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The King's Own Scottish Borderers
The King's Own Scottish Borderers can be traced back to 1698. During the Great War 7,740 men of The King's Own Scottish Borderers were killed in action or died of wounds, and 4 Victoria crosses were awarded to men of this regiment. Today the regiment is part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Battalions during the Great War.
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd (Reserve) Battalion
- 1/4th (Border) Battalion
- 2/4th (Border) Battalion
- 3/4th Battalion
- 1/5th (Dumfries & Galloway) Battalion
- 2/5th (Dumfries & Galloway) Battalion
- 3/5th Battalion
- 6th (Service) Battalion
- 7th (Service) Battalion
- 8th (Service) Battalion
- 9th (Reserve) Battalion
- 10th (Service) Battalion
- 4th Battalion
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Pte. James Quinn 2nd Btn (d.15th Sept 1914) This is the story of one man in what was called a contemptible little army Jimmy Quinn had been away for 6 years in India and returned home to marry his sweetheart Emmilene Ryan. He took a civilian job mining and in the summer of 1914, a child was born named Constance and then war was declared. He answered the call to arms and soon he was at Colchester, awaiting the move to France which came all to soon. From the ferry they marched to Mons, ironically fighting Germans among the coal heaps of that area. They were told to retreat, he fought at Le Cateau where they say the dead were piled shoulder high and from there they moved to near the River Aisne. On the night of the 14th/15 September 1914 he went missing, believed dead in The Battle of the Aisne. His body was discovered in 1920, his regiment was known by his silver cap badge of the K.O.S.B, his details by the fact he had two identity discs, the composite one which had perished and a metal one soldiers bought in the markets of India, which he also wore. He and one other KOSB known only to God, lie among about 12 soldiers of Britain in a french military cemetery in Crouy Vauxrot a small village near Soissons.
His descendents were one daughter, Constance who never knew her father
2 Grand-Daughters and their children, one of which like his ancestor Jimmmy Quinn has joined the British Army.
Jimmy was my Uncle, he was born in 1888 and my father told me of him he was the youngest of a large family, he kept his memory alive and I have tried to continue that by my interest in genealogy. |
Pte. Thomas McKinley Kings Own Scottish Borderers Our grandfather Thomas McKinlay lived in our house in Ayr, till he died in 1946. I grew up to stories about India, Lord Roberts and the famous march in 1880 from Kabul to Kandahar. I have a record of his marriage to our grandmother in 1894 but I have never been able to find substantial records of his life prior to this date.
Another story I was told when I was growing up, is that it was said during WW1 he coloured his hair black, enlisted, then washed the black out and came home. I always thought this was just a story till I was using Ancestry search and found 9 pages of his WW1 military history. He enlisted in the Kings Own Scottish Borderers on the 13th Oct 1914 in Dalmillington, regimental #8323, his age was listed as 34yrs. The history sheet shows my grandmother's name and where they lived it also listed my mother name [Flora]. He was discharged 22nd Dec 1914 as not suitable for service, they were unsure if his real age was 44 or 49, although Lieut Colonel A.W. Pennyman of the KOSB in Berwick wanted to retain him I also have a picture of him in an army uniform which I think may be around that time, but I can't identify the cap badge. These records did give me further history on him . He served in the Scots Fusiliers #1923, 7yrs 127dys with the colours and 4yrs, 238dys in the reserve , discharged in 1898. Although I have this info its difficult to get more records from these days. |
Pte. Andrew H. "Dan" Rule MM. 1st/4th Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers (d.17th Sep 1918) Private Andrew H. Rule was in the Machine Gun Section of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers, 1st/4th Battalion. He was reported killed in action on 17th September 1918. He was the third son of the late Robert Rule and of Mrs. Rule, Hawick, and the grandson of the late John Rule, Inspector of Poor. He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. Private Rule's uncle, Private Harry Rule, was lost at sea on 1st January 1917 when SS Ivernia was torpedoed and sunk near Cape Matapan, Greece. |
Pte. William Bisset Donaldson 1/4 Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers (d.17th July 1915) My great uncle, William Donaldson was wounded at Gallipoli on 12/07/1915 and died of his wounds on HMHS Astruias on 17/07/1915. He was buried in Alexandra, Chatsby Cemetry, Egypt. He joined the 4th Bn The King's Own Scottish Borderers, Territoral Force on 17/11/1913. |
List of those who served with The King's Own Scottish Borderers during The Great War
- Pte. William Bisset Donaldson 1/4 Battalion (d.17th July 1915) Read his Story.
- Private John Kilbride 7th and 8th Battalions (d.23th Jul 1918)
- Pte. Thomas McKinley Read his Story.
- Pte. James Quinn 2nd Btn (d.15th Sept 1914) Read his Story.
- Pte. Andrew H. "Dan" Rule MM. 1st/4th Battalion (d.17th Sep 1918) Read his Story.
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History of the 9th (Scottish) Division John Ewing
The division’s record is graphically described in this history - what Field Marshal Lord Plumer in his foreword referred to as “a record of wonderful development of fighting efficiency.” There are useful appendices giving the Order of Battle, command and staff lists with the various changes; a table showing periods spent in the line, with locations; a table of battle casualties and the VC citations. The maps are good with adequate detail for actions to be followed.
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