top of page
dimension
Length, in
0
Length, ft
0
Length, cm
0
Height, in
0
Height, cm
0
Height, ft
0
Weight, g
0
Weight, oz
0
Weight, lb
0
Detail Info
Object ID
1998.133.034
Access Number
1998.133
Subjects
Object Name
Badge, Cap
Other Name
Cap Badge - Cameronians (Scottish Rifles
Status
Material
White Metal
Provenance
Location
Origin
Caption
Date
Status Date
Note
Dimension Notes
Condition Notes
FEATURE INFO
Artifact Type
Object
Objet
Category
History
Histoire
Collection
BADGES
BADGES
Cap Badge - The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Cap Badge - The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
The badge of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) is a Mullet of the Coat of Arms of the Douglas family upon a stringed Bugle Horn, within two sprays of thistles. The badge reflects the origins of the regiment and its connections with the ancient and powerful Douglas family.
It also commemorates their origins in the Light Infantry, as indicated by the bugle horn. Bugles were used in light infantry regiments to give signals in the field in the same way as the drum was used in infantry line regiments. In 1881, the new amalgamated regiment was designated as a rifle regiment.
The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, the only regiment of rifles amongst the Scottish regiments of infantry. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of two other regiments: 26th Cameronian Regiment (1689) and 90th Perthshire Light Infantry (1794). After the amalgamation, the 1st Battalion preferred to be known as The Cameronians while the 2nd preferred to be known as The Scottish Rifles and relations between the two battalions were correct rather than friendly.
The regiment saw service during the Second Boer War in South Africa, and raised 27 battalions during the First World War. The 1st Battalion saw action in Burma during the Second World War, while the 2nd Battalion was in Europe. The Territorial Force 5th, 6th, 7th, and 9th Battalions also served in Europe (the 5th, 6th and 7th with the 52nd (Lowland) Division, the 9th with the 15th (Scottish) Division).
In 1948, along with every other infantry regiment, the Cameronians was reduced to a single regular battalion. Under the reforms of the army in the 1966 Defence White Paper, which saw several regiments amalgamated, the Cameronians chose to disband rather than amalgamate with another regiment in the Lowland Brigade. The 1st Battalion, The Cameronians was disbanded on 14 May 1968 at Douglas Castle, near Douglas, South Lanarkshire in the presence of the Duke of Hamilton. Its recruiting area in Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway taken over by the Kings Own Scottish Borderers and the Regimental Headquarters finally closed in 1987. However, the name of the Cameronians continued through the Territorial Army, with two companies of the 52nd Lowland Regiment badged as Cameronians. One company was disbanded in 1992, the other was rebadged as the Kings Own Scottish Borderers in 1997.

bottom of page

