Hugh Kirkland (St. Michael's Church Ipoh Cemetery)

Hugh Kirkland was born on 20 December 1884 and passed away on 4 August 1920. He was 36 years old. From the Forces War Records, Hugh Kirkland Service number is 2909308 and held the rank of a Serjeant. He was probably stationed in Malaya as instructor to train the Malaya States Volunteer Rifles. From his tomb, it confirms that Hugh Kirkland was a Sergeant with the Seaforth Highlanders and was an Instructor for the Malay States Volunteer Rifles. 

Hugh Kirkland of the Seaforth Highlanders

The Regiment was formed in 1881 when the 78th and the 72nd Regiments of Foot were merged to become The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany’s).   The newly formed Regiment went on to serve in various foreign campaigns including; the Anglo-Egyptian War (1882 ), Tel El Kebir (1882), the Chitral Expedition 1895, the Second Sudan War (1896 – 98) fighting at the Battle of Atbara and the Battle of Khartoum, The Second Boer War 1899 – 1902 fighting at The Battle of Paardeberg and two World Wars. 

In 1961 The Seaforth Highlanders and the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders merged to form the Queen's Own Highlanders.  In 1994 the Queens Own Highlanders was further merged with the Gordon Highlanders to form The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons).  In 2006 the Regiment once again amalgamated, with The Royal Scots Borderers, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, The Black Watch, and The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders to form the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Cuidich 'n Righ 

The Stag crest on the tomb is the crest of the Seaforth Highlanders and the word Cuidich 'n Righ means Aid the King. According to legend, the motto 'Cuidich 'n Righ' originated from a 13th-century hunting incident, when the chief of Clan Mackenzie rescued King Alexander III of Scotland from a wounded stag. The Seaforth Highlanders inherited the motto from its predecessor unit, the 72nd Regiment, which had been raised in 1778 by the Earl of Seaforth, a member of the clan.

Seaforth Highlanders - Cuidich 'n Righ

Hugh Kirkland as an Instructor for the Malay States Volunteer Rifles would be likely one of the British Army soldiers task to train the local natives. 

References

Hugh Kirkland. Serjeant. Service No. 2909308. (website). Every One Remembered 

Unit History: Seaforth Highlanders. (website). Forces War Records.

The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's). Regiments and Corps. (website).National Army Museum 
Cap badge, The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's), 1914(c). (website). National Army Museum. Online Collection. 

Seaforth Highlanders. (website). Wikipedia