Highlander Gallery

Gordon Highlander interrogated by German Officers

I won't - After a raid on the British lines in Northern France, a Gordon Highlander is being interrogated by German Officers.. Fortunino Matania, Ri (1881-1963). One of the most accomplished realistic illustrators and artists of his time, his wartime work was immensely popular and appeared in nearly every major news magazine, Allied, Neutral and Central Powers alike. Literally tens of millions of readers saw wartime events through the medium of Matania's weekly illustrations and, as such, he played an important role in defining people's mental image of what Great War battlefield scenes and soldiers looked like. Date: circa 1916

© David Cohen Fine Art/Mary Evans Picture Library

51st Highland Division Memorial, Schijndel, Holland

To British eyes this is probably the most beautiful traditional war memorial in Holland. It is a statue of a kilted Highlander looking down on a delightful young Dutch girl. The attitude and facial expression of the figures tells all there is to say about the Liberation: the happy trusting face of the girl, the dependable, strong yet gentle face of the soldier. It is reminiscent of the Highlander at the head of Y Ravine at Beaumont Hamel on the Somme. The legend on the Memorial describes how on the 23rd October 1944 the 51st Highland Division launched an offensive from this position that cleared a large area south of the River Maas between Schijndel and Gertruidenberg and took over 2, 800 prisoners. Date: 2000

© Holts Battlefield Collection / Mary Evans

Edward VIII as Colonel-in Chief of the Guards regiments

Edward VIII (1894 1972), shortly after his accession to the Throne, King Edward assumed the ranks of Admiral of the Fleet and Field-Marshal. He also established a precedent by assuming the rank of Marshal of the R.A.F. In February 1936, he assumed the Colonel-in Chief of a number of other regiments, including Life Guards, the royal Artillery and the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. After just one year Edward chose to abdicate the throne (January 1936 December 1936), in order to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American, he become known as Duke of Windsor.
May 1936

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans