REGIMENT HISTORY

Imagine how the troops of Napoleon had to feel when, in the middle of the battle, a whole regiment of Scottish men of 70 inches tall on average, wearing kilts and marching in the sound of their bagpipes were thrown over them. The Demons with Skirt, as Napoleon called them or the Highlanders, were the bravest troops of the British army, and the most feared by their enemies.

The 79th Regiment of Highlanders, or “The 79th Camerons” was a British regiment raised in 1793 by Sir Alan Cameron of Erracht. This regiment, mostly composed by Scottish Clan “Cameron” volunteers, participated in most battles and British campaigns during the Napoleonic wars, such as Malta, Menorca, the Netherlands and for most of the Peninsular campaign (1808-1814), Spain. It is important to mention that during the campaign of Egypt, thanks to their honors in battle they were allowed to wear a sphinx in their hat and flag, a distinction that few regiments had the right to wear.

The Ancient Mountain Study Group (Grup d’Estudis de Muntanya Antiga in catalan) re-enacts the light company, characterized by wearing Wings in the coatee, and being always at the first line, protecting therest of the regiment. GEMA is an historical and civil reenactment association, which, together with English members, wants to pay respects to the brave men of Sir Alan Cameron returning to live their battles and wearing their uniforms.

Within the Napoleonic framework, they fought their last great battle in Quatre Bras and Waterloo, both June 1815, but the regiment survived to the current days, integrated into several Highlanders brigades, serving, among others, in the two World Wars. The 79th was characterized by wearing a kilt with a singular pattern or tartan that distinguished them form the rest of the army, which used the governmental pattern, and for its Scottish traditionalism, as when the trousers were stablished as the official dress, their colonel strictly opposed, saying that it was dishonourable for his men to wear anything other than a kilt. The 79th has also been remembered throughout the centuries for its courageous action in Waterloo, when surrounded by French cavalry, the gaiter of the regiment played to raise the morale of the men, who valiantly resisted.