Allegiance United Kingdom Type Line Infantry | Branch British Army | |
 | ||
Active 28 March 2006 - Present Role Army Reserve Light Role Size One Support Company
Four Rifle Companies | ||
The 51st Highland Volunteers was a regiment and is now a battalion in the British Army's Army Reserve or reserve force in the Scottish Highlands, forming the 7th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, also known as 7 SCOTS. In contrast with 52nd Lowland (6 SCOTS), a similar unit located in the Lowlands of Scotland, 51st Highland (7 SCOTS) consists of a number of infantry companies located throughout the various regions of the Highlands. Both 51st Highland Volunteers and 52nd Lowland Volunteers were unique in that each of their companies was officially the reserve element of a regular infantry regiment in the Scottish Division.
Contents
History
The 51st Highland Volunteers were formed in 1967 from the amalgamation of territorial battalions of regiments in the Highland Brigade. In 1999, however, the regiment was re-organized and became the 51st Highland Regiment.
The name commemorated that of the 51st Highland Division, which consisted of the Regiment's antecedent Territorial Battalions, and fought during the First and Second World Wars.
Structure of the Regiment 1967-1971
The 51st Highland Volunteers were formed on 1 April 1967 as a TAVR II (NATO reserve role) unit with headquarters located at Perth, Scotland:
In 1969, the three TAVRIII (Home defence) battalions were reduced in size and amalgamated into the 51st Highland Volunteers, forming three additional companies:
1971-1975
On 1 April 1971, the 51st Highland Volunteers split into two battalions. A third battalion was subsequently formed on 1 April 1975.
1980-ca.1994
In 1981, the 3rd Battalion effectively became the Territorial battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; in 1995, it became the 7th/8th (V) Battalion of that regiment. The 2nd Battalion became the 3rd (V) Battalion of The Highlanders.
A Z (Home Service Force) Company was formed in 1984 at Perth, Kirkcaldy and Dundee. A number of re-organizations and company re-locations also occurred in the 1980s. Between 1992-1993, the remaining elements of 1st Battalion, the 51st Highland Volunteers were again reorganised:
The 1st Battalion was subsequently redesignated (in 1994) as the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment). During this period, all three Battalions adopted the Cap Badges and insignia of their parent Regiments.
1999 onwards
The regiment was re-formed in 1999 by the amalgamation of all three battalions (viz 7/8 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 3 The Highlanders, and 3 Black Watch) into a single battalion, the 51st Highland Regiment (51 HIGHLAND), in consequence of the reforms of the Territorial Army in the Strategic Defence Review.
The Battalion Headquarters is based at Queen's Barracks in Perth. The Army Reserve military band of 51st (Scottish) Brigade is administered by the Battalion, as well as the units own 51st Highland Pipes and Drums. The battalion was originally made up of one support company and five rifle companies:
As part of the Delivering Security in a Changing World review of the British Army, on 28 March 2006, the 51st Highland Regiment became the 7th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (also known as (7 SCOTS)).
The battalion is currently made up of one support company, with four rifle companies: