9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)

   9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots was a Territorial unit with HQ at 89 East Claremont Street, Edinburgh serving with the Lothian Brigade, Scottish Coast Defences. They proceeded to France on the 26th of February 1915 landing at Le Havre and joining 81st Brigade, 27th Division. They saw action at St Eloi and in The Second Battle of Ypres. On the 24th of November 1915 they transferred to 14th Brigade, 5th Division and on the 25th of January 1916 transferred to Third Army Troops. On the 1st of March 1916 they joined 154th Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division. they were in action in the Battles of the Somme, including the attacks on High Wood and The Battle of the Ancre, capturing Beaumont Hamel, taking more than 2000 prisoners. In 1917 They took part in the Arras Offensive, The Battle of Pilkem Ridge, The Battle of Menin Road Ridge and the Cambrai Operations. In February 1918 the British Army was reorganised and on the 6th the 1/9th Royal Scots transferred to 183rd Brigade, 61st (South Midland) Division. they were in action in The Battle of St Quentin and The Actions at the Somme Crossings they then returned to Flanders and were in action in The Battle of Estaires, The Battle of Hazebrouck and The Battle of Bethune. On the 1st of June 1918 they transferred to 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. They were in action in Battle of the Soissonnais and the Ourcq taking part in the attack on Buzancy, and The Final Advance in Artois.

4th of February 1915 Chicken Sentries

23rd Apr 1915 On the March

30th of November 1915 Grenade Attack Successful

20th of December 1915 Deserter Taken

28th of December 1915 Retaliatory Firing

1st of January 1916 Night-time Shelling

2nd of January 1916 Direct Hits

3rd of January 1916 German Post Bombed

10th of January 1916 Battalion Relief

13th of January 1916 5th Division in Reserve

8th Apr 1916 Dandy 9th only 15 yards from Enemy

1st Jul 1916 Shelling

2nd Jul 1916 Mine

3rd Jul 1916 Shelling

10th Jul 1916 Camouflet

12th Jul 1916 Reliefs

13th Jul 1916 Trench Raid

14th Jul 1916 Relief Completed

15th Jul 1916 On the Move

16th Jul 1916 On the Move

19th Jul 1916 Orders

20th Jul 1916 On the Move

21st Jul 1916 Orders Received

22nd Jul 1916 Reliefs Completed

22nd Jul 1916 Preparations

23rd Jul 1916 Attack Made

24th Jul 1916 Heavy Shelling

26th Jul 1916 Relief

27th Jul 1916 Attacks Made

28th Jul 1916 Shelling

29th Jul 1916 Heavy Shelling

30th Jul 1916 Attack Made

31st Jul 1916 Consolidation

31st Jul 1916 Report

1st Aug 1916 Instructions

15th Oct 1917 Preparations

19th Oct 1917 Line Taken Over

13th Nov 1917 In Action

14th Nov 1917 In Action

16th Nov 1917 Report

12th June 1918 Re-organisation

2nd July 1918 Operational Order No.28

9th October 1918 ( Operational Orders No.66. ? )

19th October 1918 Met with opposition at Rupilly Etieu

8th November 1918 Battalion Orders No.1

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There are:5276 items tagged 9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) 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
9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Cairns DCM. MID. James Lawson. L/Cpl.
Donkin Harry Semmons. Private (d.17 May 1918 )
Forster Ernest. Pte (d.1st Aug 1918)
Moyes William B.. Lt (d.7th Apr 1917)

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Records of 9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) from other sources.

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Lt William B. Moyes 20 Sqd. (d.7th Apr 1917)

Lt Moyes, a former construction engineer from Edinburgh, was killed whilst flying with Capt Mahony-Jones when their aircraft was shot down by Maximilian Muller of Jasta28 on the evening of the 7th of April 1917. The FE2d was brought down over the Front lines whilst returning from the second bombing raid of the day on Mouvaux aerodrome. The allied aircraft came under attack from a formation of Albatros scouts, Mahony-Jones turned back to assist Lt Lawson whose FE2 had been hit. Moyes and Mahony-Jones engaged the enemy allowing Lawson to land behind the British Lines.
Lt W.B.Moyes and his pilot were laid to rest in a German cemetery, after the war they were transferred to the CWGC cemetery at Bailleul.
Moyes had served in the ranks of the 9th and 6th Battalions of the Royal Scots before gaining a commission in the RFC, he was 24 years old.

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L/Cpl. James Lawson Cairns DCM. MID. 9th Btn. Royal Scots

Lawson Cairns was posted to France, departing by train from Edinburgh and arriving at Le Havre on February 26th 1915. He was made a Medical Orderly on 22nd March 1915 and continued in this role throughout the war. His niece has 2 diaries written in pencil starting on 26.02.1915 and ending on 2nd Dec. 1917. He survived the war & received the DCM when he stayed with a wounded man for 2 days and a night in "no-mans' land. He was also mentioned in dispatches. He was gassed sometime during the war and his health was damaged in later life. He refused a commission as he was anti-war. His niece has transcribed the diaries and intends to donate a copy to the Royal Scots' Museum at Edinburgh Castle.
Margaret Donaldson

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Private Harry Semmons Donkin Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.17 May 1918 )

My uncle Harry Donkin died in a hospital in Maidstone of his wounds on 17 May 1918. He was 19 years old. I have started to research his war record and know that:
He enlisted in West Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, in the King's Royal Rifle corps with service number 19574. He was transferred to the Royal Scots at some point (I have a photograph of him in this regimental uniform) with the service number 302284. He died of his wounds in a hospital somewhere in Maidstone. Although he is recorded by the commonwealth war graves as being in the 9th battalion of the Royal Scots, he appears in 'Soldiers Died' under the 1st Battalion 'depot' as Harry Doukin (the n being mistaken for a u). On the medal roll index he originally appears as Dorkin but this has been corrected to his proper name of Donkin. The family apparently requested his medal in 1923 and one was issued at that time. I am interested to know where he served, where he was wounded and the nature of his injuries. I understand I will need to find out when he transferred from the Rifles to the Scots. Many thanks for your help.
Kathryn Moor

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Pte Ernest Forster 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers (d.1st Aug 1918)

Forster, Ernest. Private, 19/1729 & 353131, Killed on 1st August 1918. Aged 19 years.
Remembered on the Soissons Memorial, Aisne.
Son of James and Elizabeth Forster, of 39, Douglas Terrace, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
19th Battalion Service History shows him as having been attached to 2/9th Royal Scots.
From the 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers Roll of Honour.
Dave Willis

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9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)

Want to know more about 9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)?

Those known to have served with
9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
during the Great War 1914-1918.

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9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)

Want to know more about 9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)?

Those known to have served with9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)during the Great War 1914-1918.

Can you help?

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

Announcements

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- 9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) during the Great War -

Those known to have served with
9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
during the Great War 1914-1918.