The Royal Scots Fusiliers

Winston Churchill famously said 'it was in Scotland I found the three best things in my life: my wife, my constituency and my regiment'. The regiment he found was the Royal Scots Fusiliers, the second oldest Scottish regiment and one of the most distinguished in the British Army.

Origins

• It was originally raised in 1678 as the Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot by Stuart loyalist Charles Erskine, 5th Earl of Mar, to suppress rebelling Covenanters.
• In 1689, the regiment was converted to 'Fusiliers' after being armed with 'Fusil' muskets - the most technically advanced weaponry of the day. It wasn't until 1881 that it was renamed the Royal Scots Fusiliers. 
• The regiment fought in many major conflicts from the Second Jacobite Rebellion at Culloden to the American War of Independence and the Boer wars.
• In 1959 it was merged with the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment) to form the Royal Highland Fusiliers.

Facts and figures

Nicknames

The regiment became known as the 'Duke of Marlborough's Own' in the wake of its formidable performance in all of Marlborough's campaigns during the War of the Spanish Succession.

Motto

Nec Aspera Terrent (Hardships do not deter us)

March

Many regiments have their own marches which were traditionally used to rally the troops and boost morale before battle.

• Highland Laddie (Pipes)

Tartan

Hunting Erskine

World War I

• During the war the regiment raised 19 battalions, was awarded 58 battle honours and four Victoria Crosses.
• A total of 5,600 men were killed.

Find out more about The Royal Scots Fusiliers.