


The Royal Regiment of Scotland
Please find below a brief description about ‘The Royal Regiment of Scotland’. If you would like further information then please click on the following link: www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are
The Royal Regiment of Scotland (SCOTS) is the senior line infantry regiment and only Scottish line infantry regiment of the British Army. It was formed on 28 March 2006 and founded on the fighting heritage of historic Scottish Infantry Regiments: The Royal Scots; The Royal Highland Fusiliers; The King’s Own Scottish Borderers; The Black Watch; The Queen’s Own Highlanders; The Gordon Highlanders and The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Today the Royal Regiment of Scotland consists of four regular and two reserve battalions, plus an incremental company and is approximately 3000 strong:
Regular battalions
- 1 SCOTS - The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland – a Specialised Infantry Battalion based in Northern Ireland.
- 2 SCOTS - The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland – a Light Infantry Battalion based at Glencorse Barracks, Penicuik.
- 3 SCOTS - The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland – a Light Mechanised Battalion based in Fort George.
- 4 SCOTS - The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland - a Heavy Mechanised Battalion based in Catterick.
- BKA Coy, 5 SCOTS - Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland – a Public Duties Incremental Company based at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh and charged with carrying out State and Ceremonial duties within Scotland.
Reserve battalions
- 6 SCOTS - 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland – a Light Infantry Reserve Battalion based in Glasgow.
- 7 SCOTS - 51st Highland, 7th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland – a Light Infantry Reserve Battalion based in Perth.
Over the last 15 years the regiment has deployed to almost every theatre of operations the British Army has been involved in; conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Northern Ireland, supporting peace operations in Cyprus, West and North Africa and giving support to UK Civil Authorities to deal with flooding and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Young Officers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland are trained and prepared during a 12-month arduous training package at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) and the soldiers (Jocks) do their initial training (6 months) at the Infantry Training Centre (ITC), Catterick. There are several specialised skills within the infantry – Driver, Physical Training Instructor (PTI), Commander, Gunner, Rifleman/Sniper, Team Medic and Musician.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Regiment’s motto is Nemo Me Impune Lacessit (No One Assails Me With Impunity) – which is the motto of the Order of the Thistle, Scotland’s highest order of chivalry, and was also the motto of four of the pre-existing Scottish regiments.
The Regiment’s Colonel-in-Chief is HM The Queen with each Battalion having a Royal Colonel:
- 1 SCOTS: HRH The Princess Royal
- 2 SCOTS: HRH The Duke of York
- 3 SCOTS: HRH The Duke of Rothesay
- 4 SCOTS: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
- 5 SCOTS: HM The Queen
- 6 SCOTS: HRH The Princess Royal
- 7 SCOTS: HRH The Duke of Rothesay
The Regimental Mascot, Corporal Cruachan IV, is a Shetland pony who took up his role in October 2012.
Whilst in combat dress, each battalion wears its own unique coloured hackle on the Tam O’Shanter:
- 1 SCOTS: Black
- 2 SCOTS: White
- 3 SCOTS: Red
- 4 SCOTS: Blue
- 5 SCOTS: Green
- 6 SCOTS: Grey
- 7 SCOTS: Purple
To find out more: www.theroyalregimentofscotland.org
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