Tuesday, September 7, 2021

79th (Cameron) Highlanders

 The 79th regiment of Foot was raised in 1793 as the 79th Foot - Cameronian Volunteers, by Sir Allan Cameron of Erracht. It prompltly saw action in Flanders under the Duke of York in 1794, and was sent to the West Indies fromn1795 - 1797. It participated in the invasion of Holland (now the Batavian Republic) in 1799, and an unsuccessful attack on Ferrol in Spain in 1800. 



The regiment served in Egypt in 1801, entitling it to the Sphinx badge on its colors. In 1804 it was renamed the 79th Foot - Cameron Highlanders. It fought at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1807. 


In July of 1808, the regiment was part of the British force sent to Portugal under Sir John Moore, and fought at Corunna., after which it was evacuated along with the rest of Moore's army. It was sent to Portugal again  in January 1810, and fought in the Peninsula thereafter, including the battles of  Bussaco (1810), Fuentes de Onoro (1811), Siege of Badajoz (1812), Battle of Salamanca (1812), Siege of Burgos (1812), and the battles of the Pyrenees (1813), Nivelle (1813), the Nive (1813),and Tolouse (1814). 


The Cameronians took part in the Hundred Days campaign in Belgium and France, fighting at Quatre Bras and at Waterloo. Out of  675 men, 103 were killed, and 353 more were wounded; the regiment was one of only four specifically cited by Wellington in his Waterloo Dispatch. 


These are Old Glory figures, and hopefully the last regiment of Highlanders for me.. and though they do look grand with all the little details of Highland regiment dress, don't they?! 


"March of the Cameron Men"



26 comments:

  1. Splendid looking group! Highlanders always an intimidating group to take on to paint no doubt.

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    1. Thanks, Indeed they are! This is the 4th unit I did (the first was Black Watch Airfix figures 45+ years ago).

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  2. These look very good indeed Peter. For some reason years ago I modelled the 79th in trews which I cannot seem to determine if that’s accurate or not. Your figures very much look like a bundle of Northern Menace!

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    1. Thanks, Carlo. Doubtless they wore trews at some point from 1793 - 1815!

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  3. Nice work..... they join up with your other Hiighland troops for a dollop of Scots on the table I wager.

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    1. Thanks, Joe. Yep, there's a proper Highland Brigade now - the Black Watch, Gordons, and Cameronians!

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  4. That tartan looks fantastic! Great technique.

    You’ve certainly picked a very busy unit! They should be able to slot into most campaigns without button counters being able to challenge them.

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    1. Yes, they're useful almost every where the UK fought!

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  5. Great looking Highlanders! The tartan work looks excellent.

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  6. Very fancy! Glad it was you painting them and not me. Actually, I need to add Highlanders to my 28mm Napoleonics project but have been avoiding it like the plague.

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    1. I actually rather enjoyed doing the tartan. I used the method I found online and first applied to by unit of Black Watch a few years ago. I even used the black micron pen to suggest the black overstripe. A waste of time, really, as it doesn't even show in the photos.

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    2. You should definitely do at least one Highland regiment, Jon. See

      https://www.angelfire.com/tx/ToySoldier/tartan.htm

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  7. Kilts are bad enough, but the dicing on the gaiters and bonnet provides that extra little but of fun. Lovely work Peter.

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    1. I agree, the headband and socks are much worse than the tartan; I used the red Micron pen for those!

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  8. Ah the ‘Devils In Skirts’ I can almost hear the pipes :-)

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  9. No pipers left for this uinit, but I've added the March of the Cameron Men youtuibe video...

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  10. Great looking Highlanders and nice tartan!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thank you, John. I was happy with how they came out. I think I still have enough figures to do a 4th unit if I don't mind some excess shoulder wings here and there. We'll see!

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  12. Great work and I think you've done the kilts and dicing very well! :)

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    1. Thanks, Mark. even at a considerable distance, they certainly look like highlanders beyond doubt!

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