This is composed of the amalgamated battalions of the 75th and 92nd regiments of the Line.  The former has had three of the same number, viz. the 2nd Battalion of the 37th (1756-63), the 118th Invalids (1763-69) and the Prince of Wales's (1778-83); as also had the latter, at first numbered the 100th in seniority, in regiments whose periods of existence were from 1760-63, 1778-83 and 1794-98.

Turning to the 1st Battalion, it was raised for service in India in 1878, and was then commanded by Colonel Abercromby as a Highland Regiment; but this was abandoned in 1807-8, owing to the paucity of the Highlanders in the ranks, and the Line uniform was substituted for it until 1881, when the "territorialisation" of the regiment led to its union with the Gordon Highlanders and the assumption of the Highland costume.  As this change was carried into effect at Malta, the regiment was at first laughingly called the "Strada Reale Highlanders", and this joke was further emphasised by the regimental conundrum, which went to state that the "difference between the 92nd and 75th" was that 
"one are real Highlanders, the other Reale Highlanders".

Its history in all three phases of uniform, whether kilted, trewed, or kilted again, is sufficiently glorious, and for years it shared in that portion of the making of India which began with the operations against Tippoo and terminated with the assault on Bhurtpore.  During this period, when often it was the only leaven of white troops the Sepoy army had, it shared in the severe skirmishes and storms of Chowghasset, Travangarry, amd the capture of Ferokabad; and in the operations which accompanied the attack on Bangalore it had to cover the retreat of Abercromby's column on Coorg as a rear-guard, which it did with distinguished success.  It was also present in the battle outside Seringapatam in 1792, which was followed by a peace broken again the following year, because of the aggressive action of the French Republic in declaring war against England and Holland.  Tippoo naturally sided with our ancient enemy, and in the operations which ensued Mahe was taken from the French and Seringapatam fell.  The regiment lost heavily in the attack and in the storm, where the forlorn hope of its own column was led by Corporal Roderick Mackenzie and Sergeant Graham.  Finally, after much continuous minor service against unruly chiefs and refractory natives, such as the capture of Fort Kerria and Baroda, it finished its active service for the time at Bhurtpore, where it lost heavily, among the killed being that same Sergeant Graham who had so distinguished himself at Seringapatam.  For this gallant work it bears "Seringapatam" and "India" among its badges, with the Royal Tiger.  Beyond the ordinary routine duty, it saw no further active service until the Kaffir rising of 1834, when it was employed continually under the severe and trying conditions of frontier warfare, rightly earning the title "South Africa 1835".  It may be noted that this is one of the first, if not the first, recorded regiments that saw the value of mounted infantry, for a "troop" was formed and did good work for more than two years.

The outbreak of the Mutiny saw it again employed on the scene of its former glorious successes.  It began well, by making a forced march of forty eight miles, and formed part of the column directed upon Delhi.  It met the mutineers at Badli-ke-Serai, and in the hard-fought action that carried by assault the enemy's heaviest battery, occupying the key to the enemy's position, though with a loss of eleven officers and sixty six men.

It completed the work begun outside the walls by the storm of the city on October 13th 1857, and was then transferred to Sir Colin Campbell's command in his advance on Lucknow, where it shared inthe fighting from the Alam Bagh until the end of the year, and finally formed the funeral party when Havelock died.

After these events the old 75th was posted to Sir James Outram's command, and took part in the difficult Oude campaign, Major Gordon displaying both gallantry and tactical skill in the defence of the advanced post of Dungapur.  It returned home to England in 1862 with its former Indian reputation enhanced, and with the authority to bear "Delhi", "Lucknow", and "Central India" among the regimental honours.  Three Victoria Crosses were also won during this campain; Private Green, Sergeant (afterwards Lieutenant and Lieutenant Colonel) Wadeson, and Colour Sergeant Coghlan were all conspicuous for saving life under fire, and the latter for "cheering and encouraging a party which hesitated to charge down a lane in Subzee Mundee, Delhi, lined on each side with huts and raked by a cross fire, then entering with the said party into an enclosure filled with enemy and destroying every man."  Though still clothed like an ordinary Line regiment, its national origin was recognised, in 1863, by the permission to wear a "diced border" to the Kilmarnock forge cap, and this was further altered to the Glengarry eleven years later.

The regiment had some trying frontier experience against the Kaffirs in 1872.  Next, as the1st Battalion of the Gordons, and kilted, it sharedin the Egyptian campaign of 1882, in Sir Archibald Alison's Highland Brigade; and at the storming of the lines of Tel-el-Kebir lost two officers and thirty three men killed and wounded.  For this "Tel-el-Kebir" and "Egypt 1882"  (and later "1884") were permitted to be worn on the appointments.

Finally transferred to the Eastern Soudan, the battalion formed the front face of the square at the battle of El Teb against Osman Digna, taking part also in the affairs of Tamai and Tamanieh, and after a brief period in garrison at Cairo, formed part of the Nile expeditionary force for the relief of General Gordon, adding to the list in the campaign roll the name "Nile 1884-5".  In this expedition the regiment ascended the great river 1,300 miles in sixty three days, doing the return journey in twenty eight days.

The 2nd Battalion, the original Gordon Highlanders, was formed in 1794, and commanded by the Marquis of Huntly, whose crest adorns the regimental badge, and whose fair mother was that beautiful Duchess of Gordon whose fascinations were freely used to recruit her son's regiment, to the extent - so legend has it - of placing the bounty money between her lips.  Be that as it may, the regiment was equipped as a kilted regiment with the Gordon tartan, the number "100" on the buttons, and armed with muskets and claymores.  It retained the number until 1798, when it became the 92nd, at the time when it was employed in checking an Irish insurrection which was assisted by French troops (who surrendered at discretion), and under its new designation took part in the expedition to Holland in 1799.  There it came under fire at Shagen, Alkmaar, and at Egmont-op-Zee, this being the second name in the list of regimental honours.

Returning to England the 92nd embarked for some coast service against the French at Belleisle and Quiberon, and sailed from Minorca to join Abrcromby's Egyptian expedition, landing at Aboukir Bay, and fighting a few days later at Mandora, outside Alexandria, whre their General fell, and they earned the right for their gallantry during the battle (when they captured a battery) to bear "Mandora" and "Egyot", with the Sphinx, on their colours. 

About this time a second battalion was formed, but, like many others similarly raised, it disappeared about 1814.  The 1st Battalion was present at the funeral of Lord Nelson, and, proceeding to Denmark in 1807, joined in the battle of Krioge Bay, close to Copenhagen, the site of one of the great admiral's victories; and the following year, joining Sir John Moore's army, it took part in Rolica, Vimiera, and Corunna, where it behaved with distinguished gallantry, and bears the name of the victory that was the one gleam of sunshine in that disastrous retreat on the regimental standards.  Nor was this the only honour the 92nd gained in the Great War, in which they took an active part until the close.  To tell their services is to tell the whole history of the campaign.  They fought at Badajoz, Fuentes d'Onor, Albuera, Badajoz again, Ciudad Rodrigo, El Bodon, Arroyo dos Molinos (where they charged to the tune of "Hey, Johnny Cope, are ye waken yet?" and greatly distinguished themselves); at the storm of Ciudad Rodrigo, and of Badajoz for the third time; at Almaraz (where two of their number swam the river to recover the pontoon bridge), Salamanca, Alba de Tormes, Vittoria, Almaraz, San Sebastian, and the Pass of Maya.  At the latter fight they lost nearly two thrids their strength, refusing, with a "stern valour that would have graced Thermopylae" to retire lest they should endanger the 50th, who were hardly pressed, and earning for their Colonel, Cameron, the addition of "Maya" to his escutcheon.  In all the affairs of the Pyrenees they took part, gaining especial mention at St Pierre, where they charged four times and lost13 officers and 171 men; and their bravery at Arriverete added that word, too , to Colonel Cameron's arms. 

They helped to check the last sortie from Bayonne, and no regiment in the whole army of Wellington came out of the Peninsular War with a grander or more honorable record.

They were early employed in the 1815 campaign, losing their gallant colonel and almost feudal chief at Quatre bras.  Too late to reward him, his father was made a baronet in recognition of the brilliant services of his distinguished son.  At Waterloo again, though reduced to 300 men, they checked, by a wild charge four deep, the advance of a French column, their own compatriots the Scots Greys finishing the work they had so well begun.

They went to the Crimea after the fall of Sebastopol, and were transferred from Corfu to India in 1858, where, under Sir Hugh Rose's command, they joined in the final suppression of the mutiny at Surat, Oojein, Rajghur, Rajpur, and Sepree.  In 1879 they joined the army of Afghanistan, escorting Cavagnari up the Shutargardan pass, holding the Sukar Khotal pass to cover Sir F Roberts's advance, taking part in the battles of Charasiab, Maidan, Arguirdeh, Asmai heights, and Takht-i-Shah, and were so hard pressed that it required all the bravery of Lieut Dick Cunningham and Major White to check the advance of a determined enemy with odds of eighteen to one in his favour.  Both these officers won the Cross for Valour, and if honour was then gained, so also was loot to the value of £90,000.  Finally they shared in the march to Candahar, losing at the battle there eighty killed and wounded.  

Their last service was in the disastrous campaign against the Boers in 1881.  In the affair on Majuba hill, where two companies, in all 120 men, represented the regiment, their loss amounted to ninety-nine officers and men. 

Of regimental pets only two are recorded.  One, "Juno, the dof of the regiment", was present at Tel-el-Kebir, and was decorated, for the march past at Cairo, with a silver collar inscribed "Presented to Juno, the heroine of Tel-el-Kebir, by English and Irish admirers".  the other lies in the pets' cemetery at Edinburgh, and was in life "Kate, the drummers' pet" of the old 92nd.

The red uniform has the usual yellow national facings and the kilt of the Gordon tartan.  The button bears St Andrew's Cross with "Gordon highlanders", the Sphinx over "Egypt" and the Royal Tiger.  On the head dress plate the crest of the Marquis of Huntly , within an ivy wreath, , and with "Bydand" below.  

The 3rd Battalion is the Royal Aberdeenshire Militia, raised in 1797: this, with the Militia Battalion of the Camerons only, is kilted.  The affiliated Volunteer battalions are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Aberdeen, the 1st Kincardine, and the 1st Banff.  All these wear the national scarlet except the fourth and fifth, which are clad in green.

Extract from "The British Army and Auxiliary Forces" Colonel C. Cooper King, R.M.A. , 1894

Sergeant Seymour, 2nd Gordon Highlanders (1896)

How Lieutenant James Anson Otho Brooke, Of The 2^nd Battalion The Gordon Highlanders Won The V.C. Near Gheluvelt

     A lull in the firing on October 28^th 1914 was the herald of perhaps the greatest struggle of the campaign in the West.  The enemy was concentrating his forces for a tremendous attack upon the British lines along the Ypres front, and for five days from October 29^th the Kaiser was to be present with his troops, to stimulate them to one supreme effort, which would open the coveted road to Ypres.  The Kaiser’s presence was signalised on the morning of the 29^th by a grand assault along, and on either side of, the Menin Road.  The six regiments in the front line, which met the full force of the attack, were the Black Watch, 1^st Coldstream Guards and 1^st Scots Guards to the north of the road, and the 1^st Grenadiers, 2^nd Gordon’s and 2^nd Scots Fusiliers to the south.  In reserve there were the Border Regiment in Gheluvelt, and the 2^nd Scots Guards to the south of it.  At 5.30 a.m. the Germans began their advance under cover of a thick fog.  On getting past the first line without a shot being fired, they stationed their machine guns in the houses by the roadside in the rear.  Then, without any warning, the British regiments on the immediate right and left of the road found themselves assailed by a storm of bullets from machine guns in flank and rear.  The 1^st Grenadiers, who were stationed immediately to the south of the road, suffered very severely.  The thick fog made it very difficult to accurately locate the enemy or to return their fire.  Captain Rasch, who was now in command, decided therefore to withdraw the battalion into the woods to the south, and with them, went the left flank of the Gordon’s, under Captain Burnett.  The Germans were thus left to continue firing upon the trenches, but when the fog suddenly lifted the situation became clear.  They ceased firing upon the empty trenches, and began to advance southwards from the road, and also westward.

            The 1^st Grenadiers and captain Burnett’s company of the Gordon’s at once came out of the wood, and having formed up, charged and drove the enemy back to the road in disorder.  At the moment, however, when victory seemed to be theirs, they were enfiladed from the trench, which Captain Burnett’s company had recently occupied.  A great many were put out of action, and the survivors again fell back to the south, closely followed by the enemy.  Throughout the morning the line swayed to and fro.  Once again the Grenadiers and Gordon’s reformed and drove the enemy back to the road.  But just as our men were being pushed back once more by superior numbers, Lieutenant James Anson Otho Brooke, of the 2^nd Battalion the Gordon Highlanders, who had been sent with a message from the right flank arrived on the scene.  Seeing the overwhelming superiority in numbers of the enemy, and knowing that a general counter attack could not be organized to prevent the Germans from breaking through our line, Lieutenant Brooke, with great coolness and decision, at once gathered a handful of men, consisting of servants, cooks and orderlies, from the rear.  Amidst a hail of rifle and machine gun fire, he led them forward, and after a second attack the lost trench was recaptured.  Unhappily, however, Lieutenant Brooke was killed, as also were nearly all his men, but his most gallant services were promptly recognized by a posthumous award of the V.C.  Extracted from 'Deeds That Thrill The Empire'

CORNELIUS COGHLAN  (Colour-Sergeant, afterwards Sergeant Major)  75^th (Stirlingshire) Regiment (Now 1^st Battalion The Gordon Highlanders) He was, until a few years ago, Sergeant Major of a Militia Battalion in Co. Mayo, Ireland.

RICHARD WADESON  (Lieutenant, afterwards Colonel)  75^th Regiment (1^st Gordon Highlanders)             On July 18^th during the action in the Subjee Munjee at Delhi, Lieutenant Wadeson saved the life of Private Michael Farrell by killing a sowar who had attacked him when wounded and lying on the ground. On the same day, Private John Barry, who had fallen, severely injured, owed his life to Lieutenant Wadeson, who came up and cut down a cavalry Sowar who was attacking him.  After service in the Army as a non-commissioned officer, the late Colonel Wadeson rose to command the regiment.  He died while Lieut. –Governor of Chelsea Hospital a few years ago.

WILLIAM HENRY DICK-CUNYNFHAM  (Lieutenant, afterwards Lieut. –Colonel)  2^nd Gordon Highlanders             This gallant officer was decorated for conspicuous bravery at the attack on the Afghans, at the Sherpur Pass, December 13^th 1879.  On this occasion owing to the terrible fire brought to bear on them, the men were forced back, and for a moment were inclined to waver.  Although facing the full fire of the Afghans, Lieutenant Dick-Cunyngham sprang forward and, calling on his men to follow him (which order with renewed confidence they promptly obeyed), the attack was successfully carried out.  Born in 1851, Lieut. –Colonel Dick-Cunyngham joined the 2^nd Gordon Highlanders in 1872; became Captain 1881; Major 1891; and Lieut. –Colonel 1897.  Serving through the Afghan War, he was engaged on transport duty in the advance to Kandahar and Khelat-I-Ghilzie under Sir Donald Stewart, and was with the Thull Chotili force under Major-General Biddulph, being mentioned in despatches.  With Sir Frederick (now Earl) Roberts, V.C., in the Kurum Valley operations (including he action at Ali Kheyl), and in the fighting round Cabul in 1879, with the Maidan Expedition as Acting-Adjutant of a wing of the Gordon Highlanders, including the action of Charasiah.  Took part in the historic march from Cabul to Kandahar, and was present at the battle of the latter plkace.  During the entire war was frequently mentioned in despatches.  In 1881 he served against the Boers as Adjutant to the Gordon Highlanders, and on the declaration of War against the same enemy in 1899, went to the front in command of the 2^nd Battalion of his famous regiment, leading them into action at the battle of Elandslagate, where he was wounded in the leg, necessitating his forced in action during the early part of the siege of Ladysmith. On January 6^th 1900, almost the first day on which he had resumed his active duties, while the great attack on the town was in progress, he was killed by a chance shot nearly 3,000 yards range.     

G. FINDLATER  (Piper)  Gordon Highlanders             The historic and superb storming of the Dargai Heights took place on October 20^th 1897.  Piper Findlater was shot through both feet, but sat up, under a terrific fire, and continued playing the regomental march in order to encourage his comrades in the charge.  Decorated at Netley Hospital by Her Majesty Wueen Victoria. 

E. LAWSON  (Private)  Gordon Highlanders               Decorated for his conspicuous bravery at the assault of the Dargai Heights on October 20^th 1897.  Under a terrific fire from the enemy he carried Lieutenant Dingwall, who was severely wounded, from an open spot to a safer position.  Afterwards he acted in a similarly brave manner towards Private McMillan, and during his heroic action was wounded in two places.

WILLIAM ROBERTSON  (Sergeant Major, now Quartermaster and Hon. Lieutenant)  2^nd Gordon Highlanders             At the battle of Elanslaagte October 21^st 1899, during the final and decisive advance on the Boer position, Sergeant-Major Robertson led each successive rush of his battalion, exposing himself fearlessly to the enemy’s artillery and rifle-fire in order to encourage the men.  When the main position had been captured, he led a small party to seize the Boer camp, which operation was successfully carried out ad though a deadly cross-fire was poured upon him and his men, he continued to hold on to the position, encouraging them until he was dangerously wounded in the body and sustained a compound fracture of the left arm.  William Robertson, son of Mr. John Robertson, of Dumfries, was born at Greyfriars, on February 27^th 1865. Enlisted in the 2^nd Gordons at Devonport, December 1^st 1884, rising to warrant rank in 1895, and Quartermaster 3^rd Gordons May 12^th 1900.  After some years of service in India, landed in South Africa on October 8^th 1899, two days before the boer Ultimatum to Great Britain, proceeding immediately to Ladysmith, in the defence of which he took part after recovery from his wounds received at Elandslaagte, and for which he possesses a clasp to his medal as well as those for Elandslaagte and Cape Colony.  On Christmas Day 1900, after his return home, was presented in recognition of his bravery and distinguished services with the freedom of his native town, having four months previously, received the Victoria Cross from the hands of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, at Windsor Castle. 

ERNEST BEACHCROFT BECKWITH TOWSE  (Captain, retired)  1^st Gordon Highlanders             The first act of this brave officer for which he was mentioned in connexion with the award of the Victoria Cross, was at Magersfontein December 11^th 1899, when he heroically endeavoured, during the retirement to carry out of action Colonel Downman, who had been mortally wounded.  Being unable, however, to accomplish this, he supported him until Colour-Sergeant Nelson and Lance-Corporal Hodgson came to his assistance.  The second act was on April 30^th 1900, on Mount Theba, where with twelve men, he took his stand on a plateau, which fully one hundred and fifty of the enemy were endeavouring to reach.  Neither side seemed to have noticed the proximity of the other, until about one hundred yards apart.  The Boers then dashed forward to within forty yards, calling on Captain Towse and his little party to surrender, to which the Highland officer replied by an order to his men to open fire, charging forward at the oncoming enemy, who were driven off, in spite of their very superior strngth n numbers.  Just at the last, this gallant officer was shot through both eyes, which entirely destroyed his sight. Captain towse was born on April 23^rd 1864, and educated at Wellington College.  Entered the Wilts Regiment December 16^th 1885, and was posted to the Gordons January 2^nd 1886, with which splendid corps he served in the Reliief of Chitral 1895 and, two years later, on the Punjab Fronter.  Promoted Captain 1896.  He received the Victoria Cross from the hands of the late Queen Victoria, who, in 1900, appointed him Sergeant-at-Arms.  In 1902 he was re-appointed Sergeant-at-arms to H.M. the King and in 1903 became one of the Hon. Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms.

JOHN FREDERICK MACKAY  (Corporal)  Gordon Highlanders (Now Lieutenant King’s Own Scottish Borderers)             On May 29^th 1900, during the action at Crow’s Nest Hill, near Johannesburg.  Lieutenant MacKay was conspicuous for his humanity and brave conduct, attending to the wounded, and giving them every help in his power, in spite of being far from any cover, and within a short range of the Boers.  He also carried one man from the open ground to shelter, under a heavy fire.  Lieutenant MacKay, formerly a student at Trinity College, Dublin entered the Army as a private soldier, enlisting into the 1^st Gordons, serving with that distinguished corps against the Chitralese in 1895, and on the Punjab Frontier 1897-8, including the storming of Dargai, obtaining the special Frontier medal and clasps.  His commission in the K.O.S.B. was signed just fourteen months after he won the Victoria Cross (July 27^th 1901).

WILLIAM EAGLESON GORDON  (Captain)  Gordon Highlanders              On July 11^th 1900, at Leehoehoeck a spirited action was fought against the Boers, whose fire at only 850 yards was so terribly severe that the Artillery horses was unable to stand against it.  Captain Gordon, however, determined to attempt to drag one of the guns into shelter by hand.  To accomplish this, a drag-rope had first to be fastened to it, which task fearful risk, by reason of the hail of lead raining on any one exposing himself, he elected to carry out himself.  Calling for volunteers, and instructing them to dash out on the instant he should sign to them that all was ready, he made for the gun, fastened the rope to it, signalled to his men, who promptly doubled out, and all commenced hauling.  Of the gallant band, three men were severely, and Captain Younger mortally, wounded; whereupon, seeing that further attempts would only mean increased casualties, Captain Gordon ordered the remainder under cover of a kopje, saw personally to the wounded, and then he retired.  During the entire affair his conduct is described as having been most admirable, the handling of his men as masterly, and his devotion, on every occasion under fire, most remarkable.  Captain W. E. Gordon is the son of the late W. E. Gordon, M.D., of Bridge-of-Allan, Stirlingshire, where he was born on May 4^th 1866.  Educated at Edinburgh University; entered the 1^st Gordon Highlanders, then in Ceylon, on June 6^th 1888.  His first active service was with the Chitral Relief Expedition in 1895, for which he was awarded the (new) Frontier Medal and two clasps (Malakand Pass).  Two years later he served through the Tirah Campaign, being present at the storming of the Dargai Heights (clasp to medal).  Was Adjutant of his battalion during the Boer War, being dangerously wounded at Magersfontein, December 11^th 1899; twice mentioned in despatches; received Queen’s and King’s medal with seven clasps and the Victoria Cross, which later decoration was placed on his breast by Lord Kitchener at Pretoria on Peace Thanksgiving Day June 1902. 

DAVID REGINALD YOUNGER  (Captain)  Gordon Highlanders            On July 11^th 1900, during the action near Leehoehoek, Captain Younger, finding that the Artilery horses were unable to stand the accurate and terribly severe fire of the enemy, went out with a few men and succeeded in dragging an Artillery wagon into shelter by hand.  Later on, he was one of those who, at the call of Captain Gordon (V.C.), volunteered to endeavour to drag in one of the guns by hand, during which attempt he was mortally wounded.  Born on March 17^th 1871, Captain Younger, after serving as an officer od the Duke of Edinburgh’s Edinburgh Artillery, commissioned as 2^nd Lieutenant into the Gordon Highlanders on December 23^rd 1893, fighting at Chitral and on the Punjab Frontier 1895, 1897-8, inmcluding the gallant and historic assault and capture of the Dargai Heights, in October 1897.  The medal and three clasps were obtained by him for these trying services, and, but for his sad heroic death, the Victoria Cross, as stated in the Gazette, would have been his to wear.  It has now been delivered to his relatives in accordance with the Regulation approved by H.M. The King in 1902.

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