Home > Army Organisation > Infantry > The King's Own Scottish Borderers
To trace the movements and actions of any battalion, click on the Divisions with which it served
Battalions of the regular army
1st Battalion:
August 1914 : in Lucknow, India.
Returned to England on 28 December 1914 and attached
to 87th Brigade, 29th Division. Sailed
from Avonmouth on 18 March 1915.
2nd Battalion:
August 1914 : in Dublin. Part of 13th Brigade, 5th Division. Landed at Le Havre 15 August 1914.
3rd (Reserve) Battalion:
August 1914 : in Dumfries. A training unit, it remained in UK throughout
the war. Moved on 9 August 1914 to Portland
and Weymouth. Moved to Edinburgh in April 1915 and to Ireland in December
1917, initailly going to Templemore. From May 1918 was at Claremorris.
Battalions of the Territorial Force
1/4th (Border) Battalion:
August 1914 : in Galashiels. Part
of South Scottish Brigade, Lowland Division. Moved to Cambusbarron (Stirling).
11 May 1915 : formation
became 155th Brigade, 52nd Division. Sailed
from Liverpool on 24 May 1915 for service at Gallipoli.
2/4th (Border) Battalion:
Formed at Galashiels in September 1914 as a home service ("second line") unit.
January 1915 : attached to 194th Brigade, 65th Division. Moved to Hawick in August 1915.
November 1915 : with 2/5th Bn, formed 14th Battalion.
January 1916 : absorbed in 2/5th Bn.
1/5th (Dumfries & Galloway) Battalion:
August 1914 : in Dumfries. Part
of South Scottish Brigade, Lowland Division. Moved to Bannockburn (Stirling).
11 May 1915 : formation
became 155th Brigade, 52nd Division. Sailed
from Liverpool on 21 May 1915 for service at Gallipoli.
28 June
1918 : transferred to 103rd Brigade, 34th Division.
2/5th (Dumfries & Galloway) Battalion:
Formed at Galashiels in September 1914 as a home service ("second line") unit.
January 1915 : attached to 194th Brigade, 65th Division. Moved to Rumbling Bridge in August 1915 and on to Falkirk in November 1915.
November 1915 : with 2/4th Bn, formed 14th Battalion.
January 1916 : absorbed the 2/4th Bn. Moved to Chelmsford in February 1916 and on to Ireland in January 1917, initially at Ballykinler. Moved to the Curragh in July 1917 and disbanded there on 15 May 1918.
3/4th and 3/5th Battalions:
Formed in January and March 1915,
in Galashiels and Dumfries respectively, as depot/training
units. Moved to Ripon in early 1916.
8 April 1916 : became 4th and
5th (Reserve) Bns.
1 September 1916 :4th absorbed 5th (Reserve) Bn at Catterick. Moved
to Dunfermline in October 1917 for duty with Forth Garrison.
Battalions of the New Armies
6th (Service) Battalion:
Formed at Berwick-on-Tweed in August
1914 as part of K1 and attached to 28th Brigade, 9th
(Scottish) Division. Moved to Bordon and in March 1915 went on to
Bramshott. Landed at Boulogne 12 May 1915.
6 May 1916 : transferred to 27th Brigade, 9th
(Scottish) Division.
7th (Service) Battalion:
Formed at Berwick-on-Tweed in September
1914 as part of K2 and attached to 46th Brigade, 15th
(Scottish) Division. Moved to Bordon and in February 1915 went into
billets at Winchester. Moved to Park House and Chisledon Camps (Salisbury
Plain) in April 1915. Landed at Boulogne 10 July 1917.
28 May 1916 : in Bethune, merged with 8th Bn to form 7/8th.
8th (Service) Battalion:
Formed at Berwick-on-Tweed in September
1914 as part of K2 and attached to 46th Brigade, 15th
(Scottish) Division. Moved to Bordon and in February 1915 went into
billets at Winchester. Moved to Park House and Chisledon Camps (Salisbury
Plain) in April 1915. Landed at Boulogne 10 July 1917.
28 May 1916 : in Bethune, merged with 7th Bn to form 7/8th.
9th (Reserve) Battalion:
Formed at Portland in November
1914 as a Service Battalion of K4 and attached to 102nd Brigade, original
34th Division.
Moved to Dorchester in February 1915 but went
on to Stobs in June and Catterick in October 1915..
10 April 1915 : became a Reserve
battalion and moved to Kinghorn.
1 September 1916 : converted into 53rd Battalion of 12th Reserve Brigade
of Training Reserve.
10th (Service) Battalion:
Formed at France on 11 June 1918 when the 9th Garrison Guard Bn was renamed the 10th (Garrison) Bn. Attached to 120th Brigade, 40th Division. By 13 July 1918 : renamed 10th (Service) Bn.
Other battalions raised by the regiment
14th Battalion:
The short-lived temporary name of the merged 2/4th and 2/5th Battalions, between November 1915 and January 1916 .
| Did you know? Despite being among the smaller regiments in terms of numbers of battalions raised, the King's Own Scottish Borderers suffered the loss of no fewer than 7,740 men killed in action or died of wounds. Men of the regiment also won 4 Victoria Crosses during the war. The regiment did not wear the kilt as part of its uniform. |
This page is dedicated to the memory of John Gardner, who enlisted in 1896 and saw service in the Boer War; James Sinclair, who served with 7th (Service) Battalion before going to the RE and the railways; John Brown of 6th (Service) Battalion, who died on 26 or 27 March 1918; and James Byers Morrison, serving with the 7/8th (Service) Battalion when he was reported killed at the age of 24 on 9 April 1917.