Graham of Montrose

First City claims establishment to the Grahamstown Volunteers who were in service before 1835. Officially, the First City was established in 1875 and mounted for service during the Boer War.

In 1903, an independent Highland company was formed but lost in 1913 with the amalgamation with the Queenstown Rifle Volunteers to form the First Eastern Rifles.

In 1915-1919, the regiment was drafted into the other units. First City was restored in 1924 and in 1943, amalgamated with the Cape Town Highlanders for overseas duty. The First City revered back to independent status in 1946.

The First City claims 17 Battle Honours for service in the tribal wars, Boer War 1899-1902, and in S.W. Africa during WW1. Barnes states: "The Scottish connection dates back to 1875, but, owing to questions of finance, it has not always worn highland dress. It was for this reason that the Highland Company was not formed until 1903 and after the 1914-18 War, ordinary uniform was worn until, in 1935, the whole regiment was re-equipped with Highland dress."