The 78th Highland Regiment "The Saviours of India" 1793-1881
The regiment which fought in the Battle of Assaye (considered by the Duke of Wellington to have been his most successful), which was hailed by an excited populace as the "Saviours of India", has as colourful and glorious a history as any regiment of its time.
That regiment, the 78th Highland Regiment "Ross-shire Buffs" was raised in 1793 by Colonel Francis Humberston MacKenzie, Lord Seaforth (Head of the Clan MacKenzie) at Fort George some fifteen miles north east of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. Initially a single regiment of foot, a second battalion was added a year later but they were merged in 1796 while stationed in South Africa. In 1804 a second battalion was again raised by Major-General Alexander MacKenzie Fraser, brother-in-law of the regiment’s founder. In 1817 the two battalions were once more merged and, finally, in 1881 the 78th became the 2nd Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders.
During the eighty-eight years from its foundation to its disappearance as a distinct regiment, the 78th, in its various formations, saw service in a dozen foreign countries, accumulated an enviable array of battle honours and saw eight of its officers and men awarded Britain’s highest military honour, the Victoria Cross, as well as a VC awarded to the regiment as a whole.
The Ross-shire Buffs
The 78th wore red doublets, kilts, sporrans, feather bonnets and red and white checkered hose stockings. Since the regiment was raised by the Head of the Clan Mackenzie, and most of the men of the regiment came from the Clan MacKenzie lands in Ross-shire, its tartan was the MacKenzie tartan. The regiment’s facings on collar and cuffs were buff, which gave rise to 78th also being known as the "Ross-shire Buffs". In keeping with the contemporary custom the regimental pipers wore contrasting green uniforms."Cuidich ‘N Righ"
Many of the regimental symbols and traditions are not surprisingly those of the Clan Mackenzie. The regimental motto of the Ross-shire Buffs is "Cuidich ‘n Righ" Gaelic for "Help the King". Clan history states that in 1266 King Alexander III of Scotland was charged by a stag while hunting, Colin of Kintail, Chief of the Clan MacKenzie, charged to the King’s aid yelling "Cuidich ‘n Righ" and with his claymore sword cleaved off the stag’s head. The king, as a token of his gratitude, granted the Clan the motto "Cuidich ‘n Righ" and the "Cabar Feidh" Gaelic for "the antlers of a stag" as its clan crest. The 78th adopted the clan crest as it own regimental badge, and the 18th century pipe tune Cabar Feidh as their Regimental Charge. The 78th Highland Regiment is the only regiment in the British Army to ever have a Gaelic motto on its colors and regimental badge and this was continued by the Queen's Own Hihglanders and now by The Highlanders of today.The Hard Campaigns
Much of the history of the 78th is inextricably interwoven with Britain’s wars with revolutionary France and later with Napoleon Bonaparte. Just a year after they were formed, for instance, the 78th found itself at the defence of Nimjegen in Holland and a year later they were withdrawing into Germany in one of the bitterest winters on record (losing 350 men to the elements). In 1795 the 78th were attacking the Cape of Good Hope (the Dutch having become revolutionary allies of the French) and forcing the surrender of Cape Town and Wynberg.Turbulent India
In 1797 the now merged 1st and 2nd battalions were sent to Calcutta to spend seven years of garrison duty at a variety of Indian posts. In 1803, however, the 78th were dispatched to Poona to contain the marauding North Mahrattas. In September of that year the 78th took part in the famous engagement at Assaye under the overall command of Sir Arthur Wellesly (later the Duke of Wellington), occupying the crucial left flank of the leading attackers. The first infantry to reach the Mahrattas, the 78th was instrumental in capturing the enemy guns and routing their infantry.Shortly after the Battle of Assaye the 78th were sent in pursuit of fleeing Mahrattas at Argam, and later in the year they besieged the Fortress of Gawilghur to help finish the job they had commenced at Assaye. As a token of esteem, the 78th was allowed to bear the symbol of an elephant with the word "ASSAYE" inscribed below and was one of three regiments presented by the East India Company with a third, or honorary colour. This badge of honour continued to appear upon the colours and amongst the uniform regalia of the regiment during its period of service in Halifax.
Mediterranean Adventure
In 1804 a new second battalion was raised and was trained under Sir John Moore (the hero of Corunna). It was sent to Gibraltar in 1805 and the following year formed part of the British forces invading Sicily where, despite overwhelming french superiority of numbers, they secured a brilliant victory.In Egypt against the Turks
Also in 1806 the 78th found themselves in Egypt in the successful occupation a Alexandria, but the next years three companies of the 78th were surrounded by Turkish cavalry and were captured. 163 men and officers were killed including the Commanding Officer Lt-Col. Macleod. The remainder of the 78th’s 2nd battalion withdrew to Alexandria and were returned to Sicily. Early in 1808 they were recalled to England.Tragedy in the Far East
In 1811 the 1st battalion was in Bombay. From there they were sent to repel a French force occupying the old Dutch colony of Java. In bitter fighting the British lost 154 men including the 78th acting C.O. Brevet Lt-Col. William Campbell. The French, however, sustained over 10,000 dead, wounded and captured. The 78th stayed on the island until 1816 engaged in what today would be called "police actions". During that period the battalion lost over 500 men to disease and on their return to India in November 1816, the regiment was wrecked and was marooned on the lonely island of Preparis for nearly a month. The regiment suffered further losses when six companies were shipwrecked off the Andamans. When the survivors eventually went home to Britain the regiment had been on overseas service for more than twenty years.Interlude in Ireland
In 1817 the now badly under strength 2nd battalion was merged with the 1st Btn. At Aberdeen and later that year the combined regiment was sent to Ireland for almost a decade of relatively quiet service. In 1826 they were sent to Ceylon (losing 300 to disease) but returned to Ireland in 1838.The Road to Persia and the Greatest Losses
1842 saw the 78th back in India in connection with the Afghan uprisings and it was while at Sukkar Sind that the regiment suffered its greatest losses. In 1844 cholera wiped out 535 officers and more than 200 members of their families. In 1845 they limped back to Bombay where, as a result of home recruiting (interestingly enough of primarily non-Scottish recruits) they were restored to strength. The 78th remained in Bombay until 1849 when they were shipped to Aden. Five years later they were in Persia leading the attack at the famous battle of Koosh-Ab and Mohomrah.Mutiny!
The outbreak of the Indian Mutiny urgently required the recall of the 78th back to Bombay from whence they were dispatched to Calcutta to put down a rising at Barrackpore. The regiment was instrumental in the recapture of garrison town of Cawnpore in July.
Following the battle at Cawnpore the 78th proceeded to Lucknow where the British garrison was besieged by 60,000 mutineers. The 78th got there on September 25th, battle weary the combined force of British regulars burst into the residency. The lead troops were the 78th highlanders and in their furious push into the Residency they bayoneted a few loyal sepoys by mistake. The 78th's uniforms were ragged and patched and their bearded faces were grimy with the smoke of powder. Under the joint command of Sir Henry Havelock and Sir James Outram the 78th had fought a grueling campaign up from Cawnpore. Unfortunately, there were only a thousand men and no sooner had the Residency gates closed behind them than the siege continued. Now reinforced the odds of the mutineers exploiting a breach in the wall had been considerably reduced, but the added troops placed a heavy burden on the dwindling supplies.The situation seemed dim the mutineers continued their artillery bombardment, and the supplies started to run out. Doctors had no more medicines to give the sick and wounded. The rations became smaller every day and it seemed as if 78th’s gallant march might have been in vain. Once again eyes and ears were strained for signs of relief. Throughout it all the Union Jack flew from the Residency roof and was never taken down, as custom dictated it should each evening. Day and night it hung limply from the flagpole, a symbol of British defiance. The 78th fiercely defended the Residency for six weeks until it was finally relieved by Sir Colin Campbell’s forces on the 17th November. For their defense of Lucknow and gallantry in the Indian Mutiny men of the 78th Highland Regiment were awarded eight (8) Victoria Crosses including a V.C. awarded to the regiment as a whole.
In 1858 the 78th found themselves part of the Rohilkand Field Force in company with the Highland Brigade. They marched northwest, capturing the town of Bareilly in March. The 78th garrisoned the town until ordered back to Britain in 1859.
On their arrival in Scotland the regiment received a hero’s welcome. They were feted and hailed as the "Saviours of India". In Edinburgh a public banquet was given in their honour and, later in 1861, their noted runic cross monument was erected on the Castle’s esplanade.
From 1864 to 1867 the regiment spent quiet years in Dublin and Gibraltar. Having spent so much of its career in the sweltering climate of the far east, the 78th embarked in July, 1867, for service at two of the British army’s coldest postings - Quebec and Nova Scotia. The regiment remained in Montreal, with occasional excursions to Quebec City, for almost two years. Then, in 1869 the 78th was transferred to Halifax.
The 78th arrived in Halifax on the afternoon of May 14, 1869 aboard the troopship "Crocodile". A total of 765 men disembarked in full dress uniform. In its dark green kilts, red doublets, tall feather bonnets, the 78th made an immediate impression on Halifax as it marched into town from the dockyard. One newspaper, the Morning Chronicle, printed that: "...They presented a fine appearance. It is a long time since Halifax had a regiment wearing the kilt, and the appearance of the men created quite a sensation." The British Colonist, observed that "The troops, clad in highland attire, presented a very fine appearance and were very much admired."
For two years the regiment spent its time billeted both at the Halifax Citadel and at Wellington Barracks now known as Stadacona, part of Canadian Forces Base Halifax. Additionally each summer men from the regiment were camped at Bedford to practice musketry at the military range.
The officers and men of the 78th participated enthusiastically in the social life of the city. They joined the North British Society local Masonic order in large numbers and participated actively in the Highland Society of Nova Scotia. On their departure in 1871, a farewell ball complete with a musical tribute composed in their honour, was hosted by the famous brewmaster and then Grandmaster of the Mason Lodge of Nova Scotia, Alexander Keith.
On November 25, 1871 the Regiment set sail for Ireland on board the troopship "Orontes", with them went 17 young Nova Scotian women who had married members of the regiment.
The Last Years
The 78th left its assignment in Ireland two years later and then made home to Fort George in the Highlands. Here they were linked with the First Highland Light Infantry. In 1879 they returned to India and were sent to Afghanistan to spend a miserable winter for which, presumably, only those who had served at Halifax were conditioned. The immensely long, hard marches in wretched climatic conditions at unaccustomed altitudes and over inhospitable terrain must have been an ordeal greater than the actual fighting and their sacrifices were later duly recognized. In 1881, as part of the new Army Reforms, the Ross-shire Buffs were merged with the 72nd Duke of Albany’s own Highlanders to become the 2nd Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders.