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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)



   The 2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was formed in 1881 from the 90th Regiment of Foot (Perthshire Volunteers) (Light Infantry). They proceeded to France in November 1914 with the 23rd Brigade, 8th Division to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force. In 1915 they were in action at The Battle of Neuve Chapelle, The Battle of Aubers and The action of Bois Grenier. In 1916 they moved south for the Battle of the Somme and in 1917 they were involved in The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The Battle of Pilkem and The Battle of Langemarck during the Third Battle of Ypres. In February 1918 they transferred to 59th Brigade, 20th Division and were again in action on The Somme suffering in heavy fighting. In April the Division was withdrawn to the South West of Amiens and recieved new drafts of men before going into action in the Final Advance in Picardy.

19th Sep 1914 Divisional HQ Opens

25th Sep 1914 Concentration

2nd Oct 1914 Concentration

27th Oct 1914 Exercise

29th Oct 1914 Route March

30th Oct 1914 Concentration Complete

31st Oct 1914 Mud

4th Nov 1914 On the Move

5th Nov 1914 On the Move

6th Nov 1914 Delays

7th Nov 1914 Delays

8th Nov 1914 On the Move  location map

9th Nov 1914 Into Billets  location map

11th of November 1914 In the Line  location map

13th of November 1914  Reliefs Completed   location map

1st Dec 1914 Quiet

3rd Dec 1914 Relief  location map

4th Dec 1914 Good Shooting  location map

5th Dec 1914 Items Recovered  location map

6th Dec 1914 Into Billets  location map

7th Dec 1914 In Billets

8th Dec 1914 In Billets

9th Dec 1914 Reliefs

10th Dec 1914 Holding the Line  location map

11th Dec 1914 In the Line  location map

12th Dec 1914 Reliefs  location map

13th Dec 1914 Quiet

14th Dec 1914 Relief Complete  location map

15th Dec 1914 Holding the Line  location map

16th Dec 1914 Holding the Line  location map

17th Dec 1914 Holding the Line  location map

18th Dec 1914 Attack Made  location map

19th Dec 1914 Reliefs  location map

20th Dec 1914 Relief  location map

21st Dec 1914 In Trenches  location map

22nd Dec 1914 Holding the Line  location map

23rd Dec 1914 In the Line  location map

24th Dec 1914 Relief Complete  location map

25th Dec 1914 In Billets

27th Dec 1914 Relief  location map

28th Dec 1914 Holding the Line  location map

29th Dec 1914 Holding the Line  location map

30th Dec 1914 Reliefs  location map

30th Dec 1914 Message

31st Dec 1914 Quiet

10th Apr 1915 Orders  location map

9th May 1915 13th Londons in Action  location map

13th Nov 1915 Move  location map

31st Jul 1917 In Action  location map

2nd Aug 1917 Message of Congratulation  location map

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.





Want to know more about 2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)?


There are:5280 items tagged 2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.


Those known to have served with

2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Bradley Patrick. Pte. (d.9th February 1915)
  • Brown William. A/Cpl. (d.25th Mar 1918)
  • Burgess Patrick. Pte. (d.11th May 1917)
  • Carr John. Pte. (d.9th May 1915)
  • Cavanagh Joe. CSM
  • Crichton David. L/Cpl. (d.25th Mar 1918)
  • Dawson Charles Duncan.
  • Dillon John. Pte. (d.10th March 1915 )
  • Docherty William. Pte.
  • Drew Alan Appleby. Lt. (d.10th March 1915)
  • Ewing James. Rflmn. (d.28th December 1914)
  • Gilbert Fred. Pte. (d.24th March 1918)
  • Gilbert Frederick. Pte. (d.24th Mar 1918)
  • Hall Norman. Pte. (d.25th Jul 1915)
  • Jackson Robert. L/Cpl (d.16th August 1917)
  • Keenan John. Pte. (d.10th Mar 1915)
  • Kett Robert. Sgt. (d.4th May 1915)
  • Lund DCM. William Smith. Pte.
  • Manson Peter. Pte. (d.5th Dec 1915)
  • McCormack Edward. Pte. (d.27th Nov 1916)
  • McFarlane Robert. Pte (d.10th Mar 1915)
  • McNutt William. Pte. (d.25th Mar 1918)
  • McNutt William. Pte. (d.25th March 1918)
  • McQuarrie Peter. Sgt. (d.3rd Apr 1918)
  • McQuillin Stephen Alfred. Sgt.
  • McWhirter William. Pte. (d.24th July 1916)
  • Miller George Murphy. A/Sjt.
  • Platt James. Pte. (d.24th Nov 1917)
  • Reilly Frank. Pte. (d.25th July 1916)
  • Reilly James. Pte. (d.10th Mar 1915)
  • Smith James Robert. Pte.
  • Stuart Robert. Pte (d.5th May 1917)
  • Talbot George. L/Cpl.
  • Thomson James. Pte. (d.10th February 1915)
  • Thornber John. Pte. (d.14th April 1917)
  • Tongs DCM. William. Pte. (d.12th May 1915)
  • Withers Henry Edward. Cpl. (d.23rd Oct 1916)
  • Wray James. Pte. (d.30th Dec 1914)

All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of 2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) from other sources.


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  Lt. Alan Appleby Drew 2nd Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.10th March 1915)

Alan Drew died 10th March 1915, aged 30 and is buried i in the Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard in France. He was the son of Daniel and Rhoda Drew of Burnley. Alan's father owned the Lowerhouse Print works in Burnley and the family lived in specially built houses within the print works grounds.

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s flynn






  Pte. John Carr 2nd Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.9th May 1915)

John Carr was killed in action on 9th of May 1915. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing in Belgium.

s flynn






  Pte. Fred Gilbert 2nd Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.24th March 1918)

My Great Uncle Fred Gilbert served with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers and then the Scottish Rifles. He was a good rifleman winning awards at home. He was killed near Pozieres and has no known grave. He was a big man with a determination not to come home wounded, according to family now deceased.

Jill Clark






  Pte. Patrick Burgess 2nd Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.11th May 1917)

Patrick Burgess was the son of Thomas and Catherine Burgess of Ireland and husband of Jessie Burgess of 42 Thistle Strett, Glasgow.







  L/Cpl. George Talbot 2nd Battalion Cameronians Scottish Rifles

George Talbot was a POW in Stendal prisoner of war camp

Robert Knoyle






  Pte. William Docherty 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles

William Docherty married my grandmother Sarah in 1920, it was her third marriage, She was previously married Patrick Sweeney in 1916 who died in 1918. Her first husband was my grandfather George Ronaldson, who was soldier in the 2nd Scottish Rifles he served under the false name of James Ewing and was killed in 1914. William Docherty was also in his battalion and I believe Patrick Sweeney was too. I am trying to find about the subsequent marriages of Sarah Ronaldson, who had three children to George. Was it just by chance or did these two men seek her out to offer her comfort as she was a widow of someone they knew as a comrade?

Archie Kennedy






  Pte. Frederick Gilbert 2nd Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.24th Mar 1918)

Fred Gilbert is commemorated on the Pozieres memorial. He was killed in action.







  Rflmn. James Ewing 2nd Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.28th December 1914)

I think James Ewing is in the middle. Taken prewar in Malta, where 2nd Batt were garrison troops

My grandfather was George Morrison Ronaldson, born in 1872. He was married to Sarah Casey, and had 3 children - Mary (my mother), Elizabeth and James. George was with his family in Glasgow, working on the tramcars in April 1911, according to the 1911 census. However, sometime after that he joined the Army under the name James Ewing. He enlisted in Hamilton, the Regimental depot just outside Glasgow. I have a photo of him in a group of 5 soldiers taken I believe in Malta, where the 2nd Battalion were garrisoned, when war broke out.

His age (42 in 1914) to me seems a bit old for a married man with small children to become a soldier. So the questions I have are - why did he change his name when joining up? Was it because he was married and married men were not allowed to enlist? Was there a scandal he was involved in and had to leave the family home?

Anyway, James Ewing (aka George Donaldson) was wounded in the head on the 27th December 1914, at the front, at a place called La Flinque, Chapigny in northern France. He made it to No 11 General Hospital, Boulogne on the 28th December but died that evening. The sister who nursed him was given his address in Glasgow and wrote to Sarah his wife about his last words, his wounds, and his death. So George had at some time communicated to his wife Sarah, and had exchanged letters, I presume, but as far as the Army was concerned he was James Ewing. I know the details of his battalion in December 1914 as I have a transcripted copy of the War Diary compiled by the Adjutant of the 2nd Scottish Rifles.

My grandmother Sarah maried William Docherty in 1920, it was her third marriage, she was previously married to Patrick Sweeney in 1916, he died in 1918. William was also a soldier in the 2nd Scottish Rifles, Patrick possibly was too.

Archie Kennedy






  Pte. James Thomson 2nd Btn. Cameronians Scottish Rifles (d.10th February 1915)

James Thomson was born in Glenboig, the son of Agnes Anderson Archer from Old Luce, Wigtownshire and Alexander Thomson from Glenboig. His father died young and his mother moved to Caledonia Road, Hutchesontown, Glasgow with her three children to find work. James was a telegraph messenger and a plater's helper before the war as well as a reservist.

He was killed at Neuve Chappelle and not found on 10th March 1915. He was the brother of my maternal grandmother Agnes Archer Thomson, later Ross and Harris. He was in the 2nd Btn, Scottish Rifles







  Pte. Edward McCormack 2nd Battalion Cameronians Scottish Rifles (d.27th Nov 1916)

I know Edward McCormack served with 2nd Btn Cameronians Scottish Rifles.

Raymond Bell






  Sgt. Stephen Alfred McQuillin 23rd Coy. Machine Gun Corps

Sgt McQuillan was a regular with 2nd Btn Scottish Rifles (Cameronians) based in Mtarfa Barracks, Malta in 1914 and on notice to move to Alexandria. When hostilities started to escalate, the move to Egypt was cancelled and the battalion moved back to UK on Indiamen ship along with other two battalions in Malta.

They arrived in Southampton in September and marched to Baddersley Common before moving to Hursley Park to form part of 23rd Brigade in the 8th Division.

They moved to France on the SS Cornishman in early November 1914. Stephen must have been SNCO in charge of 2 Scottish Rifles machine guns as he was moved to MGC on its formation. He remained with the corps for the rest of war, but returned to the Cameronians after the war.

His step brother, Private Alfred Holman, was killed three months after arriving in France as a private in the Royal Field Artillery in May 1916 (he is buried at Dud's Corner). Alfred's son Alfred was born eight days before his father's death. Stephen married his step-brother's widow, the family moved to India (Quetta) with the Regiment and had three further children, in addition to Alfred and his elder sister Phyllis, in India and a sixth child (my father) when back in England. Stephen spent a period of the war convalescing in England after shooting off one of his knuckles in what was supposedly an accident with a recovered German Luger pistol.

Keith McQuillin






  Cpl. Henry Edward Withers 2nd Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.23rd Oct 1916)

I am not related to Corporal Withers but have bought my husband a Somme poppy. The poppy commemorates the life of Corporal Henry Withers and I would like his name added to the list of those who fought and perished for their country.

Karen Riddle






  Pte. John Dillon 2nd Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.10th March 1915 )

John Dillon was a casualty at Neuve Chapelle and his remains were never found. He is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial.

Hugh Mcneill






  Sgt. Robert Kett 2nd Battalion Cameronians Scottish Rifles (d.4th May 1915)

We believe that Robert Kett was killed at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, he is buried in the Military Cemetery at Rue-Petillion, Fleurbaix which is located south of Armentières.

Stephen Kett






  Pte. Frank Reilly 2nd Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.25th July 1916)

My Great Uncle, Frank Reilly, was killed in the Great War. I have his 1914 Mons Star medal which I treasure. I always remember my wee great granny McGregor talking about her brothers and how proud she was of them, she died in 1986 after I had joined the army. We will Never Forget!!







  A/Sjt. George Murphy Miller 2nd Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Regiment

George Miller was born on the 23rd of November 1886. I have no information other than the fact I am in possession of this gentleman's War Medal and the information on it from my father's collection of medals and other research.

Donna Fischer






  Pte. John Thornber 9th Btn. Scottish Rifles (d.14th April 1917)

John Thornber joined the 9th Service Battalion when they came to recruit in Lancashire in 1914, and landed with them in France in May 1915. He transferred later to the 2nd Battalion S.R. and was with them when he was killed at Villers Guislain on April 14 1917. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.

He left behind a widow and two sons. His widow was unable to keep both boys and they were separated, the elder moving to live with relatives, the boys seeing very little of each other their whole lives.

Ian Thornber






  Pte. William Smith Lund DCM. 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles

My grandfather, William Smith Lund, originally trained with the Dragoon Guards. As a farmers son, he could ride a horse so was deemed fit for the cavalry. However, it didn't take long for the Army to realise that cavalry was not suitable for trench warfare and he was transferred to the Second Battalion, Scottish Rifles.

On 16th of August 1917 he took part in the Battle of Langemark, which was part of the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his bravery (Gazetted on 22 October 1917). His citation reads : "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in continually leading assaults on enemy strongholds which were full of snipers and machine guns. Using his rifle with great skill, he shot, bayonetted or captured the occupants, displaying dash and gallantry in these hand-to-hand conflicts which were beyond praise. Finally he was wounded when advancing, regardless of danger, against a hostile machine gun in a concrete emplacement. It was entirely due to his fearlessness and determination that his platoon was able to continue their advance."

After being shot he was invalided home and it was not until after the War that he visited Edinburgh Castle where a list of all those killed whilst serving with the Scottish Rifles are listed. My grandmother said he was in tears that day as he learned of the deaths of a number of his comrades, after he had left the Unit.

Grandad was a captain in the Home Guard during WW2. One of his sons, my father, served in a Sherman Tank with the Guards armoured Division in WW2. His other son served with the Eighth Army, also as a crew member in a Sherman, both in North Africa and Italy.

Wayne Lund






  L/Cpl. David Crichton 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles (d.25th Mar 1918)

David Crichton enlisted at the outbreak of war, joining No. 7 Company, 5th Btn Scottish Rifles. He was later transferred to 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles, where he was a Lance Corporal. David was killed near Pozieres on 25th of March 1918 and is remembered on Pozieres Memorial.

Iain Cox






  Pte. Norman Hall 2nd Btn. Cameronians Scottish Rifles (d.25th Jul 1915)

Norman Hall was born in Glasgow, educated in Nuneaton, and prior to the war lived in Hartshill. He was killed in action aged 17, and he is buried in the Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Calais. He is also commemorated on the Hartshill Memorial.

Tim Worrall






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