Scottish Division
Encyclopedia
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
. From 1970, junior soldiers of the Scottish Division were trained at the Scottish Infantry Depot (SID), Bridge of Don, in Gordon Barracks
, and adult recruits trained in the SID Glencorse
. In 1994, due to the Options for Change
review, The Gordon Highlanders
were amalgamated with The Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons) to form The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)
. , the Scottish Division is seven infantry
battalion
s in a single large regiment, the Royal Regiment of Scotland. This also involved the amalgamation of the Royal Scots and The King's Own Scottish Borderers to form the Royal Scots Borderers
:
Regular Army Units
Territorial Army Units
In addition, the Scottish Division also maintains a single regular military band
in the Corps of Army Music
, the regimental Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. This was formed in 2006 by the amalgamation of two former divisional bands, the Highland Band and the Lowland Band. In addition, there are two Territorial bands, The Band of 51st (Scottish) Brigade
and The Lowland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, which are administered by the Division's two Territorial battalions. Each Battalion of the Division also maintains its own former regimental Pipes and Drums.
The Headquarters of the Scottish Division is located at Edinburgh Castle
. It is commanded by a "Colonel Commandant" who normally holds the military rank
of Lieutenant General
or Major General
. The Colonel Commandant of the Scottish Division is also GOC
of the 2nd Division
.
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...
command, training and administrative apparatus designated for all Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
line infantry
Line infantry
Line infantry is a type of infantry which composed the basis of European land armies from the middle of the 17th century to the middle of the 19th century....
units. The Scottish Division was formed on July 1, 1968 with the amalgamation 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:...
and Highland Brigade
Highland Brigade (Scottish)
The Highland Brigade is a historical unit of the British Army, which has been formed a number of times. It recruited men from the Highlands of Scotland.-Crimean War:...
. From 1970, junior soldiers of the Scottish Division were trained at the Scottish Infantry Depot (SID), Bridge of Don, in Gordon Barracks
Gordon Barracks
Gordon Barracks are situated in Bridge of Don, Aberdeen. Built by J and W Wittet, circa 1935, the barracks buildings are located around the barrack square....
, and adult recruits trained in the SID Glencorse
Glencorse Barracks
-History:Glencorse Barracks date from 1803, when they were first used to hold prisoners, then known as Greenlaw Military Prison, during the Napoleonic Wars before being bought outright from the private estate on which they stood . The only surviving building from that time is the former Guardroom,...
. In 1994, due to the 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....
review, The Gordon Highlanders
The Gordon Highlanders
The Gordon Highlanders was a British Army infantry regiment from 1794 until 1994. The regiment took its name from the Clan Gordon and recruited principally from Aberdeen and the North-East of Scotland.-History:...
were amalgamated with The Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons) to form The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)
The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)
The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.Prior to 28 March 2006, the Highlanders was an infantry regiment in its own right; The Highlanders , part of the Scottish Division...
. , the Scottish Division is seven infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
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...
s in a single large regiment, the Royal Regiment of Scotland. This also involved the amalgamation of the Royal Scots and The King's Own Scottish Borderers to form the 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...
:
Regular Army Units
- The Royal Scots BorderersRoyal Scots BorderersThe 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...
, 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland - The Royal Highland FusiliersRoyal Highland FusiliersThe Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
, 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland - The Black WatchBlack WatchThe 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....
, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland - The HighlandersThe Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.Prior to 28 March 2006, the Highlanders was an infantry regiment in its own right; The Highlanders , part of the Scottish Division...
4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland - The Argyll and Sutherland HighlandersArgyll and Sutherland HighlandersThe Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland
Territorial Army Units
- 52nd Lowland52nd Lowland RegimentThe 52nd Lowland Regiment now forms the 6th Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, also known as 6 SCOTS. Due to its erstwhile association with the 1st Regiment of Foot, it is the senior Territorial line infantry battalion in the British Army...
, 6th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland - 51st Highland, 7th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland
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...
in the Corps of Army Music
Corps of Army Music
The Corps of Army Music is a corps of the British Army. It was formed in 1994 as an umbrella organisation, centred on the Royal Military School of Music, to oversee the 29 new permanent Military Bands formed following Options for Change, although each band continues to wear the capbadges and Full...
, the regimental Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. This was formed in 2006 by the amalgamation of two former divisional bands, the Highland Band and the Lowland Band. In addition, there are two Territorial bands, The Band of 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...
and The Lowland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, which are administered by the Division's two Territorial battalions. Each Battalion of the Division also maintains its own former regimental Pipes and Drums.
The Headquarters of the Scottish Division is located at Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
. It is commanded by a "Colonel Commandant" who normally holds the military rank
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
or Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
. The Colonel Commandant of the Scottish Division is also GOC
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
of 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...
.
Former Units
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) - (1633-2006)
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment)Royal Highland FusiliersThe Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
- (1959–2006) - 1st Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers - (1689-2006)
- 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)Black WatchThe 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....
- (1881–2006) - 1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons) - (1961–1994)
- 1st Battalion, The Gordon HighlandersThe Gordon HighlandersThe Gordon Highlanders was a British Army infantry regiment from 1794 until 1994. The regiment took its name from the Clan Gordon and recruited principally from Aberdeen and the North-East of Scotland.-History:...
- (1881–1994) - 1st Battalion, The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.Prior to 28 March 2006, the Highlanders was an infantry regiment in its own right; The Highlanders , part of the Scottish Division...
- (1994–2006) - 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)Argyll and Sutherland HighlandersThe Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
- (1881–2006) - Royal Scots Battalion, The Royal Regiment of ScotlandThe Royal Regiment of ScotlandThe 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...
- (2006) - King's Own Scottish Borderers Battalion, The Royal Regiment of ScotlandThe Royal Regiment of ScotlandThe 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...
- (2006)