THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY
The 71st Regiment of Foot was raised in 1758 and after name changes and two brief disbandments became the 73rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot between 1777-86. In 1786 it reverted to 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot until 1809 when, for one year, it was known as the 71st (Glasgow Light Infantry) Regiment. In 1810 it became the 71st (Highland) Light Infantry until the Cardwell army reforms of 1881 when the numbering system was abandoned and it became The Highland Light Infantry. In 1959 the HLI was amalgamated with the 1st battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers to become the Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment), the name by which it is known today.
Deployment between 1827 and 1864
1829: York (UK) 1829 Burma; 1829-1838 Canada; 1842-1853 Canada; 1842, 1847, 1854, 1865-1866 England; 1831, 1836-1838, 1847-1853, 1866 Ireland; 1834-1836, 1839-1842 (stationed at Stirling at the time of your ancestor's marriage) 1847, 1865 Scotland. 1854-1856 Crimea (Crimean War); 1853 Gibraltar; 1855-1858 Malta; 1855-1857 West Indies; 1857-1864 India (including service during the Indian Mutiny).
Although the 71st were a Highland regiment they did not wear the kilt. Their uniform consisted of scarlet tunic (buff facings 1st battalion) and scarlet tunic (green facings 2nd battalion) and shako instead of the usual feather bonnet of Scottish regiments. Both battalions wore tartan "trews" in the Mackenzie tartan.
An illustration of a Highland Light Infantry soldier wearing the "trews". This shows the khaki uniform of the 1890 period as worn in hot climates such as India or South Africa. > VIEW