The Highland regiments are the most distinctive formations in the British Army. Their dress is older than the empire they built.
Quick answer. Highland regiments wear the kilt, Highland doublet, feather bonnet, hose and sgian dubh. Each regiment has its own tartan (government for the Black Watch, government for the modern Royal Regiment of Scotland, Cameron of Erracht for the 79th, Gordon for the 92nd, Argyll for the 91st and 93rd). Formed in the mid 18th century, the Highland regiments survived Culloden, built the empire, and still parade in full Highland dress today.
The Black Watch
The 42nd Regiment of Foot, nicknamed the Black Watch from the dark tartan of its first independent companies, was raised in 1739 and became the senior Highland regiment of the British Army. Full dress: scarlet doublet with buff facings, kilt in the government tartan (also called the Black Watch), feather bonnet with red hackle, hose with red flashes, sporran. The red hackle was granted after the regiment stood firm at Guildermalsen in 1795. The Black Watch served in every major British war from the Seven Years War to the 21st century. Amalgamated into the Royal Regiment of Scotland in 2006.
The Cameron Highlanders
The 79th Cameron Highlanders were raised by Alan Cameron of Erracht in 1793. Their tartan, Cameron of Erracht, is more intricate than the plainer Black Watch. The regiment served through the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimea, both World Wars and the colonial wars. Full dress: scarlet doublet, Cameron of Erracht kilt, feather bonnet with blue and white hackle, hose with red flashes. The Cameron Highlanders amalgamated with the Seaforth Highlanders in 1961 to form the Queen's Own Highlanders, then absorbed into the Royal Regiment of Scotland in 2006.
The Gordon Highlanders
The 92nd Gordon Highlanders were raised by the Duke of Gordon in 1794. Famous for Jane Maxwell, Duchess of Gordon, who recruited the regiment with a kiss from her lips for each volunteer. The regimental tartan was the Gordon pattern: government tartan with yellow stripe. The Gordons served at Mansucra, Waterloo, Dargai Heights (where piper Findlater won the VC) and both World Wars. Amalgamated into the Highlanders in 1994 and now part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The 91st (Argyll) and 93rd (Sutherland) Highlanders were raised in 1794 and 1799 respectively, and amalgamated in 1881 to form the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The regiment wore the government tartan kilt with yellow lace at the collar. Famously the 93rd formed the Thin Red Line at Balaclava in 1854. The Argylls served through the Victorian wars, the First World War (Loos and the Somme), and the Second World War. Converted to a Territorial battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland in 2006 then disbanded in 2013.
The Lowland regiments
Lowland Scottish regiments did not wear the kilt. The Royal Scots (1st of Foot), the Royal Scots Fusiliers (21st) and the King's Own Scottish Borderers (25th) wore the standard British infantry dress with Scottish distinctions: trews (tartan trousers), diced bands on the glengarry cap, specific regimental lace. The distinction between Highland and Lowland Scottish regiments was carefully maintained in dress until the amalgamations of 2006.
The modern Royal Regiment of Scotland
In 2006 the surviving Scottish regiments were amalgamated into the Royal Regiment of Scotland, with battalions preserving the identities of the predecessor regiments. All battalions now wear the government tartan kilt in full dress. The regimental hackle preserves the earlier regimental colour: red for 3 SCOTS (Black Watch), blue and white for 4 SCOTS (Highlanders), yellow for 1 SCOTS (Royal Scots and Royal Highland Fusiliers), green for 2 SCOTS (Royal Scots Borderers), and so on. The amalgamation was controversial but the dress traditions have survived.
Common questions
What is the government tartan?
The dark green and blue tartan originally used by the Black Watch and later adopted by many Highland regiments. Also called Black Watch tartan or Universal tartan.
Why do Highland regiments wear kilts?
The kilt was the traditional Highland dress. When the Highland regiments were raised in the 18th century, the kilt was preserved as part of their identity, giving them a distinctive uniform in the British Army.
What is a feather bonnet?
The tall ostrich feather headdress of Highland regiments. Developed from the earlier Highland bonnet, it became the parade headdress of Highland infantry in the 19th century.
What is a sgian dubh?
The small black handled knife worn tucked into the top of the hose on the right leg. Part of Highland full dress. The name means black knife in Gaelic.
Do Highland regiments still exist?
Yes, in battalions of the Royal Regiment of Scotland formed in 2006. The traditions of Black Watch, Highlanders, Royal Highland Fusiliers and Royal Scots Borderers survive in the modern regiment.