Description
Physical description
A mullet (five pointed star) above a bugle stringed and enclosed by a spray of thistles. All in w/m.
History note
Badge of pattern worn 1881 to 1968. This is a larger version worn by Sergeants. Sealed 12th September 1906.
The predecessor Regiment was raised in 1689 by the Earl of Angus, eldest son of the Marquis of Douglas, and was known by his name and, almost from the outset, as "The Cameronians".
The constituency for the Regiment was initially the tenants of the Douglas estates, but was unique in that the majority, if not all, were Covenanters, a strict sect of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The Covenanters resisted ideas such as hierarchy and so were much at odds with the state and episcopalian church, even to the point of being repressed and persecuted. A certain Richard Cameron had risen to prominence in the movement and his followers were called "Cameronians". These Cameronian Covenanters eventually concluded that their existence might well depend on the defeat of the supporters of the deposed James II and reluctantly agreed to allow a regiment to be formed from among their number. This agreement was subject to a number of stipulations, including the choice, or at least approval, of their officers and that the unit be kept apart as far as practicable from other regiments of the Army. Unsurprisingly, such distinctions did not long survive the realities of Army service, although the Regiment retained a strong individuality, remaining true to the spirit of its origins by presenting a bible to every recruit.
In 1747 the Regiment was ranked as the 26th of Foot, and formally so-named in 1751. In 1786 it was re-named the 26th (Cameronian) Regiment of Foot. In the 1881 Cardwell reforms it merged with the 90th Light Infantry Regiment (Perthshire Volunteers) to become, in May, the Scotch Rifles, in July, The Cameronians (Scotch Rifles), and in November, finally, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).
The 26th had adopted a badge of a Mullet, taken from the arms of the house of Douglas, within a wreath of thistles, with below a scroll bearing THE CAMERONIANS. The merger with the 90th introduced a Light Infantry bugle to the foot of the badge in place of the scroll, which remained the badge for the life of the Regiment. The two battalions differentiated themselves as the 1st Cameronians and the 2nd Scottish Rifles until after the First World War. This extended to separate headdress badges until 1900, the Scottish Rifles having 'SR' in the strings of the bugle-horn and for pagri badges, Pipers of the 1st Battalion using the mullet upon a scroll, 'The Cameronians'.
The Regiment wore at times a badge backing of Douglas tartan, although 1st Battalion in the Far East in WW2 was said to have worn a black hackle in place of any cap badge.
In 1958 the Regiment became part of the Lowland Brigade and as such should have worn the Brigade badge. Following the Defence Review of 1966 the Regiment declined the opportunity to merge with any other unit and disbanded in 1968. The name of the Regiment and its badge was carried forward from 1967 in the form of two representative companies in the TA 52nd Lowland Volunteers Regiment, D Company 1st Battalion and 4 Company 2nd Battalion. One Company was disbanded in 1992, the other re-badged as KOSB in 1997.