IR No. 107 – Royal Ecossais (Scottish)

Inhaber
1744 Comte John Drummond

Unit History
Originally the regiment was formed in 1744 from Scottish refugees in France by the 3rd Duke of Drummond. He was also one of the founders at the revival of the Order of the Thistle in 1687. The Duke joined Bonnie Prince Charlie on his arrival at Perth in 1745. At the Battle of Culloden the Duke commanded the left flank, and after the defeat was forced to flee. He died on the way to France in 1746.
As mentioned, the first battalion of the unit fought in Scotland taking part at Culloden in April 1746. The regiment initially stood in the second line at Culloden, and later some fought a desperate rearguard action against the British cavalry before being forced to surrender. Others, however, led by Major Hale, succeeded in escaping to Ruthven Barracks and did not surrender until April 19, 1746.
While many of the officers would have worn a tricorne, it is likely that some would have worn the short coat and even a kilt especially during their service in Scotland.
With the outbreak of the Seven Years War in 1756, nine battalions of Scottish and Irish Jacobite were massed on the Channel, in view of participating in a large-scale military operation in Munster. However, the naval defeat at the Bay of Quiberon in 1757 dashed such hope. These troops were then used in military campaigns in Germany and in the campaigns of 1760 and 1761 in Germany were present at Marbourg and Vellinghausen.
Helping secure Marbourg in the winter of 1760, the unit was part of a French force that was defeated there by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick in a small but smartly fought engagement.
At Vellinghausen, July 1761, the unit, along with the Scottish, d’Ogilvy, regiment and other Irish regiments, was all part of the command under Soubise on the left flank which was refused against the British. The anchor point or center of the French was the village of Nateln near Soest.
Disbanded and merged into the Irish regiment, Bulkeley, in 1762.

The Regimental and Colonel’s colour

Comments
Unpainted. While the British have their Scottish regiment, the French felt left out. So as part of the general EU clause of equality for all, the French were granted an extra Scottish unit complete with kilts so that they would feel at home when vacationing in Scotland. Actually, the unique force has always appealed to me because of the possibilities to create unique characters like Comte Drummond.

Sources
Flag: http://www.drapeaux.org/Accueil.htm
Text: Osprey’s Louis XV's Army (3) Foreign Infantry (Men-at-Arms 304)