Scots Brigade

The Scots Brigade, also referred to as the Anglo-Dutch Brigade or the Anglo-Scots Brigade, was an infantry brigade of the Dutch States Army. First formed in 1586, by the late 17th century it usually comprised six infantry regiments, three recruited primarily from Scotland and three from England. It was finally dissolved in 1782 following the outbreak of the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. Throughout the 16th and early part of the 17th centuries, units of foreign mercenaries were commonly used by all European powers. Domestic opposition to permanent armies as a result of the 1638–1651 Wars of the Three Kingdoms meant British monarchs used the brigade to create a pool of trained officers, who could be called on when needed. However, in the early 18th century, increasing demand meant permission to recruit in Britain was restricted on a number of occasions and finally banned after 1757. After the end of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714, the brigade was reduced to three regiments and primarily used to garrison the Barrier forts. In 1782, the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War led most of its British officers to leave the brigade and return to Britain. As the vast majority of its enlisted men were Dutch, the brigade was dissolved and its regiments renumbered as the 22nd, 23rd and 24th Infantry Regiments. Their traditions and battle honours were continued by the British Army's 94th Regiment of Foot until 1881, when the 94th was merged into the Connaught Rangers.