The Scots Brigade was a corps in service of the Dutch Republic whose history extends from 1570 to 1783. The brigade consisted of three infantry regiments.
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Eighty Years' War
During the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) in which the newly formed Dutch Republic gained its independence from Spain, the Dutch States-General hired several foreign regiments to build up an army—some of these were English and Scottish regiments. After the war, most regiments were disbanded, except three Scottish regiments. They were brigaded into a separate unit.
War of Austrian Succession.
During the 18th century, the regiments served mostly as garrison units. During the War of Austrian Succession (1740–1748), part of the Scots Brigade was in garrison in the city of Bergen op Zoom in 1747 when a French army besieged the city. What started as a diversion to draw away the British, Austrian and Dutch troops from the main attack on Maastricht, became a lengthy siege that ended in tragedy when French troops stormed and captured the city. The battalions of the Scots Brigade counterattacked several times, until forced to withdraw to the nearby fortification at Steenbergen, which they would defend successfully in the days to come. By then, only 200 officers and men of an original number of 800 remained.
Amalgamation into Dutch line regiments
After the War of Austrian Succession, the Dutch Republic lost its status as a major European power. It did not take part in the Seven Years' War that followed. The men of the Scots Brigade were still recruited, until tensions between Great Britain and the Dutch Republic grew.
Anti-British sentiments led to open support for the American colonists when tensions between some of the North American colonies and Britain resulted the American War of Independence (1775–1783). A request from Britain to send the Scots Brigade back to Britain was declined after resistance from the opposition in the States-General; they would not send the Scots Brigade back to "help oppress a people that fought to gain its freedom". When the Dutch Republic sent weapons and supplies to the Continental Army, Britain declared war in 1780. The Fourth Anglo-Dutch War ended in 1784 and wrecked the Dutch Republic.
Meanwhile, the Scots Brigade was taken into the Dutch line as infantry regiments nrs. 22, 23 and 24. This meant the typical red uniforms, British colours and the special "Scottish March" were abolished. Most officers of the Scots Brigade refused to take an oath to the Stadhouder and returned to Britain, taking the regimental colours with them. The NCOs and privates, of whom most by this point were not of Scottish origin, were incorporated into the Dutch army.
Legacy
In the United Kingdom, the officers petitioned the King to be allowed to join a new regiment, for which they requested a guard status, since it was older than any other British regiment. Instead, they were invited to join the 94th Regiment of Foot when it was raised in October 1794. Thus the traditions and history of the Scots Brigade came to an end, however the colours of the Scots Brigade are to this day to be found in St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. Copies of these colours were made in the Netherlands.
Many of the descendants stayed in the Netherlands and account for anomalies like the husband of Mata Hari (Dutch Colonial Army Captain John Brienen MacLeod) and Dutch speaking Methodist immigrants in 19th century Nova Scotia.