Highlander: The History of the Legendary Highland Soldier

by Tim Newark

Overview

Acclaimed historian Tim Newark tells the story of the Highlanders through the words of the soldiers themselves, from diaries, letters, and journals uncovered from archives in Scotland and around the world. At the Battle of Quebec in 1759, only a few years after their defeat at Culloden, the 78th Highlanders faced down the French guns and turned the battle. At Waterloo, High- landers memorably fought alongside the Scots Greys against Napoleon’s feared Old Guard. In the Crimea, the thin red line stood firm against the charging Russian Hussars and saved the day at Balaclava.

Yet this story is also one of betrayal. At Quebec, General Wolfe remarked that, despite the Highlanders’ courage, it was “no great mischief if they fall.” At Dunkirk in May 1940, the 51st Regiment was left to defend the SOE evacuation at St Valery; though following D-Day, the Highlanders were at the forefront of the fighting through France. It is all history, now: Over the last decade the historic regiments have been dismantled, despite widespread protest.

Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620876541
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	04/01/2010
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Historian and journalist Tim Newark is the author of numerous critically acclaimed military history books, including The Barbarians, War in Britain, Where They Fell, Turning the Tide of War, and Camouflage. He was the editor of Military Illustrated for 17 years and the scriptwriter for seven TV military history documentary series, including Hitler’s Bodyguards. Tim Newark lives in Bath, UK. Endorsements:  'An engrossing history that reads like a thriller. The Godfather meets Band of Brothers.' - Andrew Roberts ‘An extraordinary tale …’ – History Today magazine
Tim Newark is the editor of Military Illustrated. He is also the author of numerous works of military history, including CAMOUFLAGE that accompanied the highly acclaimed exhibition, and The Mafia at War, the fascinating history of the invasion of Sicily. He consults and writes from many TV series including the 13 part Churchill's Bodyguard.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations vii

Introduction ix

Acknowledgements xi

Map xiii

Prologue: 'Run ye dogs!' 1

1 Making Hard Men 13

2 A Highland Mafia 28

3 Loyal and Rebellious 41

4 American Adventures 54

5 Vengeance at Seringapatam 67

6 Scotland For Ever 80

7 Fashionably Violent 93

8 The Thin Red Streak 106

9 Six VCs in One Day 119

10 New York Highlanders 131

11 Scandal in the Desert 145

12 Shoulder to Shoulder with Gurkhas 159

13 Khaki Aprons 172

14 World-wide Highlanders 184

15 Vengeance for St Valery 197

16 Mutiny and Victory 212

17 Hollywood Highlanders 224

18 Cold War Highlanders 236

19 Highlanders Betrayed 248

Appendix: Highlander Victoria Cross Winners 262

Notes 266

Bibliography 283

Index 290

Editorial Reviews

The famed kilted regiments with their pipes and drums march forth in this appealing history. A British military historian and consultant to several BBC documentaries, Newark (The Mafia atWar) opens on the stark landscape of geographical isolation: the Scottish Highland settlements. The first Highlanders—unemployed farmers, enforcers, mercenaries, bandits, rebels—had a fierce reputation, and by the early 16th century, the Highlanders' image “was already set... as an untamed tartan-clad warrior who rushed upon his enemy like a wild animal.” Newark takes the reader directly onto the battlefields, from the 1746 Battle of Culloden and the New York Highlanders' 1861 baptism of fire at Bull Run to fighting in France and Burma during WWII. A closing chapter surveys the Highlander as depicted in ads, novels, films, and toy soldiers. The book benefits from exhaustive research, unpublished manuscripts, memoirs, and letters: “I clove a piece out of one of their heads just as one does an egg for breakfast and saw his white brain exposed.” Such statements by the Highlanders themselves, which Newark unearthed, make for a powerful portrait of ferocity and courage. 8 pages of b&w photos. (Apr. 6)

Publishers Weekly

The Highland soldier is a wonderful theme, and Tim Newark does it full justice. This is a very readable book, full of colour and fascinating anecdotes.

Professor Gary Sheffield

Tim Newark is a remarkably gifted storyteller, and in Highlander he really brings these proud soldiers to life.

The Scotsman

An impressively researched and immensely readable celebration of the Highland soldier.

Stuart Reid