52nd Lowland Regiment - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The 52nd Lowland Regiment (52 LOWLAND) now forms the 6th Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland

The Royal Regiment of Scotland

The Royal Regiment of Scotland is the senior and only Scottish line infantry regiment of the British Army Infantry. It consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, each formerly an individual regiment...

, also known as 6 SCOTS. Due to its erstwhile association with the 1st Regiment of Foot, it is the senior

British Army Order of Precedence

The regular army of the British Army is listed according to an order of precedence for the purposes of parading. This is the order in which the various corps of the army parade, from right to left, with the unit at the extreme right being highest. Under ordinary circumstances, the Household Cavalry...

Territorial line infantry

British Army Infantry

The British Army's Infantry, part of the Structure of the British Army, comprises 51 battalions of Infantry, from 19 Regiments. Of these 37 battalions are part of the 'Regular' army and the remaining 14 a part of the 'Territorial' force...

battalion

Battalion

A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...

in the British Army

British Army

The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...

. It is one of two Territorial battalions in the Royal Regiment of Scotland, along with 51st Highland (7 SCOTS)

51st Highland Volunteers

The 51st Highland Volunteers was a regiment and is now a battalion in the British Army's Territorial Army or reserve force in the Scottish Highlands, forming the 7th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, also known as 7 SCOTS...

, a similar unit located in the Scottish Highlands

Scottish Highlands

The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...

.

Originally formed as the 52nd Lowland Volunteers in 1967, as a result of the amalgamation of Territorial Battalions within the infantry Regiments of the Lowland Brigade

Lowland Brigade (Scottish)

The Lowland Brigade is a historical unit of the British Army which has been formed a number of times. It is traditionally Scottish as the name derives from the Scottish Lowlands.-World War II:...

, the name commemorated the 52nd Lowland Division

British 52nd (Lowland) Division

The British 52nd Division was a Territorial Army division that was originally formed as part of the Territorial Force in 1908.- World War I :...

of the Territorial Force

Territorial Force

The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...

, within which many of the Regiment's antecedent Territorial Battalions served during the First

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

and Second

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

World Wars.

Formation and World War I

The current Battalion traces its lineage back to the reserve Rifle Volunteer units that were originally raised in the Scottish Lowlands

Scottish Lowlands

The Scottish Lowlands is a name given to the Southern half of Scotland.The area is called a' Ghalldachd in Scottish Gaelic, and the Lawlands ....

as part of the Victorian Volunteer Force

Volunteer Force (Great Britain)

The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated with the British Army after the Childers Reforms in 1881, before forming part of the...

by Lord Lieutenant

Lord Lieutenant

The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...

s in every county

Lieutenancy area

Lieutenancy areas are the separate areas of the United Kingdom appointed a Lord Lieutenant - the representative of the British monarch. In many cases they have similar demarcation and naming to, but are not necessarily conterminate with, the counties of the United Kingdom.-Origin:In England,...

. These included: the Queens City of Edinburgh Rifle Volunteers, the Midlothian Rifle Volunteers, the Haddingtonshire Rifle Volunteers, the Linlithgowshire Rifle Volunteers, the Ayrshire Rifle Volunteers, the Roxburghshire and Selkirk (The Border) Rifle Volunteers, the Berwickshire Rifle Volunteers, the Dumfriesshire Rifle Volunteers, the Galloway Rifle Volunteers, and the Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers.

The 1st Battalion of the Lanarkshire

Lanarkshire

Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...

Rifle Volunteers were raised in 1860, and counted Boys' Brigade

Boys' Brigade

For the 80s New Wave band from Canada, see Boys Brigade .The Boys' Brigade is an interdenominational Christian youth organisation, conceived by William Alexander Smith to combine drill and fun activities with Christian values...

founder William Alexander Smith

William Alexander Smith (Boys' Brigade)

Sir William Alexander Smith , the founder of the Boys' Brigade, was born in Pennyland House, Thurso, Scotland. He was the eldest son of Major David Smith and his wife Harriet...

amongst its ranks. The 3rd Battalion of the Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers, raised in 1859, was also notable for its football team, which became the famous Third Lanark, and the 105th (Glasgow Highlanders

Glasgow Highlanders

The Glasgow Highlanders was a former Territorial Army regiment in the British Army, it eventually became part of The Highland Light Infantry regiment in 1881, which later became The Royal Highland Fusiliers in 1959...

) Battalion of the Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers, which was raised in 1868, was one of several Volunteer Force units that first saw overseas service during the Second Boer War

Second Boer War

The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...

.

The various county battalions of Rifle Volunteers first became affiliated to a newly designated local regular Line Infantry Regiment with the Childers Reforms

Childers Reforms

The Childers Reforms restructured the infantry regiments of the British army. The reforms were undertaken by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers in 1881, and were a continuation of the earlier Cardwell reforms....

of 1881. The local Regular Line Infantry Regiments at the time were: The Royal Scots (Lothian

Lothian

Lothian forms a traditional region of Scotland, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills....

), The Royal Scots Fusiliers

Royal Scots Fusiliers

-The Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot :The regiment was raised in Scotland in 1678 by Stuart loyalist Charles Erskine, de jure 5th Earl of Mar for service against the rebel covenanting forces during the Second Whig Revolt . They were used to keep the peace and put down brigands, mercenaries, and...

(Ayrshire

Ayrshire

Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...

), The Highland Light Infantry

Highland Light Infantry

The Highland Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. In 1923 the regimental title was expanded to the Highland Light Infantry ...

(Glasgow

Glasgow

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

), The King's Own Scottish Borderers

King's Own Scottish Borderers

The King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division.-History:It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours...

(Borders

Scottish Borders

The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...

, Dumfries and Galloway

Dumfries and Galloway

Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It was one of the nine administrative 'regions' of mainland Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government etc. Act 1973...

) and The Cameronians (Lanarkshire

Lanarkshire

Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...

).

The current unit is however the direct descendent of the infantry battalions that made up the 52nd Lowland Division

British 52nd (Lowland) Division

The British 52nd Division was a Territorial Army division that was originally formed as part of the Territorial Force in 1908.- World War I :...

, of which Lowland Rifle Volunteer units, including the Glasgow Highlanders et al, became a part. This division was formed as part of the Haldane Reforms

Haldane Reforms

The Haldane Reforms were a series of far-ranging reforms of the British Army made from 1906 to 1912, and named after the Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane...

, which integrated the Volunteer Force

Volunteer Force (Great Britain)

, Militia

Militia (United Kingdom)

The Militia of the United Kingdom were the military reserve forces of the United Kingdom after the Union in 1801 of the former Kingdom of Great Britain and Kingdom of Ireland....

and the Yeomanry

Yeomanry

Yeomanry is a designation used by a number of units or sub-units of the British Territorial Army, descended from volunteer cavalry regiments. Today, Yeomanry units may serve in a variety of different military roles.-History:...

into the nascent Territorial Force

Territorial Force

The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...

, created by the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907

Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907

The Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed the auxiliary forces of the British Army by transferring existing Volunteer and Yeomanry units into a new Territorial Force ; and disbanding the Militia to form a new Special Reserve of the...

. At this time the various Volunteer Battalions were also reformed as fully integrated Territorial Battalions within their affiliated Lowland Infantry Regiments.

The Royal Scots (TF Battalions), circa 1908	The Royal Scots Fusiliers (TF Battalions), circa 1908	The Highland Light Infantry (TF Battalions), circa 1908	The King's Own Scottish Borderers (TF Battalions), circa 1908	The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (TF Battalions), circa 1908
4th (Queen's Edinburgh Rifles) Bn, The Royal Scots, at Forest Hill in Edinburgh	4th Bn, The Royal Scots Fusiliers, in Kilmarnock	5th (City of Glasgow) Bn, The Highland Light Infantry, at Garnethill in Glasgow	4th (Border) Bn, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, at Galashiels	5th Bn, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), at West Princes Street in Glasgow
5th (Queen's Edinburgh Rifles) Bn, The Royal Scots, at Forest Hill in Edinburgh	5th Bn, The Royal Scots Fusiliers, in Ayr	6th (City of Glasgow) Bn, The Highland Light Infantry, at Yorkhill Street in Glasgow	5th (Dumfries & Galloway) Bn, The King's Own Scottish Borderers at Dumfries	6th Bn, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), at Muirhall in Hamilton
6th Bn, The Royal Scots, at Gilmore Street in Edinburgh		7th (The Blythswood Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood FRS was a Scottish Conservative politician.... ) Bn, The Highland Light Infantry, at Bridgeton in Glasgow		7th Bn, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), at Victoria Road, Pollokshaws in Glasgow
7th Bn, The Royal Scots, at Dalmeny Street in Leith		8th (Lanark) Bn, The Highland Light Infantry, at Lanark (Disbanded 1914)		8th Bn, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), at Cathedral Street in Glasgow
8th Bn, The Royal Scots, in Haddington		9th (Glasgow Highland Glasgow Highlanders The Glasgow Highlanders was a former Territorial Army regiment in the British Army, it eventually became part of The Highland Light Infantry regiment in 1881, which later became The Royal Highland Fusiliers in 1959... ) Bn, The Highland Light Infantry, at Greendyke Street in Glasgow
9th (Highlanders) Bn, The Royal Scots, at East Claremont Street in Edinburgh
10th (Cyclist Bicycle infantry Bicycle infantry are infantry soldiers who maneuver on battlefields using bicycles. The term dates from the late 19th century, when the "safety bicycle" became popular in Europe, the United States and Australia. Historically, bicycles lessened the need for horses, fuel and vehicle maintenance... ) Bn, The Royal Scots, in Linlithgow

Although the 7th Battalion, the Royal Scots was severely depleted by the Quintinshill rail disaster, they and the other Territorial Battalions of the 52nd Lowland Division fought in the First World War at Gallipoli

Battle of Gallipoli

The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli, took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War...

, in Egypt

Egypt

Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...

and Palestine

Palestine

Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....

as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force

Egyptian Expeditionary Force

The Egyptian Expeditionary Force was formed in March 1916 to command the British and British Empire military forces in Egypt during World War I. Originally known as the 'Force in Egypt' it had been commanded by General Maxwell who was recalled to England...

, and on the Western Front

Western Front (World War I)

Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...

in France, where it fought in the 2nd Battle of the Somme

Second Battle of the Somme (1918)

During the First World War, the Second Battle of the Somme of 1918 was fought on the Western Front from the end of the summer, in the basin of the Somme River...

, the 2nd Battle of Arras and at the Battle of the Hindenburg Line

Battle of the Hindenburg Line

The Battle of St Quentin Canal was a pivotal battle of World War I that began on 29 September 1918 and involved British, Australian and American forces in the spearhead attack and as a single combined force against the German Siegfried Stellung of the Hindenburg Line...

during the Hundred Days Offensive

Hundred Days Offensive

The Hundred Days Offensive was the final period of the First World War, during which the Allies launched a series of offensives against the Central Powers on the Western Front from 8 August to 11 November 1918, beginning with the Battle of Amiens. The offensive forced the German armies to retreat...

. Notable 52nd Lowlanders who served during this period included footballer William Reid, motorcyle racer Jimmie Guthrie

Jimmie Guthrie

Andrew James "Jimmie" Guthrie was a Scottish motorcycle racer famous for 19 motorcycle Grand Prix wins and 3 victories in the North West 200 and 6 wins at the Isle of Man TT Races in his career.-Biography:...

, Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...

, who briefly commanded the 6th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers

Royal Scots Fusiliers

in the "New Army

Kitchener's Army

The New Army, often referred to as Kitchener's Army or, disparagingly, Kitchener's Mob, was an all-volunteer army formed in the United Kingdom following the outbreak of hostilities in the First World War...

" and John Reith

John Reith, 1st Baron Reith

John Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith, KT, GCVO, GBE, CB, TD, PC was a Scottish broadcasting executive who established the tradition of independent public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom...

, who was a subaltern with the 5th Battalion of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Victoria Cross

Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....

recipients John Brown Hamilton

John Brown Hamilton

John Brown Hamilton VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....

and David Ross Lauder

David Ross Lauder

David Ross Lauder VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...

served with the Glasgow Highlanders and the 4th RSF respectively. James Youll Turnbull

James Youll Turnbull

James Youll Turnbull VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....

served with the 17th (Chambers of Commerce) Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry, one of three HLI "Pals battalion

Pals battalion

The Pals battalions of World War I were specially constituted units of the British Army comprising men who had enlisted together in local recruiting drives, with the promise that they would be able to serve alongside their friends, neighbours and work colleagues , rather than being arbitrarily...

s" formed during the war. VC recipient and Celtic

Celtic F.C. and World War I

Many Celtic F.C. players fought in World War I. Seven former Celtic players died.- Background :In the early 20th Century Celtic F.C. was already a successful club having won 10 Scottish League Championships and 8 Scottish Cups in their 26 year history...

player William Angus

William Angus

William Angus VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....

, also served with the antecedent 8th Royal Scots, as part of the 7th Division.

Interwar period and World War II

After the Armistice

Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)

The armistice between the Allies and Germany was an agreement that ended the fighting in the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not technically a surrender...

, the Territorial Force and its formations were disbanded. It was re-established, by the Territorial Army and Militia Act 1921, as the Territorial Army however, and the original Lowland Territorial Battalions were reconstituted, although there were several amalgamations.

The Royal Scots (TA Battalions), circa 1921	The Royal Scots Fusiliers (TA Battalions), circa 1921	The Highland Light Infantry (TA Battalions), circa 1921	The King's Own Scottish Borderers (TA Battalions), circa 1921	The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (TA Battalions), circa 1921
4th/5th (Queen's Edinburgh Rifles) Bn, The Royal Scots, at Forest Hill in Edinburgh	4th/5th Bn, The Royal Scots Fusiliers, in Kilmarnock and Ayr	5th (City of Glasgow) Bn, The Highland Light Infantry, at Garnethill in Glasgow	4th (Border) Bn, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, at Galashiels	5th/8th Bn, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), at West Princes Street and Cathedral Street in Glasgow
6th Bn, The Royal Scots, at Gilmore Street in Edinburgh (Transferred to Royal Garrison Artillery Royal Garrison Artillery The Royal Garrison Artillery was an arm of the Royal Artillery that was originally tasked with manning the guns of the British Empire's forts and fortresses, including coastal artillery batteries, the heavy gun batteries attached to each infantry division, and the guns of the siege... )		6th (City of Glasgow) Bn, The Highland Light Infantry, at Yorkhill Street in Glasgow	5th (Dumfries & Galloway) Bn, The King's Own Scottish Borderers at Dumfries	6th Bn, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), at Muirhall in Hamilton
7th/9th (Highlanders) Bn, The Royal Scots, at Dalmeny Street in Leith and East Claremont Street in Edinburgh		7th (The Blythswood Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood FRS was a Scottish Conservative politician.... ) Bn, The Highland Light Infantry, at Bridgeton in Glasgow (Transferred to Royal Artillery Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:... in 1938)		7th Bn, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), at Victoria Road, Pollokshaws in Glasgow
8th Bn, The Royal Scots, in Haddington (Transferred to Royal Garrison Artillery)		9th (Glasgow Highland Glasgow Highlanders The Glasgow Highlanders was a former Territorial Army regiment in the British Army, it eventually became part of The Highland Light Infantry regiment in 1881, which later became The Royal Highland Fusiliers in 1959... ) Bn, The Highland Light Infantry, at Greendyke Street in Glasgow

In 1939 the 52nd Lowland Division was instructed to form a duplicate division as a second-line, as part of rearmament efforts. The duplicate division of the 52nd Lowland Division was entitled the 15th (Scottish) Division and consisted of newly raised Lowland TA Infantry Battalions. Both Divisions were mobilised on the outbreak of the Second World War.

The 52nd Lowland Division became the only completely Territorial Division to fight in the Second World War. The Division was initially part of the ill-fated Second British Expeditionary Force

British Expeditionary Force (World War II)

The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....

(BEF) landed in France in June 1940 under Field Marshal

Field Marshal

Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...

Alan Brooke

Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke

Field Marshal The Rt. Hon. Alan Francis Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, KG, GCB, OM, GCVO, DSO & Bar , was a senior commander in the British Army. He was the Chief of the Imperial General Staff during the Second World War, and was promoted to Field Marshal in 1944...

, later being evacuated from the continent during Operation Ariel

Operation Ariel

Operation Ariel was the name given to the World War II evacuation of Allied forces from ports in western France, from 15–25 June 1940, due to the military collapse in the Battle of France against Nazi Germany...

. Members of the 52nd at the time included the future Brigadier

Brigadier

Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....

, Alastair Pearson

Alastair Pearson

Brigadier Alastair Stevenson Pearson CB, DSO & Three Bars, OBE, MC, TD was a baker, farmer and one of the most highly-regarded soldiers of the British Army who served in World War II. During his distinguished military career he was known as Jock Pearson to the men of his command.-Early...

.

It subsequently trained as a mountain warfare

Mountain warfare

Mountain warfare refers to warfare in the mountains or similarly rough terrain. This type of warfare is also called Alpine warfare, named after the Alps mountains...

division in the Scottish Highlands under General Sir Neil Ritchie

Neil Ritchie

General Sir Neil Methuen Ritchie GBE, KCB, DSO, MC, KStJ was a senior British army officer during the Second World War.-Military career:...

. As the Invasion of Normandy approached, the 52nd (Lowland) Division were involved in an elaborate deception plan, Operation Fortitude

Operation Fortitude

Operation Fortitude was the codename for a World War II military deception employed by the Allied nations as part of an overall deception strategy during the build up to the 1944 Normandy Landings...

, designed to deceive the Germans into believing that there would not be one invasion area but several, and that the 52nd would have formed the nexus of a strong force that was to be landed in Norway. As a mountain warfare formation, it had little heavy equipment and transport, and therefore was optimal for conversion to operations as an Airborne force

Airborne forces

Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...

, being assigned to the First Allied Airborne Army

First Allied Airborne Army

The First Allied Airborne Army was an Allied formation formed on 2 August 1944 by the order of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force. The formation was part of the Allied Expeditionary Force and controlled all Allied airborne forces in Western...

. It was in this role that the division was anticipated to take part in Operation Market Garden

Operation Market Garden

Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....

. Instead the division was reassigned to the First Canadian Army

First Canadian Army

The First Canadian Army was the senior Canadian operational formation in Europe during the Second World War.The Army was formed in early 1942, replacing the existing unnumbered Canadian Corps, as the growing number of Canadian forces in the United Kingdom necessitated an expansion to two corps...

, eventually landing at Ostend

Ostend

Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....

in October 1944, as part of the wider Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine.

They were ordered to capture the vital Port of Antwerp

Port of Antwerp

The port of Antwerp, in Belgium, is a port in the heart of Europe accessible to capesize ships. Antwerp stands at the upper end of the tidal estuary of the Scheldt. The estuary is navigable by ships of more than 100,000 Gross Tons as far as 80 km inland. The inland location means that the port...

and as a result were involved in the Battle of the Scheldt

Battle of the Scheldt

The Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations of the Canadian 1st Army, led by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds. The battle took place in northern Belgium and southwestern Netherlands during World War II from 2 October-8 November 1944...

in Belgium and the Netherlands, which included Operation Vitality, Operation Infatuate

Operation Infatuate

Operation Infatuate was the codename given to Anglo-Canadian operation during the Second World War to open the port of Antwerp to shipping and relieve logistical constraints. The operation was part of the wider battle of the Scheldt and involved two assault landings from the sea by the 4th Special...

and the ultimate capture of Walcheren Island, in order to open the mouth of the Scheldt

Scheldt

The Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...

estuary to Allied shipping.

In January 1945 they participated in the Battle for the Roer Triangle

Operation Blackcock

Operation Blackcock was the code name for the clearing of the Roer Triangle formed by the towns of Roermond, Sittard and Heinsberg. It was conducted by the 2nd British Army in January 1945 between 14 and 26 January 1945. The objective was to drive the German 15th Army back across the Rivers Rur and...

, which involved the clearance of the area between the rivers Meuse

Meuse

Meuse is a department in northeast France, named after the River Meuse.-History:Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...

and Roer. It was during this operation that Dennis Donnini

Dennis Donnini

Dennis Donnini VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early life:...

of the 4/5th Battalion, The Royal Scots Fusiliers, was awarded the Victoria Cross, becoming the youngest winner of the VC during World War II. The division crossed the River Rhine at Xanten

Xanten

Xanten is a historic town in the North Rhine-Westphalia state of Germany, located in the district of Wesel.Xanten is known for the Archaeological Park or archaeological open air museum , its medieval picturesque city centre with Xanten Cathedral and many museums, its large man-made lake for...

on 24 March 1945, eventually advancing as far as Bremen

Bremen

The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...

, where it fought its last battle of the war.

Post-war restructuring and Cold War

In August 1946 the 52nd (Lowland) Division was disbanded at Oldenburg

Oldenburg

Oldenburg is an independent city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the western part of the state between the cities of Bremen and Groningen, Netherlands, at the Hunte river. It has a population of 160,279 which makes it the fourth biggest city in Lower Saxony after Hanover, Braunschweig...

. Shortly afterwards however the formation was revived as part of the 51st/52nd (Scottish) Division, created via an amalgamation with the 51st (Highland) Division

British 51st (Highland) Infantry Division (World War II)

For the First World War unit, see 51st Division .The 51st Infantry Division was a British Territorial Army division that fought during the Second World War...

. They once again became a Territorial Division upon demobilisation in 1948.

The Royal Scots (TA Battalions), circa 1947	The Royal Scots Fusiliers (TA Battalions), circa 1947	The Highland Light Infantry (TA Battalions), circa 1947	The King's Own Scottish Borderers (TA Battalions), circa 1947	The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (TA Battalions), circa 1947
7th/9th (Highlanders) Bn, The Royal Scots, at Dalmeny Street in Leith and East Claremont Street in Edinburgh	4th/5th Bn, The Royal Scots Fusiliers, in Kilmarnock, Ayr and Cumnock	5th/6th (City of Glasgow) Bn, The Highland Light Infantry, at Garnethill in Glasgow	4th (Border) Bn, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, at Galashiels, Melrose, Hawick, Selkirk and Duns	6th Bn, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), at Hamilton, Motherwell, Bothwell and Wishaw
8th (Lothians and Peeblesshire) Bn, The Royal Scots, in Haddington, Midlothian and Peebles		9th (Glasgow Highland Glasgow Highlanders The Glasgow Highlanders was a former Territorial Army regiment in the British Army, it eventually became part of The Highland Light Infantry regiment in 1881, which later became The Royal Highland Fusiliers in 1959... ) Bn, The Highland Light Infantry, at Maryhill in Glasgow	5th (Dumfries & Galloway) Bn, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, at Dumfries, Stranraer, Castle Douglas and Sanqhar	7th Bn, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), at Victoria Road, Pollokshaws in Glasgow

In 1950, the 51st/52nd (Scottish) Division was split, restoring the independence of the 52nd Lowland Division, which took regional command of Territorial Army units based in the Scottish Lowlands, including the TA infantry battalions of the Lowland Brigade

Lowland Brigade (Scottish)

The Lowland Brigade is a historical unit of the British Army which has been formed a number of times. It is traditionally Scottish as the name derives from the Scottish Lowlands.-World War II:...

regiments.

British forces contracted dramatically as the end of National Service

Conscription in the United Kingdom

Conscription in the United Kingdom has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1919, the second was from 1939 to 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963...

took place in 1960, as announced in the 1957 Defence White Paper

1957 Defence White Paper

The 1957 White Paper on Defence was a British white paper setting forth the perceived future of the British military. It had profound effects on all aspects of the defence industry but probably the most affected was the British aircraft industry...

. As a result, on 20 July 1960, a reorganisation of the TA was announced by the War Office

War Office

The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...

. The Territorials were to be reduced from 266 fighting units to 195, which included 18 battalions of infantry. The reductions were carried out in 1961, mainly by amalgamation of units, which included several Territorial Battalions in Lowland Brigade Regiments.

The Royal Scots (TA Battalions), circa 1961	The Royal Highland Fusiliers (TA Battalions), circa 1961	The King's Own Scottish Borderers (TA Battalions), circa 1961	The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (TA Battalions), circa 1961
8th/9th Bn, The Royal Scots, at Dalmeny Street in Leith, East Claremont Street in Edinburgh, Tranent, Haddington, Broxburn, Bathgate, Penicuik, Dalkeith and Peebles	4th/5th Bn, The Royal Scots Fusiliers, in Kilmarnock, Ayr and Cumnock	4th/5th Bn, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, at Galashiels	6th/7th Bn, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), at Hamilton, Motherwell, Bothwell and Wishaw and Victoria Road, Pollokshaws in Glasgow
	5th/6th (City of Glasgow) Bn, The Highland Light Infantry, at Garnethill in Glasgow
	1st Glasgow Highlanders Glasgow Highlanders The Glasgow Highlanders was a former Territorial Army regiment in the British Army, it eventually became part of The Highland Light Infantry regiment in 1881, which later became The Royal Highland Fusiliers in 1959... Bn, The Highland Light Infantry, at Maryhill in Glasgow

This was followed by complete reorganisation as announced in the 1966 Defence White Paper

1966 Defence White Paper

The 1966 Defence White Paper was a major review of the United Kingdom's defence policy brought about by the Labour Party government under the Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The main author was the then Secretary of State for Defence, Denis Healey...

. A comprehensive reorganisation of the reserve forces took place, with the Territorial Army being disbanded and the Territorial & Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR) was formed on 1 April 1967. Instead of forming large reserve formations, the role of the new TAVR was to provide smaller sub-unit-sized reinforcements for the Regular Army via a multi-tier system established to meet the NATO reserve (TAVR II) and Home Defence (TAVR III) requirements.

The Territorial Battalions within the four regiments of the Lowland Brigade

Lowland Brigade (Scottish)

The Lowland Brigade is a historical unit of the British Army which has been formed a number of times. It is traditionally Scottish as the name derives from the Scottish Lowlands.-World War II:...

were significantly reduced from full Battalions to Company

Company (military unit)

A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...

strength cadres, with three new reserve Battalions raised to incorporate them. These three units were; The 52nd Lowland Volunteers, which was a TAVR II unit with a NATO reserve role, and both the 3rd (Territorial) Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers and The Royal Scots and Cameronians Territorials, which were TAVR III units with responsibility for Home Defence.

The 52nd Lowland Division was also reduced to a brigade sized formation and the three new Lowland Territorial Battalions came under the command of what would become 52nd Lowland Brigade

British 52nd Infantry Brigade

The 52nd Infantry Brigade is a Scottish formation in the British Army. It was formed and disbanded several times during the 20th Century.- History :...

, within Scotland District (which was later absorbed into the 2nd Division

British 2nd Infantry Division

The 2nd Division is a regular division of the British army, with a long history. It dates its existence as a permanently embodied formation from 1809, when it was established by Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Wellesley , as part of the Anglo-Portuguese Army, for service in the Peninsular War...

in 1998).

52nd Lowland Volunteers (TAVR II), circa 1967

HQ (Glasgow Highlanders) Company at Maryhill in Glasgow
A (Royal Scots) Company at Edinburgh and Bathgate
B (Royal Scots Fusiliers) Company at Ayr
C (The Kings Own Scottish Borderers) Company at Dumfries and Galashiels
D (Cameronians) Company at Hamilton
E (Highland Light Infantry) Company at Maryhill in Glasgow

3rd (Territorial) Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers (TAVR III), circa 1967

HQ (Royal Scots Fusiliers) Company at Ayr
A (Royal Scots Fusiliers) Company at Ayr
B (Highland Light Infantry) Company at Victoria Road, Pollokshaws in Glasgow
C (Glasgow Highlanders) Company at Maryhill, Glasgow

The Royal Scots and Cameronians Territorials (TAVR III), circa 1967

HQ (Royal Scots) Company at Edinburgh
A (Royal Scots) Company at Bathgate
B (Cameronians) Company at Hamilton

The TAVR III units were effectively disbanded in 1969, with the two Battalions being reduced to Section

Section (military unit)

A section is a small military unit in some armies. In many armies, it is a squad of seven to twelve soldiers. However in France and armies based on the French model, it is the sub-division of a company .-Australian Army:...

-sized "cadres". The cadres became part of the 52nd Lowland Volunteers, although continuing to wear the badges and perpetuating the traditions of their forebears. An increase in the size of the TAVR in 1971 however lead to an expansion in the size of the Royal Scots and Cameronians Territorials and the 3rd (Territorial) Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers cadres, which were amalgamated and became the separate 2nd Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers (2/52 LOWLAND) in 1971.

1st Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers (1/52 LOWLAND), circa 1971

HQ (Glasgow Highlanders) Company at Maryhill, Glasgow
A (Royal Scots) Company at Edinburgh and Bathgate (Transferred to 2/52 Lowland in 1982)
B (Royal Scots Fusiliers) Company at Ayr
C (The Kings Own Scottish Borderers) Company at Dumfries
D (Cameronians) Company at Hamilton
E (Highland Light Infantry) Company at Maryhill, Glasgow

2nd Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers (2/52 LOWLAND), circa 1971

HQ (Royal Scots) Company at Edinburgh
No.1 (Royal Scots) Company at Penicuik
No.2 (Royal Highland Fusiliers) Company at Auldhouse Road, Pollokshaws (Assaye House at Shawfield, Rutherglen from 1982, becoming A Coy in 1/52 Lowland).
No.3 (Kings Own Scottish Borderers) at Galashiels
No.4 (Cameronians) Company at Motherwell

In 1982, the TAVR reverted to the old title of the Territorial Army, with the Order of Battle being subject to minor reorganisation, with the 1st Battalion transferring A (Royal Scots) Company to the 2nd Battalion and the 2nd Battalion transferring its No.2 (Royal Highland Fusiliers) Company to the 1st Battalion. Throughout the remainder of the Cold War

Cold War

The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...

, the 1st Battalion of 52nd Lowland Volunteers, now based entirely in Glasgow and the West of Scotland

Strathclyde

right|thumb|the former Strathclyde regionStrathclyde was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created by the Local Government Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government etc Act 1994...

, and the 2nd Battalion, based primarily in Edinburgh, the Lothian

Lothian

Lothian forms a traditional region of Scotland, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills....

s and Borders

Scottish Borders

, trained for the NATO reinforcement role, with 1/52 LOWLAND's MILAN

MILAN

MILAN " is French and German for "kite bird") is a European anti-tank guided missile. Design of the MILAN started in 1962. It was ready for trials in 1971, and was accepted for service in 1972. It is a wire guided SACLOS missile, which means the sight of the launch unit has to be aimed at the...

platoon tasked with direct support to the British Army of the Rhine

British Army of the Rhine

There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...

. In 1984 however, the 1st Battalion also raised two Home Service Force

Home Service Force

The Home Service Force was a Home Guard type force established in the United Kingdom in 1982. It was linked to the Territorial Army and recruited from volunteers aged 18–60 with previous British forces experience...

Companies and the 2nd Battalion raised a further one, which trained exclusively for the home defence role, they were eventually disbanded in 1992 as part of Options for Change

Options for Change

Options for Change was a restructuring of the British Armed Forces in 1990, aimed at cutting defence spending following the end of the Cold War....

. The 1st Battalion also had its D (Cameronians) Company disbanded and the 2nd Battalion had its No.1 (Royal Scots) Company disbanded.

Post-Cold War era

Following the Front Line First

Front Line First

Front Line First: The Defence Cost Study was a programme of defence cuts announced on 14 July 1994 by then Defence Secretary Malcolm Rifkind. Front Line First was announced four years after Options for Change, which was a military draw-down as a result of the end of the Cold War, often described as...

reforms of the British Army in 1994, the 1st Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers was incorporated into the Royal Highland Fusiliers and as a result, was retitled the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers (3 RHF) in 1995. The 2nd Battalion of 52nd Lowland Volunteers, remained a standalone multi cap-badged Battalion, and was simply known as The Lowland Volunteers (LOWLAND).

3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers (3 RHF), circa 1995

HQ Company at Maryhill, Glasgow
A Company at Rutherglen
B Company at Ayr
C Company at Maryhill, Glasgow

The Lowland Volunteers (LOWLAND), circa 1995

HQ (Royal Scots) Company at Edinburgh
B (Kings Own Scottish Borderers) Company at Galashiels
C (Kings Own Scottish Borderers) Company at Dumfries
D (Cameronians/Royal Scots) Company at Motherwell and Bathgate

In 1999, as a result of the Strategic Defence Review

Strategic Defence Review

The Strategic Defence Review was a British policy document produced by the Labour Government that came to power in 1997. Then Secretary of State for Defence, George Robertson, set out the initial defence policy of the new government, with a series of key decisions designed to enhance the United...

of Britain's armed forces, the two Battalions were re-amalgamated to take the name and single battalion form of The 52nd Lowland Regiment (52 LOWLAND). This saw an overall reduction in strength from eight companies in two battalions to five companies in one battalion, although the unit continued to maintain both stands of Colours

Colours, standards and guidons

In military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards or Guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago...

of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 52nd Lowland Volunteers until July 2011. In 2002, the 52nd Lowland Regiment was transferred from the operational command of the 52nd Lowland Brigade

British 52nd Infantry Brigade

The 52nd Infantry Brigade is a Scottish formation in the British Army. It was formed and disbanded several times during the 20th Century.- History :...

to 51st (Scottish) Brigade

British 51st Infantry Brigade

The British 51st Infantry Brigade is currently known as 51 Brigade, part of the 2nd Division. It is currently the regional administrative formation responsible for all the units of the Territorial Army based in Scotland. It is the largest Regional Brigade in the United Kingdom in terms of...

, which took command of all Scottish TA units.

52nd Lowland Regiment (52 LOWLAND), circa 1999

HQ (Royal Highland Fusiliers) Company at Maryhill, Glasgow
A (Royal Scots) Company at Edinburgh and Bathgate
B (Royal Highland Fusiliers) Company at Ayr
C (Royal Highland Fusiliers) Company at Maryhill, Glasgow and Motherwell
D (Kings Own Scottish Borderers) Company at Galashiels and Dumfries (Mortar Platoon at Dumfries transferred to B Coy in 2001, retaining KOSB affiliation)

As part of the Delivering Security in a Changing World Review

Delivering Security in a Changing World

The 2003 Defence White Paper, titled Delivering Security in a Changing World, set out the future structure of the British military, and was preceded by the 1998 Strategic Defence Review and the 2002 SDR New Chapter, which responded to the immediate challenges to security in the aftermath of the...

of the Armed Forces, the 52nd Lowland Regiment was amalgamated with the other Regiments of the Scottish Division

Scottish Division

The Scottish Division is a British Army Infantry command, training and administrative apparatus designated for all Scottish line infantry units. The Scottish Division was formed on July 1, 1968 with the amalgamation of the Lowland Brigade and Highland Brigade...

to become 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, which was formed on 28 March 2006. There was also further consolidation of sub-units, with D (King's Own Scottish Borderers) Company, based in Galashiels, amalgamating with A (Royal Scots) Company, to reflect the formation of the regular Royal Scots Borderers

Royal Scots Borderers

The Royal Scots Borderers is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.Two infantry regiments ; the Royal Scots and the King's Own Scottish Borderers merged on the 28 March 2006, and with the other Scottish infantry regiments amalgamated into the single seven battalion strong Royal...

Current Locations and operations

Order of Battle

The Battalion Headquarters

Headquarters and Headquarters Company

In United States Army units, a headquarters and headquarters company is a company sized military unit, found at the battalion level and higher. In identifying a specific headquarters unit, it is usually referred to by its abbreviation as an HHC...

is based at Walcheren Barracks

Walcheren Barracks

Walcheren Barracks is a Drill hall located at Hotspur Street in Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland. The current building was originally constructed in 1935 as the new Headquarters of the 9th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry, which moved from 81 Greendyke Street near Glasgow Green...

in Maryhill

Maryhill

Maryhill is an area of the City of Glasgow in Scotland. Maryhill is a former burgh. The population of Maryhill is about 52,000. Maryhill stretches over along Maryhill Road...

, Glasgow and the Battalion currently has one Support Company

Company (military unit)

and three Rifle Companies, which also incorporate various Support Weapons

Heavy weapons platoon

Heavy weapons platoon is a term from military science which refers to an infantry platoon equipped with machine guns, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, flamethrowers, grenade-launchers, anti-tank weapons, and/or other portable heavy weapons.According to U.S...

platoons, based throughout the Scottish Lowlands

Scottish Lowlands

The Scottish Lowlands is a name given to the Southern half of Scotland.The area is called a' Ghalldachd in Scottish Gaelic, and the Lawlands ....

:

52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (6 SCOTS), circa 2008

HQ Company is based at Walcheren Barracks in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

and consists of the various departments responsible for commanding and supporting the Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...

, this includes the Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...

, 2IC
Second-in-command
The Second-in-Command is the deputy commander of any British Army or Royal Marines unit, from battalion or regiment downwards. He or she is thus the equivalent of an Executive Officer in the United States Army...

, Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...

and RSM
Regimental Sergeant Major
Regimental Sergeant Major is an appointment held by warrant officers class 1 in the British Army, the British Royal Marines and in the armies of many Commonwealth nations, including Australia and New Zealand; and by chief warrant officers in the Canadian Forces...

, it also includes elements of the RLC
Royal Logistic Corps
The Royal Logistic Corps provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army, comprising around 17% of its strength...

, RAMC
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...

, AGC
Adjutant General's Corps
The Adjutant General's Corps is a corps in the British Army responsible for many of its general administrative services. As of 2002, the AGC had a staff of 7,000 people...

and a REME
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and WAH64 Apache...

Light Aid Detachment
Light Aid Detachment
A Light Aid Detachment is an attached independent minor unit of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers or Detachment of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers operating as a sub-unit of the supported unit...

(LAD) as well as the Battalion's Motor Transport
Military logistics
Military logistics is the discipline of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of military forces. In its most comprehensive sense, it is those aspects or military operations that deal with:...

and Signals
Signaller
In the armed forces, a signaller or signaleer is a specialist soldier or seaman or airman responsible for military communications. Signallers, aka Combat Signallers or signalmen or women, are commonly employed as radio or telephone operators, relaying messages for field commanders at the front line...

Platoons and the Pipes and Drums (until 2007).
A Company has its Headquarters, a Rifle
SA80
The SA80 is a British family of 5.56mm small arms. It is a selective fire, gas-operated assault rifle. SA80 prototypes were trialled in 1976 and production was completed in 1994....

Platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...

and the Military Band
Military band
A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...

based at Hepburn House in East Claremont Street in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...

, an Anti-Tank
FGM-148 Javelin
The FGM-148 Javelin is a United States-made man-portable third generation anti-tank missile fielded to replace the Dragon antitank missile.-Overview:Javelin is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance...

Platoon and Rifle Platoon in Galashiels
Galashiels
Galashiels is a burgh in the Scottish Borders, on the Gala Water river. The name is often shortened to "Gala" .Galashiels is a major commercial centre for the Scottish Borders...

and a GPMG
FN MAG
The FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the...

(SF) Platoon in Bathgate
Bathgate
Bathgate is a town in West Lothian, Scotland, on the M8 motorway west of Livingston. Nearby towns are Blackburn, Armadale, Whitburn, Livingston, and Linlithgow. Edinburgh Airport is away...

.
B Company have the Company Headquarters and two Rifle Platoons based at Fusilier House in Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...

, with a Mortar
L16 81mm Mortar
The United Kingdom's L16 81 mm mortar is the standard mortar used by the British armed forces. It originated as a joint design by UK and Canada. The version produced and used by Australia is named the F2 81mm Mortar, whilst the version used by the U.S...

Platoon based at Nunfield House in Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...

.
C Company has its Company Headquarters and a Rifle Platoon based at Walcheren Barracks in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

with the Battalion's Assault Pioneer
Assault Pioneer
An Assault Pioneer is an infantry soldier who is responsible for:* The construction of tools for infantry soldiers to cross natural and man-made obstacles as well as breaching of enemy fortifications;...

Platoon based at Scottish Rifles House in Motherwell.

The Companies maintain their separate affiliations to The Royal Scots Borderers

Royal Scots Borderers

(A Company) and The Royal Highland Fusiliers

Royal Highland Fusiliers

The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....

(HQ, B and C Company), which now form the regular 1st and 2nd Battalions of The Royal Regiment of Scotland and cover the same recruiting areas. In recognition of this, its members formerly wore a black or white hackle

Hackle

The hackle is a clipped feather plume that is attached to a military headdress.In the British Army and the armies of some Commonwealth countries the hackle is worn by some infantry regiments, especially those designated as fusilier regiments and those with Scottish and Northern Irish origins. The...

on their Tam o' Shanters

Tam o'shanter (hat)

A Tam o' Shanter is a Scottish style hat originally worn by men. The hat is named after a character in a poem written by Robert Burns in 1790...

, the same as those worn by the 1st and 2nd Battalions respectively. In August 2010, the Battalion adopted a new grey hackle to distinguish it within the Royal Regiment of Scotland. In the past, Headquarter Company of the 1st Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers maintained the direct lineage of the Glasgow Highlanders

Glasgow Highlanders

but rebadged as Royal Highland Fusiliers in 1973. D Company of the Lowland Volunteers also maintained the name and lineage of the The Cameronians, however it changed its affiliation to the King's Own Scottish Borderers

King's Own Scottish Borderers

in 1997. 52nd Lowland, though, has its own identity in the British Army's order of battle

British Army Order of Precedence

and its members are recognised primarily as 52nd Lowlanders.

Ceremonial

In ceremonial duties

Public duties

Public duties are performed by military personnel, and usually have a ceremonial or historic significance rather than an overtly operational role.-Germany:...

, the Battalion has a military band

Military band

A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...

, The Lowland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland

Lowland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland

The Lowland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland is a Military band in the Territorial Army and one of three Military bands in the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The band is based at East Claremont Street Drill hall in Edinburgh and is administered by 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment...

, formerly the Royal Scots Territorial Band. The 52nd Lowland Regiment also maintained a Pipes and Drums

Pipe band

A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term used by military pipe bands, pipes and drums, is also common....

, which from 2002 was under the direction of Pipe Major

Pipe Major

The Pipe Major is the director of bagpipe music in a Scottish or Irish pipe band. Like Drum Major, the position of Pipe Major is derived from British Army traditions. During the early twentieth century, the term Sergeant Piper was used for the role in place of "Pipe Major".Civillian and military...

Gordon Walker, who was formerly a regular piper in the Royal Highland Fusiliers and an intructor at both the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming

Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming

The Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming is a British Army training establishment that provides instructions of Scottish bagpipe music to military pipers, drummers and pipe bands.-History:...

and the College of Piping. The 52nd Lowland Pipes and Drums were very successful during a period of five years, becoming the best Pipe Band in the British Army at the time, reaching Grade Two of the World Pipe Band Championships

World Pipe Band Championships

The World Pipe Band Championships is a pipe band competition currently held in Glasgow, Scotland every August. The event has been operating regularly since 1930, when the Scottish Pipe Band Association was formed...

. In 2007, owing to administrative constraints, the band opted to move en masse into civilian ranks and are now known as The Mauchline

Mauchline

Mauchline is a town in East Ayrshire, Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a recorded population of 4105. It lies by the Glasgow and South Western Railway line, 8 miles east-southeast of Kilmarnock and 11 miles northeast of Ayr. It is situated on a gentle slope about 1 mile from the River Ayr,...

& District Caledonia Pipe Band.

The Lowland Band continues to take part in military and civilian events all over the UK and the world on behalf of 6 SCOTS and the Royal Regiment of Scotland, including the Battalion's annual Beating Retreat

Beating Retreat

Beating Retreat is a military ceremony dating back to 16th century England and was first used in order to recall nearby patrolling units to their castle.-History:...

and Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...

ceremonies in George Square

George Square

George Square is the principal civic square in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is named after King George III.-Historical development:George Square was laid out in 1781, part of the innovative Georgian central grid plan that initially spanned from Stockwell Street east to Buchanan Street—which...

, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Edinburgh Military Tattoo

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual series of Military tattoos performed by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and International military bands and display teams in the Scottish capital Edinburgh...

and the Opening of the Scottish Parliament

Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...

. In August 2009 the Lowland Band was joined by the Combined Scottish Universities Officers Training Corps Pipes and Drums in an exercise to Ottawa, Canada where they participated in Fortissimo 2009 and the Changing the Guard by the Canadian Ceremonial Guard.

Training

The majority of soldiers and officers in the battalion are part-time members with other full-time civilian careers or are in further

Further education

Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...

or higher education. They train and acquire military skills in their spare-time during evening, weekend and holiday periods. Many members are entitled to special leave from their employer to train with the battalion. They are supported by a small number of full-time TA Non Regular Permanent Staff

Non Regular Permanent Staff

In the British Army, Non Regular Permanent Staff are members of the Territorial Army who are employed on a full-time basis. They usually fill vital unit administration or quartermaster roles and are most often long-service TA veterans or retired regulars. They hold military rank and wear uniform...

, regular army Permanent Staff Instructor

Permanent Staff Instructor

A permanent staff instructor is a warrant officer class 2 , or senior non-commissioned officer , of the Regular British Army who has been selected to instruct Territorial Army soldiers...

s and civilian administrative staff. Each member of the Battalion has a minimum commitment to serve 27 training days per annum, which normally includes a two-week long annual camp in the UK or overseas, as well as regular weekly training evenings and monthly weekend training exercises

Military exercise

A military exercise is the employment of military resources in training for military operations, either exploring the effects of warfare or testing strategies without actual combat...

in locations throughout Scotland such as Garelochhead

Garelochhead

Garelochhead is a small village on the Gare Loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is the nearest village to the HMNB Clyde naval base.Garelochhead lies at the head of the Gare Loch, 7 miles northwest of Helensburgh. Loch Lomond is a few miles to the east, and Loch Long to the west...

, Barry Buddon and Kirkcudbright

Dundrennan Range

Dundrennan Range is a weapons testing range on the Solway Firth, near Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway, in south west Scotland. It is part of the Kirkcudbright Training Area, of farming land acquired by the British Army in 1942 to train forces for the invasion of mainland Europe. The area...

.

Since 1999, 52nd Lowland, now the 6th Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, has conducted Overseas Training Exercises as a formed unit in France, Belgium, Cyprus

Akrotiri and Dhekelia

The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia are two British-administered areas comprising a British Overseas Territory on the island of Cyprus administered as Sovereign Base Areas of the United Kingdom...

, the United States, Slovakia, Ukraine and Gibraltar. Volunteers have also participated in exercises in Canada

British Army Training Unit Suffield

The British Army Training Unit Suffield is a British Army unit located at the vast training area of Canadian Forces Base Suffield in Alberta, Canada...

, Kenya

Nanyuki

Nanyuki is a market town in central-east Rift Valley region of Kenya lying northwest of Mount Kenya along the A2 road and at the terminus of the branch railway from Nairobi. It is situated just north of the Equator . It was founded in 1907 by British settlers, some of whose descendants still live...

and Poland.

After the SDR New Chapter was published in 2001, the Battalion took on an additional formal domestic role as the mainstay of 51st (Scottish) Brigade's

British 51st Infantry Brigade

Civil Contingency Reaction Force

Military Aid to the Civil Community

Military Aid to the Civil Community is a phrase referring to the armed forces providing a service to the civilian community. It is used in many countries, particularly the United Kingdom.-United Kingdom:...

(CCRF) in the Scottish Lowlands, which entails the provision of ad hoc support to the emergency services if required. The Battalion's Area of Responsibility is contiguous with that of the Lothian and Borders Police

Lothian and Borders Police

Lothian and Borders Police is the territorial police force for the Scottish council areas of the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian...

, Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for the council area of Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland.The police force was formed in 1948 as an amalgamation of the police forces of Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, and Wigtownshire, and preceded the creation of...

and Southern divisions of Strathclyde Police

Strathclyde Police

Strathclyde Police is the territorial police force responsible for the Scottish council areas of Argyll and Bute, City of Glasgow, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and West...

Operations

The Battalion's primary operational role is to provide reserve contingents to augment its two affiliated regular Battalions and the wider Royal Regiment of Scotland during any Large Scale Deliberate Intervention (LSDI) Operations. In such a scenario, the Battalion would provide specialist reinforcements in areas such as Support Weapons, Medics, Signallers and Assault Pioneers, which enables the two regular Battalions to deploy at their full sized establishment.

Many members routinely volunteer to serve individually alongside their affiliated regular Battalions or as part of Territorial composite sub-unit formations of up to company-sized strength on exercise and operations all over the world, including Cyprus

United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus was established in 1964 to prevent a recurrence of fighting between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and to contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order and a return to normal conditions...

, Bosnia

United Nations Protection Force

The United Nations Protection Force ', was the first United Nations peacekeeping force in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav wars. It existed between the beginning of UN involvement in February 1992, and its restructuring into other forces in March 1995...

, Kosovo, Northern Ireland

Operation Banner

Operation Banner was the operational name for the British Armed Forces' operation in Northern Ireland from August 1969 to July 2007. It was initially deployed at the request of the Unionist government of Northern Ireland to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary . After the 1998 Belfast Agreement,...

and, most recently, on Operation Herrick

Operation Herrick

Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom...

in Afghanistan and Operation Telic

Operation Telic

Operation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011...

in Iraq, especially on TELIC II and TELIC IV, the former on which two fatalities were suffered in 2003, whilst attached to the King's Own Scottish Borderers

King's Own Scottish Borderers

. 52nd Lowland Regiment was also noted for its involvement in the defence of CIMIC-House

CIMIC-House

CIMIC-House was the British Army-led Multi-National Division 's centre of Civil-Military Co-operation activities in the Iraqi town of Al Amarah...

in Al Amarah during August 2004.

Most operational deployments are for a fixed six month roulement

Roulement

Roulement is a term used by the British Army to signify major combat units that are deployed on short tours of duty, normally for 6-months duration....

, although when pre-deployment training and post operational leave are taken into account, members can be away from their work and families for up to ten months. Members of the TA can be mobilised for overseas operations in this way once every three years, although it is rarely more often than once every five years, under the terms of the Reserve Forces Act 1996.

From August 2007 until February 2008, 52nd Lowland deployed Bremen Platoon

Platoon

A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...

, a composite Force protection

Force protection

Force protection or FP is a term used by the US military to describe preventive measures taken to mitigate hostile actions in specific areas or against a specific populous, usually Department of Defense personnel , resources, facilities, and critical information.-See also:*Pentagon Force Protection...

formation in support of 151st Transport Regiment

151st (Greater London) Logistic Support Regiment

151 Logistic Support Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps, is a regiment of the Territorial Army in the United Kingdom.The regiment was formed in the Royal Corps of Transport in 1967 as 151 Transport Regiment, from three territorial transport regiments and two independent squadrons, with one ambulance...

, based at HQ ISAF

International Security Assistance Force

The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...

, in the Kabul

Kabul

Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...

area of Afghanistan, as part of Operation Herrick VII, on a 6-month Roulement

Roulement

Roulement is a term used by the British Army to signify major combat units that are deployed on short tours of duty, normally for 6-months duration....

. This was the first complete 52nd Lowland sub-unit formation deployed since the Second World War and the platoon received a commendation from ISAF commander General McNeill

Dan K. McNeill

Dan Kelly McNeill is a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He served Commander, Coalition Forces, Afghanistan from 2002 to 2003 and as Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces Command from 2004 to 2007...

.

The battalion continues to contribute volunteer reservists in order to sustain the regular Royal Regiment of Scotland's and wider British Army's overseas operational deployments, with some elements of the Battalion also volunteering to deploy on Operation Tosca

British Forces Cyprus

British Forces Cyprus is the name given to the British Armed Forces stationed in the UK sovereign base areas of Dhekelia and Akrotiri on the island of Cyprus...

as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

in 2008 and as part of the 3 SCOTS

Black Watch

The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....

battlegroup

Battlegroup (army)

A battlegroup , or task force in modern military theory, is the basic building block of an army's fighting force. A battlegroup is formed around an infantry battalion or armoured regiment, which is usually commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel...

on Operation Herrick X

Operation Herrick order of battle

This is the Operation Herrick order of battle, which lists the British forces that have taken part in Operation Herrick since it began in 2002.-Kabul:...

from April 2009.

Lineage

|- style="text-align: center; background: #F08080;"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="6"|Lineage
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan="6" style="width:5%; "| 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
The Royal Regiment of Scotland
The Royal Regiment of Scotland is the senior and only Scottish line infantry regiment of the British Army Infantry. It consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, each formerly an individual regiment...

| rowspan="6" style="width:5%; "| 52nd Lowland Regiment
| rowspan="3" style="width:5%; "| 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers
| rowspan="3" style="width:5%; "| 1st Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers
| rowspan="3" style="width:5%; "| 52nd Lowland Volunteers (TAVR II)
| style="width:5%; "| 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Scots
|-
| style="width:5%; text-align:center;"|4th/5th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
Royal Scots Fusiliers
-The Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot :The regiment was raised in Scotland in 1678 by Stuart loyalist Charles Erskine, de jure 5th Earl of Mar for service against the rebel covenanting forces during the Second Whig Revolt . They were used to keep the peace and put down brigands, mercenaries, and...

|-
| style="width:5%; text-align:center;"|5th/6th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
Highland Light Infantry
The Highland Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. In 1923 the regimental title was expanded to the Highland Light Infantry ...

|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan="3" style="width:5%; "| The Lowland Volunteers
| rowspan="3" style="width:5%; "| 2nd Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers
| rowspan="2" style="width:5%; "| 3rd (Territorial) Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers (TAVR III)
| style="width:5%; "| 1st Glasgow Highlanders
Glasgow Highlanders
The Glasgow Highlanders was a former Territorial Army regiment in the British Army, it eventually became part of The Highland Light Infantry regiment in 1881, which later became The Royal Highland Fusiliers in 1959...

Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry
|-
| style="width:5%; text-align:center;"| 4th/5th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
King's Own Scottish Borderers
The King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division.-History:It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours...

|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan="2" style="width:5%; "| The Royal Scots and Cameronians Territorials (TAVR III)
| style="width:5%; "| 6th/7th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
|-

Alliances

– Prince Alfred's Guard

Prince Alfred's Guard

Prince Alfred's Guard is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit. The Regiment is located in the city of Port Elizabeth.-History:Prince Alfred's Guard was...

– The Witwatersrand Rifles

Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment

The Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment is a mechanized infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit.-History:...

– The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada

The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada

The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. Prince Andrew, as a member of the Canadian Royal Family, acts as Colonel-in-Chief. Previously, this post was held by Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon....

– The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) – Royal Newfoundland Regiment – 1st Battalion, The Royal New Brunswick Regiment (Carleton and York)

The Royal New Brunswick Regiment

The Royal New Brunswick Regiment is a reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces based in New Brunswick. It consists of two battalions, both of which are part of 37 Canadian Brigade Group. The regiment as it is now, was formed in 1954 by the amalgamation of the Carleton and York Regiment,...

– 25th/49th Battalion, The Royal Queensland Regiment

External links

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