Location of Royal Scots Units during the Great War

Location of Royal Scots Units during the Great War During the Great War over 100,000 officers and men served in the various battalions of the Royal Scots Regiment. Just over 11,000 were killed and over 40,000 were wounded. Regular Battalions 1st Battalion: Serving in India at outbreak of Great War; France and Flanders December 1914 serving in 81st Brigade, 27th Division; Salonika December 1915; Bulgaria September 1918; Salonika November 1918. 2nd Battalion: Willsworthy Camp at outbreak of war then Plymouth. France in August 1914 serving in 8th Brigade, 3rd Division until end of the Great War. Part of Army of Occupation of the Rhine 1919. 3rd Battalion: Reserve unit located at Weymouth at beginning of war; moved to Glencorse outside Edinburgh; served in the UK throughout the Great War. Territorial Battalions 1/4th Battalion (Queen s Edinburgh Rifles): HQ, 'A' to 'H' Coys, located at Forrest Hill, Edinburgh. Unit served from the beginning of war in the Lothian Brigade as part of Scottish Coastal Defences; Gallipoli June 1915 serving in 156th Brigade, 52nd (Lowland) Division; July 1915 joined with 1/7th Royal Scots to become a composite battalion having suffered major casualties; Egypt January 1916 becoming a single unit again; Palestine 1917; France and Flanders April 1918. 2/4th Battalion: Formed Edinburgh September 1914 initially under command of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Young, VD. Mostly involved in guard duties and training in Edinburgh. In February 1915 moved to Penicuik then Peebles. Command given to Lieutenant Colonel S Cuthbert, VD. In October 1915 served in Portobello, Edinburgh and Cambusbarron, Stirling and became part of 195th Brigade, 65th Division. This occurred because the unit had been strengthened with men from the 2/5th and 2/6th Royal Scots. The unit then served on coastal defence in Essex before moving to Fermoy, Ireland January 1917 and then being disbanded in July 1918. 3/4th Battalion: Formed at Peebles in May 1915 under command of Lieutenant Colonel J G Simpson, TD. When unit reached strength of 500 in November 1915 it moved to Galashiels and then Loanhead increasing in number again. In April 1916 the unit numbered 1,400 and trained at Stobs. A large proportion of the men were transferred to front line units and in July 1916 the 3/4th RS joined with third line units of 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Royal Scots to form the 4th (Reserve) Battalion. 4th (Reserve) Battalion: Formed at Stobs during July 1916 from units of the 3/4th, 3/5th, 3/6th, 3/7th and 3/8th Royal Scots under the command of Lieutenant Colonel D Ballantyne. The unit moved to Catterick during September 1916 and during July 1917 it amalgamated with 3/9th Royal Scots under the command of Lieutenant Colonel C P Doig. In November 1917 the unit served in Edinburgh, Haddington and Cupar and was made up of men who had recovered from being wounded at the

front. During the time of the armistice the unit was located at Cupar but was then moved to Glasgow in February 1919 during a time of strike riots in the city. It was disbanded at Maryhill during March 1919. 5th Battalion (Queen s Edinburgh Rifles): HQ, 'A' to 'H' Coys, located at Forrest Hill, Edinburgh. Unit served from the beginning of war in the Lothian Brigade as part of Scottish Coastal Defences; Gallipoli April 1915 serving in 88th Brigade, 29th Division; Mudros, October 1915 having sustained numerous casualties; Egypt, January 1916; France and Flanders, March 1916; June 1916 amalgamated with 1/6th Royal Scots to become 5th/6th Royal Scots serving with 14th Brigade, 32nd Division. 2/5th Battalion: Formed Edinburgh September 1914 under command of Lieutenant Colonel R Clark, VD and served in Edinburgh until May 1915. The unit was then posted to Peebles and split in two; a Home Service group which served on Fife coastal defences and a Foreign Service group which served in Larbert. Further recruits were not forthcoming and in November 1916 this unit was absorbed into the 2/4th Royal Scots serving in195th Brigade, 65th Division. 3/5th Battalion: Formed Peebles May 1915 under command of Lieutenant Colonel T Young. The unit moved to Galashiels in November 1915 and then served in Edinburgh, Hawick and Stobs. In July 1916 the unit joined with third line units of 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th Royal Scots to form 4th (Reserve) Battalion. 5th/6th Battalion: Formed June 1916 after amalgamation of 1/5th and 1/6th Royal Scots serving in France and Flanders with 14th Brigade, 32nd Division. Part of Army of Occupation of the Rhine 1919. 1/6th Battalion: HQ, 'A' to 'H' Coys, located at 33 Gilmore Place, Edinburgh. Unit served from the beginning of war in the Lothian Brigade as part of Scottish Coastal Defences; Egypt, September 1915 serving in the Senussi Campaign in North Africa as part of the Western Frontier Force; France and Flanders, May 1916; June 1916 amalgamated with 1/5th Royal Scots to become 5th/6th Royal Scots serving with 14th Brigade, 32nd Division. 2/6th Battalion: Formed Edinburgh March 1915 under command of Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Douglas Elliot, VD with HQ at London Street School. The unit defended Leith Docks and Inchkeith Island before being split in two during May 1915 with one half going to Methil and the other to Peebles and Selkirk. In November 1916 the unit merged with 2/4th Royal Scots. 3/6th Battalion: Formed at Peebles July 1915 under command of Lieutenant Colonel K Whitton, TD. In November 1915 the unit moved to Galashiels then shortly afterwards to Peebles. In May 1916 the unit moved to Stobs and in July 1916 it joined with third line units of 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th Royal Scots to form 4th (Reserve) Battalion. 1/7th Battalion: HQ, 'A' to 'G' Coys, located at Dalmeny Street, Leith. 'H' Coy located in Musselburgh. Unit served from the beginning of war in the Lothian Brigade as part of Scottish Coastal Defences; May 1915 posted to Gallipoli as part of 156th Brigade, 52nd (Lowland) Division); 'A' and 'D' Coys. involved in Gretna Rail Disaster 22 May 1915; 'B' and 'C' Coys continued to Gallipoli via Egypt; July 1915 joined with

1/4th Royal Scots to become a composite battalion; Egypt, January 1916 becoming a single unit again; Palestine, 1917; France and Flanders, April 1918. 2/7th Battalion: Formed at Haddington August 1914 under command of Lieutenant Colonel R G Wardlaw-Ramsay, VD and serving in Leith Docks until March 1915 at which time the unit moved to Peebles then, in May 1915, to Edinburgh when it joined the 2/1st Lothian Infantry Brigade on coastal defence duties under the command of Lieutenant Colonel C Muirhead. The unit was bolstered in numbers with men from the 8th Highland Light Infantry although many left not long afterwards to serve in Gallipoli. In October 1915 the unit moved to Innerleithen and Walkerburn and a month later the 194th Brigade, 65th Division serving in Essex from February 1916. The men were involved in breaking up a Zeppelin that had been brought down in Billericay on 24 September 1916. In January 1917 the unit was sent to Dublin and then to Galway in August of that same year before settling at the Curragh in September. During this time the men were mainly involved in guard duties and training but were also kept ready for any trouble that might arise during this difficult period in British and Irish relations. Many drafts were also sent to the front and this eventually led to the unit being disbanded in January 1918. Men who weren t transferred to the front were sent to join either with the 2/10th Royal Scots or the 4th (Reserve) Battalion. 3/7th Battalion: Formed at Peebles in June 1915 after the Gretna rail disaster. The unit was under the command of Major Hugh Rose and consisted mainly of men from the 1st line unit who had been released from hospital after the tragedy. The unit was bolstered with men from the 8th Highland Light Infantry and sent drafts to Gallipoli. The unit moved to Innerleithen during November 1915 and then to Stobs in May 1916 before being disbanded during August 1916 with men going to 3/8th and 3/9th Royal Scots. 1/8th Battalion: HQ located in Haddington; 'A' Coy, Haddington with drill stations at Aberlady, Gifford and Pencaitland; 'B' Coy, Tranent with drill stations at Ormiston, Elphiston and Macmerry; 'C' Coy, Prestonpans with a drill station at Cockenzie; 'D' Coy, North Berwick with drill stations at East Linton, Dunbar and Gullane; 'E' Coy, Dalkeith with drill stations at Bonnyrigg, Pathhead and Gorebridge; 'F' Coy, Loanhead with a drill station at Penicuik; 'G' Coy, Peebles; 'H' Coy, Innerleithen with a drill stations at Walkerburn. Unit served from the beginning of war in the Lothian Brigade as part of Scottish Coastal Defences; France and Flanders November 1914 serving with 22nd Brigade, 7th Division; August 1915 became a Pioneer Battalion attached to the 51st (Highland) Division. 2/8th Battalion: Formed at Haddington in September 1914 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel C M Cowan, TD, this unit was involved in coastal defence and training drafts for the front line. In May 1915 the unit moved to Peebles where it was split in two with some men moving to Kinghorn for coastal defence duties. The unit came under the command of Lieutenant Colonel R W Tweedie, TD. In November 1915 the unit moved to Falkirk and then in February 1916 it became part of 194th Brigade, 65th Division serving in Essex then Dublin in January 1917 before being disbanded during the summer of 1917.

3/8th Battalion: Formed at Peebles in December 1914 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel W G Hepburne-Scott, VD. During November and December 1915 the unit was located in Prestonpans before returning to Peebles in January 1916. In the summer of 1916 the unit moved to Stobs and in July 1916 it joined with third line units of 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Royal Scots to form 4th (Reserve) Battalion. 1/9th (Highlanders) Battalion (Dandy Ninth): HQ, 'A' to 'H' Coys, located at 89 East Claremont Street, Edinburgh. Unit served from the beginning of war in the Lothian Brigade as part of Scottish Coastal Defences; France and Flanders February 1915 serving in 81st Brigade, 27th Division; November 1915 transferred to 14th Brigade, 5th Division; March 1916 transferred to 154th Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division; February 1918 transferred to 183rd Brigade, 61st Division; June 1918 transferred to 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish Division). 2/9th (Home Service then Highlanders) Battalion: Formed Edinburgh September 1914 initially under the command of Captain A C Aitken then Lieutenant Colonel James Ferguson. Served in Kilmarnock during December 1914 and then in February 1915 the unit served as part of Lothian Infantry Brigade on Scottish coastal defence work at Leith Docks, Holyrood and the Scottish Command Office. In June 1915 command was given to Major T G Clark and then Major C T Gordon with the former officer taking half the force to join the 5th Scottish Provisional Battalion located at Dundee. The remainder of the 2/9th RS served in Peebles in October 1915. In November 1915 it became part of 195th Brigade, 65th Division serving in Essex then in Tralee and Limerick, Ireland, during the spring of 1917. The unit was posted to Moore Park, County Cork in early 1918 and was disbanded in July 1918. 3/9th (Highlanders) Battalion: Formed at Peebles in June 1915 under command of Lieutenant Colonel James Ferguson. In November 1915 the unit moved to Selkirk and then to Stobs in May 1916. In November 1916 the unit moved to Catterick serving there until July 1917 under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel C P Doig before being amalgamated with the 4th (Reserve) Battalion. 1/10th (Cyclist) Battalion: HQ located at Linlithgow; 'A' Coy, Linlithgow with a drill station at Philipstoun; 'B' Coy, Boness with a drill station at Carriden; 'C' Coy, Armadale with drill stations at Whitburn, Pumpherston and Blackridge; 'D' Coy, Bathgate; 'E' Coy, Uphall with drill stations at Broxburn and Livingston; 'F' Coy, Fauldhouse with a drill station at Harthill; 'G' Coy, West Calder with a drill station at Addiewell; 'H' Coy, Kirkliston with drill stations at Dalmeny, Winchburgh and Newbridge. Unit attached to Scottish Command and on coastal defence near East Linton and Berwick from beginning of war; Ireland, April 1918. 2/10th (Cyclist) Battalion: Formed Linlithgow September 1914 and on coastal defence near Berwick; Ireland, April 1918; England, July 1918, North Russia, August 1918 as part of Archangel Force until June 1919. New Army Battalions 11th (Service) Battalion: Formed Edinburgh August 1914; France and Flanders, May 1915 serving in 27th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. Part of Army of Occupation of the Rhine 1919.

12th (Service) Battalion: Formed Edinburgh, August 1914; France and Flanders, May 1915 serving in 27th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. Part of Army of Occupation of the Rhine 1919. 13th (Service) Battalion: Formed Edinburgh, September 1914; France and Flanders, July 1915 serving in 45th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. 14th (Service) Battalion: Formed at Weymouth in November 1914 under command of Lieutenant Colonel A H Battye. Because of war losses elsewhere men were transferred out of this unit and it became a Reserve Battalion based at Stobs in 1915. In October 1915 the unit moved to Catterick before returning to Scotland to serve in Kirkcaldy during the spring of 1916. In 1917 command was given to Lieutenant Colonel J A Briggs and the unit served in Cromer. Later that year further drafts weakened the unit and in October 1917 it was designated the 51st (Highland Light Infantry) Training Reserve Battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Carr, training young boys to be ready for front line service from the age of 19. In March 1918, during the German Spring Offensive, many of the young men were sent to the front before their training had been completed or indeed before they were 19. After the armistice was signed the unit was posted to Germany and was stationed at Solingen before being disbanded. 15th (Service) Battalion (Cranston s Manchester Scottish): Formed Edinburgh, September 1914; Troon, March 1915; France and Flanders, January 1916 serving in 101st Brigade, 34th Division; May 1918 having suffered severe losses unit attached to 39th Division; disbanded August 1918. 16th (Service) Battalion (McCrae s): Formed Edinburgh, December 1914; France and Flanders, January 1916 serving in 101st Brigade, 34th Division; May 1918, having suffered severe losses the unit attached to 39th Division; disbanded August 1918. 17th (Service) Battalion (Rosebery s): Formed Edinburgh, February 1915 as a Bantam Battalion; Glencorse, April 1915; Selkirk, May 1915; Masham, June 1915 serving with 106th Brigade; 35th Division; France and Flanders, February 1916. Most of this battalion s latter service was in the Ypres area although the unit was called to help quell riots in Calais during January 1919 before being disbanded around April 1919. 18th (Reserve) Battalion: Formed during June 1915 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Sir Robert Cranston. The unit was initially a reserve for the Edinburgh Royal Scots battalions; 15th, 16th and 17th. It served in Ripon during October 1915, Dundee from April 1916 and then Barry in 1917. Whilst stationed in this latter designation it became a general reserve battalion known as the 77th Training Reserve Battalion. 19th (Labour) Battalion: Formed at Blairgowrie during April 1917, this unit consisted of men either below the general service standard or those who were unfit having previously been wounded on front line service. The unit s first commander was Lieutenant Colonel J Donaldson, followed by Lieutenant Colonel J O Kemp and then finally Lieutenant Colonel T M Green. During May 1917 the unit moved to Abancourt in France with the men helping construct a large artillery dump. Thereafter

the men were placed in detachments working wherever they were required. In April 1918 the unit was transferred to Labour Corps and became the 1st and 2nd Labour Companies of the 10th Labour Group. Garrison Battalions 1st Garrison Battalion: Formed Edinburgh, August 1915; Stobs, September 1915; Mudros, November 1915; half the battalion remained at Mudros whilst the other half were sent to Cape Helles in November 1915; Egypt, February 1916; one company of the battalion served in Alexandria in Egypt whilst the other three companies served in Cyprus guarding Turkish prisoners; occasionally sections were sent to Salonika; disbanded May 1919. 2nd (Home Service) Garrison Battalion: Formed Leith, August 1916; served in UK throughout war and became the 1st Battalion Royal Defence Corps in August 1917.