Armed Forces: Churchill fought on Western Front and for his men

The Penicuik-based Royal Highland Fusiliers is a line infantry battalion with a long and distinguished history.

It was formed in 1959 as regiment, when The Royal Scots Fusiliers and the Highland Light Infantry were merged, but its roots can be traced back to 1678. The Royal Scots Fusiliers was established by the Earl of Mar that year to fight the Covenanters and also fought at Culloden against the Jacobites.

Among the most notable officers to serve with the Fusiliers was Winston Churchill, who commanded the 6th battalion in 1915. Churchill's reputation had been damaged, having been forced to leave his position as First Lord of the Admiralty after the disastrous battle of Gallipoli. However, he won the affection of the Scots troops, when he petitioned for dry socks for sentries on duty in the rain.

The future Prime Minister attempted to repair his reputation by exhibiting reckless daring on the Western Front. As a commander, he made 36 charges into no man's land.

The Highland Light Infantry has a much shorter history, having been formed in 1881, but fought in some of the major battles of the 20th century. Its battle honours include the invasion of Egypt in 1882, the Boer War, the Somme and Gallipoli in the First World War and the invasion of Europe in the Second World War.

Its most colourful officer is arguably David Niven, prior to his career as a spy and later film star. After graduating from Sandhurst, he famously stated he would take "anything but the Highland Light Infantry", being the only Highland regiment to wear trews, instead of a kilt. This changed in the 1940s.

In recent years the Fusiliers, also known as 2 SCOTS, based at Glencorse Barracks, has been involved in operations in the Gulf War. In April it returned from a six-month tour of Afghanistan.

The previous month the News went on patrol with the Fusiliers to report on the fight against insurgents and the training of the Afghan army.

The battalion traditionally recruits from Ayr and Greater Glasgow, but accepts recruits from all over Scotland and the Commonwealth.

• 2 SCOTS servicemen and women wear a white hackle behind the Royal Regiment of Scotland cap badge on their Tam o'Shanter, to distinguish themselves as Royal Highland Fusiliers.