Highland Light Infantry
Highland Light Infantry
HLI Pipe Major.
This picture was apparently taken in 1908, but his
regiment served in Jersey some years earlier
The Highland Light Infantry, universally known as HLI, were stationed in Jersey from 1900 to 1904
They were a popular garrison regiment and renowned for their prowess on the football field. However, they were perhaps best known for a time-wasting tactic which they employed when leading a match. The ball would be passed to one of the strongest kickers in the team who would kick it as far as possible out of the ground. There were no spare match balls and the game could not restart until someone in the crowd had recovered the ball. If this was an HLI supporter the game would be delayed even further. The regularity of these occurrences led to a joyful shout of 'HLI' from the crowd whenever the ball was booted out of the ground, and for many years after the same cry would be used if the ball left the field, either deliberately or inadvertently, in a match between sides unconnected with the regiment.
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HLI pipers and highland dancers -
Captain James, the winner of His Majesty's Cup at the Jersey races in 1903, owned by Capt J Graham of the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry
