Europe's Only Private Army

[@Calvinotz]

Mark Felton my mom bought one of your books for Christmas not knowing I consistently watch your KZbin. Best gift

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Sensible mother! Hope you enjoy it.

[@imperfectly-balanced8861]

@@Calvinotz What an absolutely awesome mother you have mate! A lady of impeccable taste and smarts clearly

[@Calvinotz]

@@imperfectly-balanced8861 truest statement I've heard

[@opopad]

​@@MarkFeltonProductions the most mark Felton response ever! I love it

[@twopercent7659]

@@opopadI read it in his voice

[@hiltonian_1260]

Decades ago I knew a woman who had worked in an administrative position for the 10th Duke. Since he owned everything for a wide radius around the castle, she was given a cottage for her use during her employment. The “Duke’s men” would bring firewood, fix the plumbing, repair the roof, or whatever needed to be done. It was semi-feudal in practice. The private army was really more of a social club for men over 21.

[@markrossow6303]

Nice.

[@arevolvingdoor3836]

His picture at 5:11 is aggressively british

[@Sammyli99]

funny if society defaulted back to that MODUS OPERANDI, would that be bad. BUT wait waht we need the consolidation of power...to...CONTROL THE PEOPLE.

[@Lifeagain2123]

You forget the French Foreign Legion. They technically are NOT part of the French government nor are they part of the French army.

[@markrossow6303]

@@Lifeagain2123 hmm

[@aaronjaben7913]

I was fortunate enough to play my bagpipes at Blair Atholl palace in 1985 when I was 15 years old. Our friends lived in Killiecrankie and arranged with the official piper who graciously allowed me to play solo outside the castle in front of visitors. Killiecrankie, their home at Clunemore, and playing at Blair Atholl are some of my fondest memories.

[@ulriklange3924]

Cool sidenote. 😀 ... Thanks for sharing. Cheers from Jutland, Denmark. 🍻

[@bobreams5178]

My Scottish blood runs warm to read of such fine tradition being given to youth and carried on. To visit the hallowed Braes of Killiecrankie is my fondest hope. Carry on, my friend!

[@HebrewsElevenTwentyFive]

You were blessed, not "fortunate".

[@aaronjaben7913]

@@HebrewsElevenTwentyFive well, bless your heart 🙄

[@johnsm.692]

There's actually more to the story of the raising of the original regiment than the mutiny. The Duke of Atholl, like all the other Highland Lairds loyal to the British Government, got paid by Westminster for every recruit mustered. As landowners, Lairds forced farms to provide a certain number of recruits per farm to fill ranks or else the families would be evicted. In Atholl few folk enlisted so the Duke employed press-gangs and force enlist tenants into his regiment. When their term of service was over the Duke tried to sell the enlisted men onto the service of the British East India Company, like slaves. Folk say that the initial reluctance of men of Atholl to join the Dukes regiment led to the Duke clearing Glen Tilt to make way for a deer shooting estate, a revenge on his people who wouldn't bend to his will.

[@Wimbold]

Gotta love the aristocracy.

[@markrossow6303]

​@Wimbold w0w

[@burgeryoufoundbehindthegrill]

British aristocracy hasnt changed one bit since 1066

[@Crusty_Camper]

You are right, the Norman aristocracy still rules even though they now call themselves English, Scottish or even South African.

[@zane2go]

Thank you Mark for your many years of great videos!!

[@courto2229]

sure this has already been uploaded or very similar

[@kenmccormick8059]

​@@courto2229Dr Felton states in the video description that this is expanded and updated.

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

Thank you, Mark. I was a volunteer with the Transvaal Scottish, who also wore the Murray of Atholl tartan kilt. In our regiment we weren't allowed to wear underwear, but I noticed during a visit from the late Duke of Atholl with his guard, that at least one of the Atholl Highlanders wore cycling shorts under his kilt... he tripped during the kilted race! I left the 2nd Battalion Transvaal Scottish in about 2007 when the 2nd battalion was disbanded. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission found Solomon Mahlangu to have been guilty of Gross Human Rights... so there's that, I guess.

[@smegheadGOAT]

Did you go to Jeppy boys?

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

@smegheadGOAT Yeah, for grade 2 in 1977, Standard 1 and Standard 1 again in '78 and '79 respectively. Then I went back to the same boarding school in Northern Transvaal I'd attended in Grade 1. I assume you went to Jeppe Prep? For high school I went to Sandringham High as we'd moved out of Malvern for the North Eastern suburbs.

[@damionkeeling3103]

I saw a picture of one of the highland regiments doing a parade. A bunch of overweight women and skinny short guys and I thought, why bother? They were all black of course except the pipers. They didn't even bother to resize the uniforms for the current members, kilts below the knee, total mess. Changing the names is probably a small mercy to the original units.

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

@damionkeeling3103 I welcomed the original integration of black and white troops at first, seeing this as a way forward for our country and it's people. Then I got an offer to move to Cape Town, which I did for a year before returning to Joburg. I attended a few Scottish Gatherings once back, but didn't feel the old unit esprit de corps from before, but by then I started having physical problems, making rejoining the Jocks impossible. I miss that positive volunteer mindset we had.

[@charlesarmstrong5292]

Hi fellow Jock. I was with the 1st. Battalion until they were disbanded to become the Solomon Mahlangu Regiment.

[@Ayeshteni]

It also makes it the last Highland Regiment as all Scottish Highlander Regiments in the British Army have been amalgamated out of existence.

[@bilbobaggins5938]

Weren't they amalgamated into a single Highlander regiment? That would mean there's a Highlander regiment in the British army, so the Atholl Highlanders aren't the only one.

[@Ayeshteni]

@bilbobaggins5938 no. There is only one Scottish Regiment: The Royal Regiment of Scotland. This is the amalgamation of the 6 (previous) Scottish infantry Regiments: The Royal Scots, The Kings Own Scottish Borderers, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, The Black Watch, The Highlanders (where most Highland Regiments were already amalgamated) and The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. So No, there are no Highland Regiments in the British Army.

[@philhawley1219]

@@Ayeshteni There are no English and Welsh county regiments left either.

[@Ayeshteni]

@@philhawley1219 a sad state of affairs...

[@drt733]

The whole British army

[@tomkrausz2166]

I had the great fortune of going to Blair Castle for their Highland Games a few years ago. It’s a gorgeous part of the world, and seeing the Athol Highlanders march and participate in the games was one of the coolest experiences of my life.

[@rtyrsson]

I've heard of the Atholl Highlanders in the past, but (though brief) this is a more succinct yet informative explanation. Thank you Dr. Felton.

[@S.M.S-Dresden]

First Mark Felton video of the year, what a good start in the year

[@nonegiven9579]

In about 1973 I took part in a Sealed Knot re-enactment of the battles of Killiecrankie and Dunkeld . Fortunately I was on the same side as The Atholl Highlanders who took the re-enactments very seriously in a physical way. The idea of this event was inspired by The Chelsea Pensioners getting new uniforms and the old ones were bought up as a job lot for the Red Coat side.

[@bmoboss]

Fun fact about the Johore Forces at the start of the video: they are still around today as the Royal Johor Military Force and are the oldest active military unit in Malaysia

[@konstantinosnikolakakis8125]

Aye, I would disagree with calling then a “private army” though since they’re the army of the Sultan of the Malaysian state of Johore, they are government troops.

[@geoff-m9w]

Wow, super duper..I am soooo excited about that....😂😂

[@kerrross]

Back in the day musicians on the losing side were treated more favourably compared to the actual combatants. However this was not the case after the '45 Jacobite Rebellion as the British government clearly recognised the psychological effect the pipes, and they were classed as "a weapon of war" so those pipers were considered combatants. Bagpipes were also banned under the Act of Proscription, or Disarming Act, of 1746.

[@shibasaurus322]

“You got a loiscence for those bagpipes?”

[@cliphound80]

Thank you Dr. Felton for another amazing video! Being a Canadian with Scottish heritage, I find learning of the Atholl Highlanders and their history quite fascinating. The Atholl Highlanders are a private infantry regiment and ceremonial unit based out of Blair Castle in Perthshire, Scotland. Joining is by invitation only from the Duke of Atholl, Chieftain of the Clan Murray. Interesting sight for sure with the Lee-Medford rifles, a precursor to the Lee-Enfield.

[@25pdr1942]

Really is worth visiting n making a weekend for the Gathering Parade and the Games. A beautiful part of our country.

[@robertphillips6296]

Thank you for posting this.

[@Teddy-mj9wd]

Great start to a New Year

[@ButterBallTheOpossum]

The local civil air patrol unit in my western Pennsylvania town are called the highlanders. Because the highlanders fought in the battle of bushy run a few miles away.

[@flapthecrapster]

I’m originally from up that way too. I kinda always thought we were called the Laurel Highlands because of the Scottish Highlands but I don’t know that for sure.

[@goldenfiberwheat238]

Civil air patrol? What even is that?

[@flapthecrapster]

@@goldenfiberwheat238 it’s like a civilian counterpart to the Air Force similar to how a State Guard relates to the National Guard. They do things like Search and Rescue.

[@goldenfiberwheat238]

@ I see

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Bushy Run! Living proof that a war scream from enraged Highlanders charging with leveled bayonets was enough to even make American Indian braves flee in terror. What does THAT tell you?

[@swampyankee]

Spent some time with those fellows when they visited New Hampshire. A fun group to go bar hopping with.

[@StaunchyWaunchy]

They look like they enjoy their food and drink. 😉

[@elvenkind6072]

Wow, bagpipe music is simply hypnotizing. It's like comforting screeching from deep within the soul. Like two giant ice flakes colliding with love.

[@wa1ufo]

Yo Ho!

[@TeaLuck1]

Wow , what poetry !!

[@perrydowd9285]

That was probably the most refreshing video I've seen in a while. The 6th Duke and the 10th understood the pulling power of history. I'm sure they are a great asset to Perthshire. Thankyou Dr Felton.

[@simhopp]

tradition, legacy, heritage something you can't buy with money.

[@kah10161]

Blair Castle is the site of the Blair Atholl International Jamborette, held on the even years, and organized by Scouts Scotland. My daughter went to the Field of Dreams in 2022, as part of a Venturing BSA contingent from Orlando, FL; 2020 trip was a washout, y’all know why. All the main activities were in the big field across the road from the castle, while the Scouts’ Own was in the front parade area. She loved that trip! BTW: Atholl Highlanders is one of my favorite pipe tunes.

[@markrossow6303]

nice -- so the Paul + Linda McCartney / Wings song Mull of Kintyre includes a bagpipe march -- it was never properly released in N. America = did not get radioplay -- North American folks might enjoy it !

[@desperado8605]

Happy New Year Dr. Felton what a great video to start the year off with nothing better than a little pipe and drums

[@lewissrichards3248]

Just purchased your Audiobooks Mark! Can’t wait to listen ❤

[@lewissrichards3248]

Also just joined your Patreon! Looking forward to more content!

[@brianvail9212]

The Highlanders are capable of making the enemy flee just from their bagpipe music.

[@VolkerGoller]

Everyone sane will escape, friends and foos alike 😂❤

[@bills7595]

Hearing americans speak does the same

[@Chris-lp3dm]

Certainly had that effect on me back in my childhood (1960's). Anytime there was a parade and bagpipers came marching past, **YIKES** what a racket!!!

[@vesawuoristo4162]

I love bagpipes

[@gobblox38]

"Geeze, it sounds like a gaggle of cats being tortured over there... it's coming this way! FALL BACK! FALL BACK!"

[@kfeltenberger]

Excellent video, Dr Felton! I’d love to see you cover the First Troop Philadelphia Cavalry…one of the more unique and storied US units.

[@rwdyeriii]

I'd also like to see him cover the Governor's Foot and Horse Guards of Connecticut. That is another interesting set of American units.

[@rudigerpongs9036]

Please take a look at "Khevenhüller Garde" in Austria with its tradition starting in the 16th century. The Gardsmen are stationed at Hochosterwitz Castle, one of the strongest fortifications in private ownership. They are not as impressive as their scottish colleagues but also with a long tradition.

[@geroutathat]

Him and others would claim them as "private guards" not army. Why? I dunno, british people are strange. There is no difference between these and many groups around europe, even the popes swiss guards are sworn to protect him and the palace and not the vatican state so are his private army. The difference basically comes down to how proud or hidden a countries private armies are. Most hide them and they dont want the population to know that someone like the azov brigade in ukraine swear alliegence to the azov commander more than the president. This is just a loose example, and we get told they are part of the Ukraine army. They dont want us all knowing that the reality is, a private army in in 2025 gives you a lot of power, and a lot of oligarchs sit at the top of private units, the USA even agreed that the wagner group are a private army loyal to their commander and not a mercenary group. But the UK is proud of this private part of their history so dont hide it.

[@davidduff5123]

It is a Happy New Year, indeed, when greeted with a new video from Dr. Felton!!

[@markraatsart5049]

Thank you for another great video Mark, all the best for 2025 for you and yours. I grew up with and served with the current Duke (Bruce Murray) and remember well the day his family were advised that John was suddenly made Duke of Atholl. They were utterly astonished and from memory had no idea that John was next in line. John was very much a farmer and a man of the earth and I don't recall if he ever served but Bruce (like all of us in South Africa) was conscripted to serve in both combat and in counter terrorism roles. Bruce was always a terrific fellow and soldier and is a perfect pick as the 12th Duke of Atholl

[@SiPakRubah]

0:14 Wow, you managed to use an image of my state's personal army, the Johor Military Force

[@sadekmohamed4193]

Nasib baik takda ind pat sini

[@greenockscatman]

I’d like to see some kind of a post apocalyptic fiction where these guys become a force. Would be grand.

[@Chris-ut6eq]

Fallout New Scotland perhaps?

[@greenockscatman]

@@Chris-ut6eq Aye, that was my thought as well!

[@Chris-ut6eq]

@@greenockscatman Who is the Scottish equivalent of Three Dog or Mr New Vegas? :) Also the endless bagpipe sound track might be a bit overwhelming.

[@greenockscatman]

@@Chris-ut6eq I'm partial to John McCauley, the former Smooth Radio Breakfast presenter.

[@geoff-m9w]

Wheelchair Army????😮

[@dereks4131]

This is SO eccentically British. I love it! Thanks for this,

[@JA-ACI]

It's amazing to see these Atholl's marching down the street in this day in age. Highland history is so rich and expansive.

[@BlueRibbonWinner]

Many thanks again Mark for providing content on You Tube that's worth watching.

[@davidcox3076]

Have read about them off and on over the years. Getting an inside look is a real treat! Thanks, Dr. Felton!

[@joevanseeters2873]

Thank you Dr. Mark for once again bringing us an informative and very interesting short documentary. Your docu-series are some of the best and well presented documentaries on various WW2 (and other) topics. I always look forward to seeing your notification in my in-box for yet another well thought out, well researched, and well presented topic. Your channel is one of my favorite channels on KZbin. Thank you again for putting all your hard work and research together in these very informative documentaries. People don't give credit to the time it takes to research, edit, and then present these videos. Your videos have such interesting film footage of the era which makes it much more enjoyable to watch over other channels that just use filler. Your videos contain the actual footage of the events (if you can get copies of it from your various sources) and it gives credibility to your presentations.

[@gerrydepp8164]

Much appreciated from a Scot in NZ! I visited Blair Castle - and was able to explore inside - about 20 years ago when I was over there checking up on me old mates for a wee dram and Cigar at the Manor House where the excellent Barman beat us at pool on their huge table and I expired in the (haunted?) Tower Room where the steep and narrow spiral steps ensure that ye cannae escape without payin the bill! One day I shall return; Scots Wahae!

[@charlesarmstrong5292]

Thanks so much for this story. I am proud to say that prior to the regime change in South Africa, post 1995, my own Regiment, The Transvaal Scottish ,were closely affiliated with The Atholl Highlanders and wore the Atholl tartan. Indeed the 12th. Duke of Atholl - Bruce G. R. Murray still resides in South Africa today.

[@ProfessorM-he9rl]

Thank you for this Dr Felton.

[@j.johnson3520]

Brilliant work and a great mini-doc.

[@pablobruning4508]

Thanks for the video, Mark. My maternal family's surname was Dinsmore, a sept of the Murray Clan. We claim Blair Castle as our ancestral home. I lived in Scotland as a student for over three years in the mid-80s and have fond memories of it as an American.

[@johnathandavis3693]

LOVE THE PIPES! Cool info, too. Thank you for this...

[@mrmillcake8525]

"Me? The 13th Duke of Wybourne...with my reputation?" =) Happy New Year and Best wishes Dr. Felton!

[@ZoSoPage1977]

Great episode, Mark...Salute!

[@KeithWilliamMacHendry]

You are a legend Dr Felton.

[@JeppeBoyz]

Bruce Murray attended the same high school I attended, Jeppe High School for Boys. He was good friends with my elder brother. He is an amazing person.

[@davefloyd9443]

Not a wee man in sight. They're some big lads.

[@deanbuss1678]

Thanks!

[@metallicasnake]

It's a fascinating piece of history. Thank you for bringing it up and showing it to the world at large.

[@Russojap2]

Very interesting! Greetings from East Tennessee 🤠

[@bak-mariterry9143]

HOWDY from Norfolk, Virginia.

[@williammiller8317]

Mark always delivers the good stuff! 😎

[@alexandershorse9021]

Mark, your Dachau vid has just been republished on KZbin, without attribution, by “Vibe Vault.”

[@johnduffin9425]

Best channel in YT!! Salute!!

[@skypilot7162]

I live in a U.S. city called Rathdrum (after a place in County Wicklow, Ireland) and about 20 minutes to my north is a town called Athol (one "L"). I never knew about Atholl in Scotland, but presumably it's a namesake for the local town here!

[@damionkeeling3103]

Atholl in Scotland is probably the homeland of the Caledonii tribe in ancient times.

[@pierremainstone-mitchell8290]

Nice one Mark! Years ago I recall reading that a General in the British Army, on his retirement, joined the Atholl Highlanders as a private soldier.

[@Mark.Andrew.Pardoe]

Whato Mark, Thanks for this. This is one reason I love British tradition. We should be proud of it, no matter how strange it sometimes appears.

[@andrii31415]

It is only strange to those who do not value traditions and history. You SHOULD be proud of it and keep it alive. Cheers!

[@robertm4919]

Thank you for another excellent video to start out the New Year! Cheers.

[@cipriantodoran1674]

Good! Your videos are flowing again.

[@josephvandyck5469]

3 things come to mind regarding this video/ history lesson. 1) Are the Atholl Highlanders just a ceremonial unit, or are they trained infantrymen? 2) Have they ever deployed, i.e., WW1, WW2, up to the GWOT? 3) Did you not do a video like this about a year ago? Thank you sir.

[@truegrungegrit]

I think it is a repost -

[@utarionzo3099]

Hi, I live not too far away from Blair castle. The regiment at this point is pure ceremonial having only served in Ireland under arms in its first incarnation. It’s made up of men who work on the castle’s estate who volunteer for service, and at this point only parade annually and for any special visitors to the castle like royalty. The castle and the surrounding estates were put into a trust by the 10th duke before his south african cousin inherited, so the regiment doesn’t parade for the Highland Games as their Lt Col (the 12th Duke) doesn’t really attend for them what with living in South Africa with no incentive to stay at an estate his family doesn’t effectively own anymore

[@garymcatear822]

It's a private army...that means it serves the Duke not the country. Depending on how loyal the Duke is to the crown will dictate whether they serve the country or not.

[@bosoerjadi2838]

For completeness, I would have liked an explanation added how, by serious historians, a private army is defined differently from a PMC, a mwrcenary band and a security company.

[@oj_ow]

*Happy New Year* and happy to have a new vid.

[@maxnewsom3100]

Splendid military unit.

[@adamlee3772]

Happy New Year Mark.

[@bevinboulder5039]

What a nice way to celebrate a bit belated Hogmanay. Thank you, Dr. Felton!

[@petersurdo4984]

Happy New Year Doc!

[@TheFlutecart]

"Atholl Highlanders" - A marching jig. One of my favorite bagpipe tunes to play drum with. I live in Texas, we got Scot's here. That Murray tartan looks sharp.

[@rockym2931]

Very interesting video. There is something genuine about these small units that represent their own area "back home", as one might say.

[@stuartgmk]

👍

[@Johnny-p3z]

Thank you for educating us dr. Felton

[@andymattison9124]

Actually there is another! In the UK. Look At the Hillsborough Guard in Northern Ireland. For many years it was kept alive with just one member..... the bugler, who would play when Royalty was in residence in Government House in what is now Royal Hillsborough. It has in the past few years, been expanded to around a dozen members.

[@aidant6469]

Good day Mark, would love a video on the Lord Strathcona's Horse here in Canada.

[@jaredquinney204]

My dad is Scottish. I really am grateful that you are talking about this

[@DavidHenderson-ix7fl]

Great info as usual. Thanks .

[@cdo29mike]

Excellent. Keeping a heritage like this alive.

[@Ggdivhjkjl]

Europe needs more private armies these days.

[@RajuDas-qu1li]

Their bodies speak volumes of tradition, authenticity and discipline! Long live those guys!

[@gregzeigler3850]

Thanks Mark! And I always thought bagpipe music is great!

[@numbers7n]

Many parts of the old world are better than the new. May they never be disbanded.

[@Idahoguy10157]

There is a town of Athol, Idaho, USA. Presumably related back to Scotland

[@geobloxmodels1186]

@06:03 Dr. Felton. The flag upper left corner includes a ribbon 'South West Africa 1914-1915'. Tell us more! Thank you for what you do. These yt videos are doing more good for people than you can possibly know.

[@FoXtroT_ZA]

South West Africa (Nambia) was a German colony before WW1. At the outbreak of war, South Africa invaded it (which must have included the Transvaal Scottish in their order of battle) as part of the African campaign to remove german forces from their colonies.

[@CampConstitution]

Back in 1979, The Queen's Scottish Black Watch unit was training at Fort Campbell, KY. I was impressed by their professionalism. After a hard day of training, some of the members went to a popular G.I. Bar. I made a toast thinking I was being diplomatic: "To the Queen." I got back "#*+#$ the Queen from all of them at the bar.

[@damionkeeling3103]

Probably the Queen's Own Highlanders which a decade earlier had been created from two traditional highland regiments The Seaforth Highlanders and the Cameron Highlanders. There may have been lingering discontent with the merger and the new name which promoted the monarch at the expense of highland culture.

[@NarasimhaDiyasena]

The Scottish don’t like the British monarchy. I worked with a Scottish woman and when the Queen died she said good riddance. The Scottish, Welsh, and Irish suffered greatly under British imperial rule, losing a lot of their culture, language, and identity. But I would say this had less to do with the British monarch and more to do with their owners, the Rothschilds and the City of London Corporation (Imperial Rome) which the British Empire was based out of. The crown is just as much a victim as everyone else are, they’re just made the proxy that takes all the hits. That said, the Welsh in particular are the poorest in the Kingdom and are looked down upon by the British upper class. It’s akin to a DC Elitist looking down upon the impoverished Appalachians of West Virginia.

[@liammeech3702]

​@@NarasimhaDiyasenaCornwall doesn't even have a devolved government

[@pevebe]

@@NarasimhaDiyasena The English have suffered the most of all 4

[@AlwaysAC]

@@NarasimhaDiyasena not really. People like/dislike the royals as much here as anywhere else, and most were fond of the queen.

[@jankusthegreat9233]

Wasn't there a clan that killed another clan in the highlands after inviting them in to stay the night?

[@TheWolfsnack]

You mean why the MacDonalds hate the Campbells?

[@jankusthegreat9233]

@TheWolfsnack yes

[@brudershaft4539]

Spit

[@epiccrusadr8583]

Macdonald of glencoe that was massacred by campbells, I myself am a descendant of the Macdonalds of Glencoe

[@davidgray3321]

Yes the Campbells did this to the McDonalds , I feel sorry for the Campbells, people of that name today are not responsible.

[@tombuilder1475]

thanks for real history and real voice!

[@bak-mariterry9143]

AI voiceover.... Disgusting. Mark keeps it real.

[@BillSikes.]

By God, i would never have known that these Scottish Clans can still raise their own personal Milita.. Thanks Doc, and happy new year 🎆🎉🤙

[@johnjacobs1625]

Pretty Darn neat!! Thanks Dr Mark!

[@danhubert-hx4ss]

Magnificent upholders of tradition, long may they flourish!

[@jamesellsworth9673]

A fine, quirky bit of British history!

[@Sammy1234568910]

The Marquess of Downshire as the hereditary constable of Hillsbourgh Fort in County Down appoints yeoman warders to guard the fort. A right that was granted to his ancestors by King Charles II in 1660. The warders consist of only a handful of men so probably a stretch to call them a private army, although I would say that the Athol Highlands have some companion when it comes to private military bodies.

[@montecorbit8280]

Seems like this was previously uploaded, I remember all of it....was there are problem with the first one? FYI: Yes, I did enjoy this one as well....

[@kenmccormick8059]

Dr Felton states in the video description that this is an expanded and updated version of an earlier video.

[@babycharliebrown]

Great video. I’ve been to Atholl castle many times and in fact met the duke. They have several relics from the Battle of Killiecrankie including the breastplate of Bonnie Dundee showing the bullet hole.

[@Fowlgun]

"Very pretty, Colonel,very pretty, but can they fight?" Pinkly.

[@Crusty_Camper]

Scottish soldiers posted in Ireland to control the restless Irish so a regular regiment could fight against the rebellious colonists. I bet that's confused a few Braveheart fans. Freedom!!!

[@skydiverclassc2031]

7:46 When the Army needs a police escort. 😀

[@freakazoid4691]

Armies on parade usually get police escorts. Military personnel don’t have any jurisdiction in peace time. I’m pretty sure even the huge military parades in Moscow have police escorts.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

I have to say the Atholl Highlanders have excellent taste in rifles! I was lucky enough to handle a Lee-Metford once and the quality was outstanding! A British friend and fellow firearms enthusiast called it a "Lee-Speed" and it was his pride and joy. I've never heard that term since. Maybe one of our British or Commonwealth friends can elaborate? The pipes and drums ain't bad either! Happy New Year Doctor Felton! We're looking forward to more of your work in 2025, count on it!

[@GD-gj7zo]

Lee-Speeds were "sporterised" Lee-Metford actions. I think the original ones were from BSA. Later on, they were made on Lee-Enfield actions too, and made or modified by others, including some of the "big" names in gunmaking, Holland & Holland, Westley Richards etc. I think the "Speed" part of the name was probably because the Lee action was considered to be one of the fastest bolt actions of the time, and also that a magazine fed bolt action was also quite a new thing, with the speed that you could fire multiple rounds before reloading compared to the double rifles or Martini-Henry single shot rifles that might be more common in the parts of Empire where they were made to be used. "Lee-Speed" wrongly became a sort of catch-all phrase to describe a style of "Africanised" customised/sporterised/modified Lee .303 actions, although the first ones were marketed as a specific rifle by a specific manufacturer. They would have a special shorter five round magazine instead of the military eight or ten round one, some had "Cape sights," and they were generally made to a finer fit and finish than the military rifle. Then of course, over the years, people might have them engraved and restocked, so the appearance changed again, and surplus military rifles could be converted to look like them, to the point that not many people knew what they originally were. I often saw them with the original magazine missing and replaced with a standard military one. These were from a time when us Brit's had a bit of a thing for "expanding our horizons".... Well, The British Museum wasn't going to fill itself, ahem... So, if you were going off to some far flung location, had a bit of money, maybe fancied a bit of hunting, might need to protect yourself from some uppity native armed with a sharpened pineapple, and didn't want to run the risk of running out of ammunition, (the local garrison troops would have plenty of .303), you could get yourself a "Lee-Speed." And then wander around the "Empire" bagging all sorts of exotic animals to hang on your walls, pretend you were Robert Redford in "Out of Africa," and maybe take over a country or two when the locals weren't paying attention.... (see uppity native above, those pineapples could be very sharp....)

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@GD-gj7zo Fantastic answer! Thanks so much, I enjoyed reading every sentence!

[@GD-gj7zo]

@@wayneantoniazzi2706 Thank you for your reply, that was very kind of you to say so.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@GD-gj7zo My pleasure! Let me add the rifle I handled was an unmodified Lee-Metford but as I said the owner called it a Lee-Speed anyway. Then again his expertise was really in flintlocks but that's another story.

[@GD-gj7zo]

@@wayneantoniazzi2706 I haven't picked one up for over twenty years now, but I'm sure the last one I did handle was on a Lee-Metford action and had either been made or modified by Holland & Holland. It still had its original shorter magazine, and had beautiful wood and some engraving, and I think fold down Cape sights regulated to 100, 200 and 300 yards, although I may be confusing the sights with something else I'm misremembering from my younger days. I've always liked the look of them, and this was a thing of beauty. From memory, in the film "The Ghost and the Darkness" based on the true story of the man eating lions of Tsavo, Val Kilmer's railway building army engineer character carries a Lee-Speed.

[@sailordude2094]

Those guys look retired, lol. If I lived around there I would join too! Looks cool. Thanks, Mark!

[@robertthomas3777]

‘Dad’s Army’. 🦘🇦🇺👍

[@brucekish7576]

Elements of the 77th were part of COL Henry Bouquet's hastily assembled task force, along with the 60th and the Black Watch, that defeated a tribal coalition at the Battle of Bushy Run on 5-6 August 1763. The victory saved Fort Pitt during Pontiac's Uprising.

[@scottroberts7875]

Fascinating, truly Fascinating Thank you Professor .Happy new year, Scott Somerset

[@blue387]

Personally I like it when Mark Felton covers things outside of WW2, thank you

[@elvenkind6072]

3:30 Queen Victoria was amazingly beautiful.

[@rahowherox1177]

Lol. Not so... old fashioned photoshop at play here.

[@MrSean03839]

If you were the commissioned painter of the Queen how would you paint her? 😅

[@Gravitatis]

your pfp resembles a bearded grandmother

[@seankeikbusch9404]

For a lizard

[@bioold8925]

Gary Player, the world famous South African golf champion's ancestors also came from Blair Atholl. Maybe you want to interview him? He loves to talk about that andnis very knowledgeable about the history of it too.

[@asylumlover]

KEEP THIS CONTENT COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!