Iona Bruce
Simon Fraser and officers of the original contingent of Lovat Scouts
The first contingent of Lovat’s Scouts was raised by Simon Fraser, 16th lord Lovat and 22nd chief of the clan Fraser, on 26 January 1900. At the time, the scouts were said to be made up of ghillies, stalkers, shepherds and hillmen, experienced with both guns and telescopes. This impression of the scouts remains to this day, reflecting supposedly innate qualities of the Highlander – loyalty, stoicism and martial prowess, attributes purportedly forged amid an unspoiled, rugged landscape. This article investigates how valid this perceived legend is through focusing on the scouts’ first contingent, which saw action during the second Boer War (1899-1902).