THE ART OF WAR

Regimental museums win national recognition as ‘must-see’ collections

THE golden thread of Scotland’s proud military history has won national recognition.

Heritage chiefs have classed the thousands of artefacts and memorabilia in our regimental museums as fundamentally important to the country.

The Recognition Scheme means Scotland’s military museums have been designated as “must-see”. The scheme promotes and protects important collections beyond those held in our national museums and galleries.

Recognition Committee chairman Ray Macfarlane said: “I’m delighted these collections have joined this list of Scotland’s must see collections. Scotland’s cultural heritage would be infinitely poorer without them.”

The scheme will mean the collections of the Scottish Regimental Museums – including the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Royal Scots, The Kings Own Scottish Borderers, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, The Cameronians, The Black Watch, The Highlanders (Queens Own Highlanders Collection), The Gordon Highlanders and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders – will be safeguarded and promoted to a wider audience.

The collection comprising more than 160,000 objects is distributed across the country in Fort George, Aberdeen, Perth, Stirling Castle, Glasgow, Hamilton, Edinburgh Castle and also across the Border in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

As well as military material such as uniforms, insignia and weapons, the museums also hold fine works of art, rare manuscripts and original photos.

PRIDE Portrait at Black Watch Museum at Balhousie Castle

KILTIE PLEASURE Hugh Grant with his dad Captain James Grant and his grandad’s uniform at Fort George

BRAVE FEW The Thin Red Line takes pride of place in Edinburgh’s National War Museum

DYING WORDS Comrades depicts heroism in Crimean War

CHARGE! Scots Greys in action