The Volunteer Force was raised in 1853.

In 1887, various Rifle Volunteer units were renamed as Volunteer Battalions, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. A further reorganisation in 1908, saw them retitled as Territorial Battalions (A and SH).

5th (Renfrewshire) Battalion
Five Volunteer Corps, two of them being Highland, formed into the 1st Administrative Battalion, Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers. In 1880, it became the 1st Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers with nine Companies and a Headquarters in Greenock. In 1887, it became the 1st (Renfrewshire) Volunteer Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The Battalion was reorganised in 1908.

6th (Renfrewshire) Battalion
Eight Corps of Volunteers formed the 2nd Administrative Battalion, Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers in 1860. In 1880 it became the 2nd Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers with eight Companies and a Headquarters in Paisley. In 1887 the 2nd Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers became the 2nd (Renfrewshire) Volunteer Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Seven of the County’s Volunteer Corps formed the 3rd Administrative Battalion, Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers in 1860. In 1880 it became the 3rd Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers of eight Companies and a Headquarters in Barrhead. In 1887, the 3rd Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers became the 3rd (Renfrewshire) Volunteer Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
In 1908, the two battalions became the 6th Battalion.

7th (Clackmannan and Kinross) Battalion 
In 1867, the 1st Clackmannanshire Rifle Volunteers were formed with seven Companies and a Headquarters in Alloa. In 1880, it became the 1st Clackmannanshire and Kinross Rifle Volunteers. In 1887, it became the 7th (Clackmannan and Kinross) Volunteer Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. In 1887 the 1st Stirlingshire Rifle Volunteers became the 4th (Stirlingshire) Volunteer Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. In 1908, the 4th and the 7th Volunteer Battalions became the 7th Battalion.

8th (Argyllshire) Battalion
In 1861, ten existing Volunteers Corps from the west of Scotland formed into the 1st Administrative Battalion, Argyllshire Rifle Volunteers, with a Headquarters in Oban.
In 1880, it became the 1st Argyllshire Highland Rifle Volunteers with eight Companies and Headquarters in Dunoon. In 1887, it was renamed the 5th Volunteer Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The Battalion was reorganised in 1908.

9th (Dunbartonshire) Battalion
In 1860, twelve Volunteer Corps in Dunbartonshire formed the 1st Administrative Battalion Dunbartonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps with a Headquarters in Balloch. In 1880, it became the 1st Dunbartonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps with twelve Companies and a Headquarters in Helensburgh. The Battalion was reorganised in 1908.

Service

Boer War
The Volunteer Battalions went on to provide many volunteers for service in the Boer War. The first of three reinforcing companies sent out to South Africa by the Volunteer Battalions arrived in April 1900, the second in July 1901 and the third in March 1902. The 5th (Renfrewshire) Battalion sent over 120 members, the 6th (Renfrewshire) Battalion sent 59 members, the 7th (Clackmannan and Kinross) Battalion sent 85 members, the 8th (Argyllshire) Battalion sent 61 men and the 9th (Dunbartonshire) Battalion sent over 100 men and a further 100 joined the regular army and Militia during this time.

Continued: Territorial Battalions, 1908 - Present Day