The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Cap Badge: History, Symbolism & Meaning
Introduction
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were formed on 1 July 1881 by amalgamating the 91st (Princess Louise's Argyllshire Highlanders) and the 93rd (Sutherland Highlanders). The new regiment inherited two distinct Highland traditions and brought them together in one regimental identity.
Its cap badge reflected that union. The design used a thistle wreath, Princess Louise's interlaced cypher and coronet, and the territorial devices associated with Argyll and Sutherland. It should therefore be read as an amalgamation badge rather than as an ancient design carried unchanged from either predecessor.
The same care is needed with the regiment's history. The famous “Thin Red Line” belonged to the 93rd at Balaklava in 1854, twenty-seven years before the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders existed. That tradition passed into the new regiment after 1881.
Choose Your Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Cap Badge or Display Frame
From the 91st and 93rd to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The 91st had been raised in western Scotland in 1794. Its association with Princess Louise came much later: it provided the honour guard at her wedding in 1871 and was authorised to incorporate her name into its title the following year.
The 93rd was raised in 1799 and became one of the best-known Highland regiments of the nineteenth century. At Balaklava on 25 October 1854, the regiment stood in two ranks against Russian cavalry. William Howard Russell of The Times described them as a “thin red streak” tipped with steel, the phrase later becoming the familiar Thin Red Line.
In 1881 the 91st became the new regiment's 1st Battalion and the 93rd its 2nd Battalion. The original title was Princess Louise's (Sutherland and Argyll Highlanders); the order of the territorial names was reversed in 1882.
Key Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1794 | The future 91st is raised in western Scotland. |
| 1799 | The future 93rd Highlanders is raised. |
| 25 Oct 1854 | The 93rd makes its stand at Balaklava, later remembered as the Thin Red Line. |
| 1857–1858 | Seven Victoria Crosses are won by men of the 93rd during the Indian Rebellion. |
| 1871–1872 | The 91st serves as honour guard at Princess Louise's wedding and receives permission to incorporate her name. |
| 1 Jul 1881 | The 91st and 93rd amalgamate to form Princess Louise's (Sutherland and Argyll Highlanders). |
| 1882 | The title is reordered as Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders). |
| 1899–1902 | The regiment serves in the Second Boer War. |
| 1914–1918 | Argyll battalions serve in France and Flanders, Gallipoli, Salonika, Palestine and elsewhere during the First World War. |
| 1939–1945 | Battalions serve in North Africa, East Africa, Crete, Malaya, Singapore, Italy and North-West Europe. |
| 1950–1951 | 1st Battalion serves in Korea; Major Kenneth Muir is awarded a posthumous VC. |
| 1967 | The battalion re-enters the Crater district during the Aden Emergency. |
| 1971–1972 | 1st Battalion is reduced to Balaklava Company and then restored as a battalion. |
| 2006 | The regiment becomes 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. |
| 2013 | 5 SCOTS is reduced to company strength as Balaklava Company. |
The Cap Badge: Design and Provenance
National Army Museum examples confirm the established Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders cap badge as a thistle-wreathed design carrying the regimental identity created after the 1881 amalgamation. A c.1914 example is catalogued under the title Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders).
The Thistle Wreath
The thistle wreath gives the badge its unmistakably Scottish setting. It frames the central devices and the regimental title.
Princess Louise's Cypher and Coronet
The interlaced and reversed L refers to Princess Louise. Her association came through the 91st before amalgamation and became part of the new regiment's badge and title.
The coronet in the regimental device is therefore connected with Princess Louise. It should not be treated as though the badge were simply a standard King's Crown or Queen's Crown design changing at every accession.
The Boar and Wildcat
The boar belongs to the Argyll/Campbell tradition, while the wildcat belongs to Sutherland. Together they express the two territorial identities brought into the regiment.
These animals also appeared across other forms of regimental dress and fittings. Their presence should be described from the actual pattern being discussed rather than assuming every item of Argyll insignia used exactly the same arrangement.
The Regimental Mottos
The regiment inherited two mottos: Ne Obliviscaris, commonly rendered as “Do Not Forget”, and Sans Peur, “Without Fear”. National Army Museum cataloguing confirms both as part of the regiment's recognised identity.
The Thin Red Line
The Thin Red Line is one of the most famous traditions later carried by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, but it belongs specifically to the 93rd Highlanders before the 1881 amalgamation.
At Balaklava on 25 October 1854, the 93rd met advancing Russian cavalry in line rather than forming the conventional infantry square. Two disciplined volleys turned the attack back. William Howard Russell's description of the regiment as a thin red streak tipped with steel gave rise to the later phrase.
The distinction passed into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders when the 93rd became its 2nd Battalion.
Operational History After 1881
The regiment built a substantial service record of its own after amalgamation.
During the Second Boer War, 1st Battalion fought in South Africa. In the First World War, Regular, Territorial and Service battalions served across several theatres and added a large body of honours to the regimental record.
In the Second World War, Argyll battalions served in Europe, North and East Africa, Malaya and Singapore, Italy and North-West Europe.
Post-war deployments included Korea, Cyprus, Aden, Germany and Northern Ireland. In Korea, Major Kenneth Muir earned a posthumous Victoria Cross in September 1950.
The regiment also served in Iraq in 2004 before becoming part of The Royal Regiment of Scotland in 2006.
Victoria Crosses and the Argyll Lineage
It is useful to distinguish between the VCs of the antecedent regiments and those earned after 1881.
Seven Victoria Crosses were won by men of the 93rd before the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders existed. Six were awarded for actions at Lucknow on 16 November 1857, with a seventh later awarded to Lieutenant William McBean.
After the 1881 amalgamation, further VCs were earned by men associated with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders during the First World War, Second World War and Korean War.
For that reason, a statement such as “the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders won sixteen VCs” needs qualification: some belong to the inherited 93rd lineage rather than to the post-1881 regiment itself.
1971, Balaklava Company and Re-formation
During Army reductions, 1st Battalion was reduced to Balaklava Company in 1971. The decision was soon reversed as operational demands increased, and the battalion was restored in 1972.
The choice of the name Balaklava deliberately recalled the 93rd and the Thin Red Line.
2006 and The Royal Regiment of Scotland
In 2006, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders became 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. The separate regiment ceased to exist, but its name, honours and traditions continued through 5 SCOTS.
In 2013, 5 SCOTS was reduced to company strength as Balaklava Company, preserving the Argyll identity within the modern Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Collecting Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Cap Badges
The badge remained recognisable over a long period, but surviving examples should be assessed by pattern, material, dimensions, construction, reverse fittings, rank and provenance.
Do Not Date It by a King's or Queen's Crown Assumption
The central coronet belongs to Princess Louise's device. It is not simply the reign-dependent Sovereign's Crown found on many other British Army cap badges.
Officer and Other-Ranks Variants
Officer and other-ranks patterns can differ in material, construction and finish. Rank should be identified from documented examples rather than from apparent quality alone.
Reverse Fittings
Lugs, sliders, soldering and maker's marks may help identification, but repairs and replacement fittings occur. No single reverse feature proves date or authenticity.
Modern Heritage Displays
Precision Military Emblems' Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders pieces are modern, officially MOD-licensed display products made from approved artwork. They are not original service-issued badges.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the regiment formed?
1 July 1881, by amalgamating the 91st and 93rd Regiments of Foot.
Was the regiment itself present at the Thin Red Line?
No. The Thin Red Line was the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders at Balaklava in 1854. The tradition passed to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders after the 1881 amalgamation.
What does the central L mean?
It is Princess Louise's interlaced cypher.
What are the animals on the badge?
The boar represents Argyll and the wildcat represents Sutherland.
What do Ne Obliviscaris and Sans Peur mean?
They are commonly rendered as “Do Not Forget” and “Without Fear”.
What happened in 2006?
The regiment became 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Further Reading
- National Army Museum — The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)
- National Army Museum — 91st Regiment
- National Army Museum — 93rd Regiment
- National Army Museum — c.1914 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Cap Badge
- Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum
Officially Licensed Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Displays
Precision Military Emblems produces officially MOD-licensed Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders display pieces from approved artwork.