Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons) | |
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Cap badge of the Queen's Own Highlanders
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Active | 1961–1994 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Type | Line Infantry |
Role | Armoured Infantry |
Size | One Battalion |
Part of | Scottish Division |
Garrison/HQ | Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh |
Motto(s) | Cuidich 'n Righ (Help the King) |
March | Quick: Pibroch o Donal Dubh/March of the Cameron Men/Cabarfeidh (There's also a Military Band/Pipes called Queen's Own Highlanders used to march off) |
Commanders | |
Colonel-in-Chief | HRH The Duke of Edinburgh |
Insignia | |
Tartan |
Seaforth Mackenzie (trews) Cameron of Erracht (pipers and drummers kilts) |
The Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons), officially abbreviated "QO HLDRS," was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. It was in existence from 1961 to 1994.
The regiment was formed on 7 February 1961 at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, with the amalgamation of 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders and 1st Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.
The battalion was sent to Singapore in April 1961 from where it was deployed to Brunei in December 1962 in order to help suppress the Brunei Revolt at an early stage of the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. On return to Scotland in January 1964, it was based at Milton Bridge Camp, a former facility for German Prisoners of War, located south east of Glencorse Barracks. In June 1964 the battalion moved to Mercer Barracks at Osnabrück Garrison, part of British Army of the Rhine, remaining there until August 1966 when the battalion moved to Wavell Barracks in Berlin.
The battalion returned to Redford Barracks in September 1968 from where units were deployed to Sharjah in May 1969. In April 1971 the battalion returned Osnabrück Garrison and moved into Belfast Barracks: from there units were deployed to Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles. In June 1976 the battalion returned to Scotland, this time to Ritchie Camp from where more units were deployed to Northern Ireland. Then in March 1980 the battalion was despatched for a tour at Stanley Fort in Hong Kong before moving to Tidworth in November 1981. Units of the battalion saw action in the Falklands War the following year. The battalion moved to Alexander Barracks, Aldergrove in November 1983 and on to Fort George in November 1985. In March 1988 the battalion moved to Buller Barracks in Munster from where units were deployed to Northern Ireland again and to the Gulf War in 1991. The battalion returned to Scotland again in October 1993 and moved into Dreghorn Barracks this time.