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- 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

2nd Battalion, Scots Guards



   2nd Battalion, Scots Guards served in North Africa and Italy during the Second World War.

   location map

1st Jan 1941 Demonstration  location map

2nd Jan 1941 Reliefs  location map

3rd Jan 1941 Musketry  location map

4th Jan 1941 Musketry  location map

5th Jan 1941 Transit Camp  location map

6th Jan 1941 Courses  location map

8th Jan 1941 Greetings  location map

9th Jan 1941 Clothing  location map

10th Jan 1941 Conference  location map

11th Jan 1941 Parade  location map

13th Jan 1941 Reliefs

14th Jan 1941 Inspection  location map

15th Jan 1941 Advance Party  location map

16th Jan 1941 Reliefs  location map

17th Jan 1941 Reliefs  location map

18th Jan 1941 Inspection  location map

20th Jan 1941 Hand Over  location map

21st Jan 1941 On the Move  location map

22nd Jan 1941 Defences  location map

23rd Jan 1941 In Camp  location map

24th Jan 1941 In Camp  location map

25th Jan 1941 Route March  location map

26th Jan 1941 Football  location map

27th Jan 1941 Training  location map

28th Jan 1941 Accounts  location map

29th Jan 1941 Route March  location map

30th Jan 1941 Air Raid  location map

31st Jan 1941 Visit  location map

1st Feb 1941 Death  location map

2nd Feb 1941 Church Parade  location map

4th Feb 1941 Anti Tank Rifles  location map

5th Feb 1941 Orders  location map

5th Feb 1941 In Defence  location map

7th Feb 1941 In Defence  location map

8th Feb 1941 Conference

9th Feb 1941 Reliefs

10th Feb 1941 Tents

11th Feb 1941 Change of Command

12th Feb 1941 Reliefs  location map

14th Feb 1941 Hand Over  location map

15th Feb 1941 Demonstration  location map

16th Feb 1941 Sunday  location map

17th Feb 1941 Enemy Aircraft

18th Feb 1941 Enemy Aircraft  location map

19th Feb 1941 Course  location map

20th Feb 1941 Preparations

21st Feb 1941 Demonstration

22nd Feb 1941 Demonstration

23rd Feb 1941 Orders

24th Feb 1941 Orders

25th Feb 1941 Conference

26th Feb 1941 On the Move

27th Feb 1941 Conference

28th Feb 1941 Storm

15th Mar 1941 Exercise

1st Apr 1941 Excerise

2nd Apr 1941 Leave

3rd Apr 1941 Orders

4th Apr 1941 Equipment  location map

5th Apr 1941 Demonstration  location map

6th Apr 1941 On the Move

7th Apr 1941 Orders

8th Apr 1941 Defence Work

9th Apr 1941 Orders  location map

10th Apr 1941 Reliefs

11th Apr 1941 Patrols

12th Apr 1941 Dust Storm  location map

13th Apr 1941 Prisoners  location map

14th Apr 1941 Mine  location map

15th Apr 1941 Defences  location map

16th Apr 1941 Reliefs  location map

17th Apr 1941 Reliefs  location map

18th Apr 1941 Defences  location map

19th Apr 1941 Recce  location map

20th Apr 1941 Patrol  location map

21st Apr 1941 Patrol

22nd Apr 1941 Patrol  location map

23rd Apr 1941 Patrols  location map

24th Apr 1941 Patrols

25th Apr 1941 Patrols

26th Apr 1941 Orders

27th Apr 1941 Withdrawal

28th Apr 1941 Patrols  location map

29th Apr 1941 Patrol

30th Apr 1941 Patrol  location map

15th May 1941 In Action

16th May 1941 In Action

6th March 1943 Attack

16th Mar 1943 Orders

16th March 1943 Orders

17th Mar 1943 In Action

17th Mar 1943 Report

1st Sep 1943  Move

2nd Sep 1943  On the March

3rd Sep 1943  On the Move

4th Sep 1943  On the Move

6th Sep 1943 On the Move

8th Sep 1943  On the Move

9th Sep 1943  On the Move

9th Sep 1943 In Action

10th Sep 1943  In Action

10th Sep 1943 In Action

11th Sep 1943  In Action

11th Sep 1943 Counter Attack

12th Sep 1943  At Rest

12th Sep 1943 Orders

13th Sep 1943  Reorganisation

13th Sep 1943 Positions Strengthened

14th Sep 1943  Enemy Flushed

14th Sep 1943 Orders Issued

15th Sep 1943  Shelling

15th Sep 1943 Patrols

16th Sep 1943  Recce

16th Sep 1943 Enemy Active

17th Sep 1943  Shelling

17th Sep 1943 Air Raid

18th Sep 1943  Advance

19th Sep 1943  Move

18th Sep 1943 Advance

19th Sep 1943 Orders

20th Sep 1943  Shelling

20th Sep 1943 Reliefs

21st Sep 1943  Patrol

21st Sep 1943 Shelling

22nd Sep 1943  Night Attack

23rd Sep 1943  Advance

24th Sep 1943  Standing by

25th Sep 1943  Attack Launched

26th Sep 1943  Heavy Rain

27th Sep 1943  On the Move

28th Sep 1943  Refitting

30th Sep 1943  Parade

1st Oct 1943 Moves

2nd Oct 1943 HQ Established

4th Oct 1943 Move

5th Oct 1943 Road Cleared

6th Oct 1943 Orders

7th Oct 1943 New Positions

8th Oct 1943 Patrols

9th Oct 1943 Crossing Points

10th Oct 1943 Enemy Active

11th Oct 1943 Recce Patrol

12th Oct 1943 Crossing

13th Oct 1943 Assault Made

14th Oct 1943 River Crossed

15th Oct 1943 Smoke Screen

16th Oct 1943 Patrol

17th Oct 1943 Prisoners Taken

18th Oct 1943 In Action

19th Oct 1943 Advance

20th Oct 1943 Bodies Found

21st Oct 1943 Preparations

22nd Oct 1943 Assault Made

23rd Oct 1943 Recce

26th Oct 1943 Reliefs

27th Oct 1943 Patrols

28th Oct 1943 New Positions

29th Oct 1943 Advance

30th Oct 1943 Progress Made

31st Oct 1943 Mines

14th November 1943 Withdrawal

2nd December 1943 Instructions

10th January 1944 New Billets

16th January 1944 Church Parade

3rd Feb 1944 Exercise

4th Feb 1944 Exercise

9th Feb 1944 Address

14th Feb 1944 Orders

15th Feb 1944 Exercise

16th Feb 1944 Exercise

17th Feb 1944 Exercise

18th Feb 1944 Exercise

19th Feb 1944 Exercise

20th Feb 1944 Exercise

21st Feb 1944 Exercise

22nd Feb 1944 Exercise

23rd Feb 1944 Exercise

24th Feb 1944 Exercise

25th Feb 1944 At Rest

1st March 1944 Wet

2nd March 1944 Recce Patrol

3rd March 1944 Flares

4th March 1944 Patrol

5th March 1944 Patrol

6th March 1944 Quiet

7th March 1944 Reliefs

8th March 1944 In Billets

9th March 1944 Orders

11th March 1944 Conference

12th March 1944 Entertainment

13th March 1944 Reorganisation

18th March 1944 Eruption

19th March 1944 Inspection

20th March 1944 Entertainment

21st March 1944 Drill

22nd Mar 1944 Visit

22nd March 1944 Dinner

24th March 1944 Poor Visibility

25th March 1944 Parade

26th March 1944 Dinner

29th March 1944 Postings

30th March 1944 Posting

12th Apr 1944 Exercise

17th Jul 1944 Orders

18th Jul 1944 On the Move

19th Jul 1944 Counterattack

20th Jul 1944 In Action

24th Jul 1944 Orders

25th Jul 1944 Attack Made

26th Jul 1944 Digging in

26th Aug 1944 Boxing

28th Aug 1944 Orders

5th Sep 1944 Rumours

6th Sep 1944 Advance

7th Sep 1944 In Defence

10th Sep 1944 Attack Made

13th Sep 1944 Attack Made

17th Sep 1944 Orders

17th Sep 1944 On the Move

18th Sep 1944 Advance

18th Sep 1944 Air Raid and Artillery

19th Sep 1944 Advance

19th Sep 1944 Recce

20th Sep 1944 Advance

20th Sep 1944 Bridge Inspected

21st Sep 1944 Advance

21st Sep 1944 On the Move

22nd Sep 1944 Moves

23rd Sep 1944 Attack Made

24th Sep 1944 Reliefs

25th Sep 1944 Defence

26th Sep 1944 Prisoners

27th Sep 1944 Patrols

28th Sep 1944 Reports

2nd Oct 1944 Shelling

1st January 1945  Preparations  location map

3rd January 1945  Leave  location map

5th January 1945  Dance  location map

6th January 1945  Festivities  location map

7th January 1945  Festivities  location map

8th January 1945  Christmas Dinner  location map

9th January 1945  Mobilisation  location map

10th January 1945  Inspection

11th January 1945  Conference  location map

12th January 1945  Training  location map

13th January 1945  Inspection  location map

14th January 1945  Divine Services  location map

15th January 1945  Exercise  location map

20th January 1945  Parade  location map

21st January 1945  Orders  location map

22nd January 1945  Conference

23rd January 1945  Address  location map

24th January 1945  Preparations  location map

25th January 1945  Hard Frost  location map

26th January 1945  Snow and Ice  location map

27th January 1945  Difficult Conditions  location map

28th January 1945  On the Move  location map

29th January 1945  On the Move  location map

30th January 1945  Snow

31st January 1945  Advance Party

1st Feb 1945  Preparations

2nd Feb 1945  On the Move  location map

3rd Feb 1945  Demonstration

4th Feb 1945  Training  location map

5th Feb 1945  Briefing  location map

6th Feb 1945  Preparations  location map

7th Feb 1945  Preparations

8th Feb 1945  On the Move  location map

9th Feb 1945  V1s

10th Feb 1945  Slow Progress  location map

11th Feb 1945  Awaiting Orders

12th Feb 1945  Awaiting Orders  location map

13th Feb 1945  Awaiting Orders  location map

14th Feb 1945  Spectators  location map

15th Feb 1945  Awaiting Orders  location map

16th Feb 1945  Cramped Conditions  location map

17th Feb 1945  New Billets  location map

18th Feb 1945  Church Parade  location map

19th Feb 1945  Orders

20th Feb 1945  Recce  location map

21st Feb 1945  Heavy Opposition  location map

22nd Feb 1945  Reliefs  location map

23rd Feb 1945  Patrols  location map

24th Feb 1945  Civilians  location map

20th March 1945 Officers Dinner


If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.



Those known to have served with

2nd Battalion, Scots Guards

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Bolland Stanley. Gdsman (d.20th November 1941)
  • Bryson John Huntington. L/Cpl. (d.26th Feb 1944)
  • Erskine DSO MID. Ian David. Major Gen.
  • Howis Francis Henry. Gdsm.
  • Livingston James Govan. Pte.
  • McSorley MM David James Hanvey. Gdsmn.
  • Reid Adam Haddow. Gdsm. (d.15th March 1942)
  • Smith Robert. Gdsm.

The 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, Scots Guards from other sources.



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Want to know more about 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards?


There are:1604 items tagged 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards available in our Library

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


Gdsm. Francis Henry Howis 2nd Btn. Scots Guards

Francis Howis was a member of the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards, Guards Armoured Division, XXX Corps, he drove a Churchill tank whilst serving in northwest Europe (France, Holland, Germany). He participated in the Battle of the Rhineland from March to May 1945.

Bryan Howis



Gdsm. Adam Haddow Reid 2nd Battalion Scots Guards (d.15th March 1942)

Adam Reid was gravely injured in North Africa. A French doctor wrote to his parents to tell them of his death. He is remembered with honour in Torbruk War Cemetery.

Fiona Crookston



Gdsm. Robert "Big Rab" Smith 1st Battalion Scots Guards

My father Robert Smith was called up on the 19th of June 1940, he served in U.K, Egypt, Syria, Middle East, North Africa, and Italy. he was awarded the Africa Star, Italy Star, British War Medal and was demobbed on 21st of September 1946.

My father became very emotional when he sang The D-Day Dodgers out in Italy, around New Year time for friends and family. I am now an old man and I also become emotional when I think of those parties, and watched him sing. Luckily, I had an old cassette which I had converted to C.D, so I can hear him sing at a party when he was 61 at the time. My dad died in 1979. Needless to say, I am very proud of him.

Alex Smith



Pte. James Govan "Jock" Livingston 2nd Battalion. F Coy. Scots Guards

Do not know much about my father, James Livingston's war service. Only that he was with the 8th Army in North Africa and was later in Italy and Europe.

Ian Livingston



L/Cpl. John Huntington Bryson 2nd Btn. Scots Guards (d.26th Feb 1944)

John Bryson is buried in Naples War Cemetery.

Angela Hardy



Gdsmn. David James Hanvey McSorley MM 2nd Btn. Scots Guards

Recommendation for Award. Account of Escape of 2700557 McSorley, David, 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, 201 Guards Brigade.

At 1A is a brief account of the escape from an Arbeitskommando attached to Stalag VIII B (Lamsdorf/Lambinowice), Germany, of 2700557 Gdsn. McSorley, David, of the Scots Guards.

I recommend this man for the award of M.M. 3rd of January 1945

2700557 Guardsman David McSorley, 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, 201 Guards Brigade. Captured in Italy near Salerno on 12 September 1943, McSorley was imprisoned at Gorlitz (Stalag VIII A) and Lamsdorf (Stalag VIII B). With the idea of escape in mind, he volunteered for work and was sent to Arbeitskommando 768 at Kumau. Three other Prisoners of War also were determined to regain their freedom, and a fortnight was spent in perfecting plans. On 28th of June 1944 they gained access to the Red Cross stores by removing a panel from one door, securing a key to another, and climbing over a third. Previously they had removed bricks from the outer wall, merely leaving a thin layer of plaster; breaking through this aperture, they reached the outside of the camp. For eight days they walked towards Hungary before a farmer gave them civilian clothes and promised a guide to Yugoslavia. When several weeks later the guide had not appeared, McSorley and another member of the party proceeded alone, were betrayed by a civilian and handed over to the local police. There were interned at Greneva and immediately explored the possibilities of escape. Before their arrangements were perfected, however, they were released on the approach of the Germans. McSorley, accompanied by an American airman, walked to Rozindol, from where their journey was arranged. On 18th of September 1944 they were evacuated to Italy.

John McSorley



Gdsman Stanley Bolland 2nd Btn. Scots Guards (d.20th November 1941)

My uncle Stanley Bolland, Guardsman, served with 2nd Btn Scots Guards, No. 8 Commando and "L" Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade. He was killed on 20th November 1941 in a failed attack on Tmimi/Gazala landing strips in North Africa. Does anyone have any further information about my uncle?

John Bolland



Major Gen. Ian David Erskine DSO MID. 2nd Btn. Scots Guards

Ian David Erskine fought in the First World War and was Brigade Major of the 1st Guards Brigade between 1935 and 1939. He was mentioned in dispatches twice. He was commander of the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards in 1940. He was commander of the 22nd Guards Brigade in 1941. He was decorated with the award of the Companion, Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) in 1941. He gained the rank of Brigadier in 1942. He gained the rank of Major-General in 1945.

S. Flynn









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