It is intended to add lists of historical personnel, regimental traditions, songs, prayers and other history over the next few weeks. Any contributions or photos would be welcomed. See the QO HLDRS/HLDRS pages for the sort of thing we are looking for. (Webmaster)
THE GORDONS
"On the outbreak of war with Russia in the Crimea, in 1854, the call for recruits once more went forth to the Highlands. There were, naturally, some who responded and the 92nd, or Gordon Highlanders, treasure the story of one young fellow, who was found on being measured not to reach the standard.
`Go home, my lad,' said the Colonel: `Take more milk to your brose, and come back when you've grown.'
` Oh, sirs,' entreated the lad. `An' ye'd juist tak me! I'm wee but I'm wicked!' The Colonel could not resist the appeal and an exception was made in his case."The Gordon Highlanders Regimental Association Secretary is:
Major MNBN Ross
c/o The Gordon Highlanders Museum, St Luke's Viewfield Road, Aberdeen AB15 7XH
(01224 318174)
Regimental Association Branches and contact details are listed here
The Gordon Highlanders were the local regiment of the North East of Scotland, recruiting mainly from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire and Kincardineshire. The Gordon Highlanders was raised in 1794 by the 4th Duke of Gordon, as a regiment of Highland Foot (infantry). Many of the original recruits were drawn from the Gordon estates, and the recruiting effort was assisted by the Duchess of Gordon, who is said to have offered a kiss as an incentive to join up. Always known as the Gordon Highlanders, the Regiment was officially designated the 100th Regiment of Foot, becoming in 1798 the 92nd Regiment of Foot, the numbering with which it has since been associated.
The Gordons were originally brought into being during the French Revolutionary Wars. They saw action against the armies of France, first at Egmont-op-Zee in Holland in 1799, then in the Egypt expedition of 1801, and again in the long campaigns and many battles of the Peninsular War in Spain. The Regiment then played a role in the final defeat of Napoleon at Quatre Bras and Waterloo in 1815.
As the nineteenth century progressed, the expansion of the British Empire saw the Gordons serve in far flung locations on the frontiers of India, in Egypt and the Sudan and in South Africa. Among many famous actions were the extraordinary feat of the march over 320 miles of Afghanistan's unforgiving terrain between Kabul and Kandahar, achieved in 23 days in 1880. Also, the stunning victory on the heights of Dargai, on India's North West Frontier, in 1897.
See here for details and pictures of the battle and Piper Findlater VC.
During the 1880's, the old 75th (Stirlingshire) Regiment, with its own record of war service in India, was incorporated into the Gordons, which had then established a permanent presence in Aberdeen. Meantime, the gradual development of local volunteer and militia units into the Territorial Army gave the Regiment a truly local character.
In the First World War some 50,000 Gordons served in the regular, territorial and service battalions. Of these, approximately 27,000 were killed or wounded. Among other great and terrible battles, all the fighting Gordon battalions saw action on the Somme.
In the Second World War, Gordon battalions served with the British Expeditionary Force in France in 1940, and in the Far East in 1942, where many became prisoners of war. Great success was achieved in the North Africa campaign, in Sicily and Italy, in the invasion of North West Europe followed by the long advance into Germany, and in the liberation of Burma.
In the years after 1945, the Regiment took part in peace-keeping and anti-terrorist operations in Malaya, Borneo, Cyprus, Germany and Northern Ireland, with detachments serving in the Gulf War and Bosnia.
A list of battle honours is here
In 1994, the Regiment was amalgamated with the Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons) (72, 78 and 79 of Foot) to become part of The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) - the truly Highland regiment of the north and northeast of Scotland.
What does 'Bydand' mean? Find out here
(See www.gordonhighlanders.com for the museum site)
(A good personal 1 GORDONS site by Doug Geddes is at www.thegordonhighlanders.co.uk )
A much more detailed history thanks to www.electricscotland.com
(including Waterloo)
Another very detailed history is here
Acknowledgements to Doug Geddes at www.thegordonhighlanders.co.uk )
who also has detailed War Diaries from World War 1 and 2 on his site.
