90th (Perthshire Volunteers) Light Infantry
Regiment
In 1794 the 90th Perthshire Light
Infantry (nicknamed "The Perthshire Greybreeks")
was formed by Mr. Thomas Graham, afterwards
General Lord Lynedoch. The 90th won its first
distinction in Sir Ralph Abercromby's expedition
to Egypt in 1801. The battle honour of "Mandora"
gained in that campaign is borne by only one
other regiment of the British Army, the 92nd
(later the 2nd Battalion The Gordon Highlanders),
although upwards of 20 infantry regiments, besides
several of cavalry, took part in the action.
Some years later the 90th was engaged in the
capture of Martinique and Guadaloupe, two valuable
West Indian islands. At Guadaloupe the regiment
captured the Eagle of the 80th French Regiment,
one of the first Eagles to be taken by a British
regiment.
After serving with distinction
in the Crimea, the 90th added to its reputation
in the Indian Mutiny by the many acts of individual
bravery performed by officers and men. No fewer
than six Victoria Crosses were won by members
of the regiment.
Subsequently 2nd Battalion, The Cameronians
(Scottish Rifles)
Capbadge Image supplied by David_Tremain
Alexander Walkinshaw was part
of the 90th regiment and won the DCM medal in
1879 at the Battle of Hlobane. He was Sir Evelyn
Woods batman. Wood had a small prayer book that
belonged to Campbell a fellow officer and close
friend to Wood who died during fighting left
in a saddle of a horse further down the hill
where the fighting was still happening and shots
were being fired. Wood told Alexander to go
and retrieve it and he did, he was told to take
all risks to retrieve it and he did and came
back unharmed. He was given it for bravery.
Picture and text supplied by Alexander Walkinshaw's
Great Great Grand-daughter Sarah Hines.
