With the arrival of the 2nd Batt. the East Surrey Regiment, in Shanghai, the strength of the local British garrison has been increased to two battalions of infantry, the other British Regiment being the popular. 1st Seaforth Highlanders, who, since the departure of the Durhams last month, have earned for themselves the gratitude of all Britons and others alike, by the efficient manner in which they have discharged onerous duties along the perimeter, vacated by the departing Durhams, and by their maintenance of the regular guards at H.M. Consulate and at Garden Bridge. Much interest is displayed locally by British subjects in the various units as they arrive for a term of duty in the city but little is known of the colourful histories of each battalion, and it is with the intention of imparting a little knowledge of Britain's fighting forces, and the Seaforths and East Surreys in particular, that the following account of the histories of the two units is published.
"The Macraes" as the Ist Batt, Seaforth Highlanders, are known, are, perhaps, one òf the most popular British Regiments to have been stationed in Shanghai, but Scottish Regiments with their swinging kilts and colourful pipers always possess an ád-vantage over most British Regiments in that their dress excites no little curiosity and their pipers even more. This is specially so in Shanghai which has not seen a Scottish Regiment for some years.
The history of the 1st Battalion commences in 1756 when a regiment known as Fraser's Highlanders was raised, but this was disbanded in 1763. Sometime later the fifth Earl óf Stair joined the Jacobites, but as an act of grace his son. Lord Seaforth, was permitted to purchase his father's estates from the Crown and in 1771 he was raised to the rank of Earl. To show his gratitude he offered to raise a regiment and this offer was accepted with the result that, in 1778, there came into being the 78th Regiment, which was very shortly afterwards renumbered the 72nd. In 1832 the regiment became known as the Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders and a new tartan was chosen in 1824 this being the Stuart or Prince Charlie tartan. The nickname which the regiment bears today was given as a very large number of men of the Macrae clan joined the regiment.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.