically as the end of National Service took place in 1960, as announced in the 1957 Defence White Paper. As a result, on 20 July 1960, a reorganisation of the TA was announced by the War Office.[33]
The Black Watch (TA Battalions), c. 1961
The Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons) (TA Battalions), c. 1961
The Gordon Highlanders (TA Battalions), c. 1961
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (TA Battalions), c. 1961
4th/5th (Dundee and Angus) Battalion, The Black Watch, at Parker Street in Dundee
11th (Ross-shire) Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders, at Ferry Road in Dingwall
3rd Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders, at Guild Street in Aberdeen
7th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, at Princes Street in Stirling
6th/7th (Perth and Fife) Battalion, The Black Watch, at Tay Street in Perth
8th (Argyllshire) Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, at Queen Street in Dunoon
The 1966 Defence White Paper and after
This was followed by complete reorganisation as announced in the 1966 Defence White Paper.[34] The 51st Highland Volunteers were formed in 1967 from the amalgamation of territorial battalions of regiments in the Highland Brigade. It was a TAVR II (NATO reserve role) unit with headquarters located at Perth, Scotland.[35]
In 1969, the three TAVRIII (Home defence) battalions were reduced in size and amalgamated into the 51st Highland Volunteers, forming three additional companies:
G (Gordon Highlanders) Company, located at Peterhead, Keith
3rd Battalion, 51st Highland Volunteers
Headquarters located at Peterhead
B (Queen's Own Highlanders) Company, located at Wick
C (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) Company, located at Grangemouth
D (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) Company, located at Dumbarton
In 1981, the 3rd Battalion effectively became the Territorial battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; in 1995, it became the 7th/8th (V) Battalion of that regiment. The 2nd Battalion became the 3rd (V) Battalion of The Highlanders.[35]
A Z (Home Service Force) Company was formed in 1984 at Perth, Kirkcaldy and Dundee. A number of re-organizations and company re-locations also occurred in the 1980s. Between 1992 and 1993, the remaining elements of 1st Battalion, the 51st Highland Volunteers were again reorganised.[35]
51st Highland Volunteers c.1993
HQ Company at Perth
A Company at Dundee
B Company at Forfar
D Company at Aberdeen
K Company at Kirkcaldy
The 1st Battalion was subsequently redesignated (in 1994) as the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment).[35]
The regiment was re-formed in 1999 by the amalgamation of all three battalions (viz 7/8 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 3 The Highlanders, and 3 Black Watch) into a single battalion, the 51st Highland Regiment (51 HIGHLAND), in consequence of the reforms of the Territorial Army in the Strategic Defence Review. It had one support company and five rifle companies.[36]
The battalion headquarters is based at Queen's Barracks in Perth. The Highland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland (Reserve) is administered by the battalion, as well as the unit's own battalion Pipes and Drums. Under the Army 2020 Refine, the battalion was paired with 3 SCOTS as a light infantry battalion. The battalion is currently made up of one support company and three rifle companies:[36][38]
