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- 8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders



   The 8th Battalion of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders went to France in early 1940 with the British Expeditionary Force, along with the 7th Battalion, forming part of the 51st Highland Division. Both battalions suffered grievous casualties in the retreat to Dunkirk with many men lost or taken as prisoners of war. The remainder of the battalion eventually escaped through Le Havre. The 7th and 8th were re-formed from men of the 10th and 11th Battalions who were still in Scotland.

The 8th Battalion saw action in Tunisia, Sicily and through out Italy.

 

16th Apr 1940 On the Move

1st May 1940 Reliefs

15th May 1940 Orders

20th May 1940 Withdrawal

22nd May 1940 Threat

23rd May 1940 In Reserve

24th May 1940 Orders

25th May 1940 On the Move

26th May 1940 Moves

27th May 1940 On the Move

28th May 1940 On the Move

6th Jun 1940 Reorganisation

7th Jun 1940 Enemy Movement

9th Jun 1940 In Defence

9th Jun 1940 In Defence

11th Jun 1940 Orders

28th Feb 1943 In Action

3rd Mar 1943 Attack Made

4th Mar 1943 In Defence

21st Mar 1943 Counter Attack

25th Mar 1943 Reliefs

31st Mar 1943 Advance

7th Apr 1943 In Action

4th Oct 1943 In Action

5th Oct 1943 In Action

6th Oct 1943 Withdrawal

19th of May 1944 Action  location map

18th of April 1945 Move  location map


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

8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Adams Charles John. Pte.
  • Anderson VC John Thompson McKellar. Maj. (d.5 October 1943)
  • Anderson William Russell. Pte. (d.20th Nov 1943)
  • Chambers Charles. Pte. (d.3rd Apr 1944)
  • Cleaver John. Pte. (d.20th April 1941)
  • Edwards Thomas. L/Cpl.
  • Ellis Percy Goronwy. Sgt. (d.21st June 1944)
  • Erskine Ralph Barrie. Capt. (d.23rd April 1943)
  • Erskine MID. William Baird. L/Cpl.
  • Gray James McDonald.
  • Hall Frederick. Pte. (d.23rd Apr 1943)
  • Kelly Jimmy. L/Cpl.
  • Kelly John. Pte.
  • Lauder Alexander. Pte
  • Mackay John. Pte.
  • McAllister Fred. Sgt.
  • McCrorie John McLean Gemmell. Cpl. (d.28th November 1942)
  • McMillan William. Sgt. (d.23rd April 1943)
  • Plimbley Joseph. Pte. (d.2nd Jun 1944)
  • Robertson Archibald Mackay. Gnr.
  • Scott Roderick. (d.12th Jan 1943)
  • Simpson Rennie. Pte. (d.19th April 1945)
  • Simpson Stephen. Cpl. (d.22th Oct 1944)
  • Walters Glyn. Pte. (d.18th April 1945)
  • Webber Jack. 2/Lt.
  • Williams George Francis. Pte.

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 8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders from other sources.



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Want to know more about 8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders?


There are:1346 items tagged 8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 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.


James McDonald Gray 8th Btn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

James Gray was my uncle, I found his war record and Australian Army record.

Anne Moody



Pte. George Francis "Taffy" Williams 9th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

My father-in-law George Williams served in the 2nd World War from 30th of May 1944. He started in the South Staffordshire Regiment and transferred to the 9th KOYLI in 1944, serving in Italy until transferred to the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1945, where he remained until the end of the war.

H Williams



L/Cpl. William Baird Erskine MID. 8th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

William Erskine joined the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at the beginning of the war. He married in 1941 and had 1 son. He fought in the successful North African campaign. He was then sent to Sicily and to the Italian campaign. He was promoted to Lance Corporal sometime then.

Somewhere in the push northwards through Italy he was captured by the German army and perhaps that was when he was listed as missing on 27th of October 1943. He was actually forced to march through Germany and onto Torgua in Eastern Germany where he was held POW in Stalag 4d. He was made to work in local armaments companies where on the production lines he deliberately pierced holes in the wrong places. He also escaped on 2 occasions but was recaptured each time. He was released by the Russian advance and returned home to Scotland at the end of the war when he met his 4 year old son for the first time. He was awarded the following medals: The Italy Star, The Africa Star, The 1939-1945 Star and the War Medal 1939-1945.

William G Erskine



Pte. Joseph Plimbley 8th Btn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (d.2nd Jun 1944)

My uncle, Joseph Plimbley of the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, fought and is buried at Monte Cassino, dying on 2nd June 1944. His inscription reads 'He fought the good fight'.

Stephen Plimbley



Sgt. William McMillan 8th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (d.23rd April 1943)

William McMillan was my second great uncle. He was born in 1921 in Bridgend of Isle of Islay, Scotland and my Great Gran's older brother. He served with the 8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was killed in action on 23rd of April 1943. He was just 22 years old. He is buried in Tunisia. His grave reads "No Dawn Shall Rise No sun Shall Set But We'll Remember Him".

I don't have any photographs of him but I did notice there were some others that had posted with relatives that had passed away that exact same day so it would be more than likely William knew some of them. His name is one of the many that are remembered in Edinburgh Castle.




Pte. Rennie Simpson 8th Btn. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (d.19th April 1945)

Rennie Simpson was my Grandfather. He was killed in Italy painfully close to the end of WW2. He was only 27 years old. He left behind his wife Ida Simpson and his daughter Eileen Simpson aged just 7 I believe. Eileen was my mother. Now sadly passed herself.

I recall memories of her saying Rennie was reluctant to return to battle, following his last leave. He believed he would not return alive. So much so he almost missed deployment with his battalion. Not through any cowardice, simply due to being so engrossed with his wife and child, time went by rapidly and MPs turned up at his door believing he was trying to go AWOL! He believed he had 3 more days when in reality he was almost 12 hrs late rejoining his Battalion.

Many years passed before my mum found his exact burial site. Thanks to MOD researchers she discovered details of the date he died, which theatre and how. They also gave her the details of his burial site in Coriano Ridge War Cemetery Italy. She then got the opportunity to visit her father's grave and say goodbye. Finally getting some closure to something that had left a gaping wound in her life.

A grandfather I had never known, but gave his life for me and many millions more besides, in order to secure a future free from tyranny and oppression. But for him and millions of other soldiers, we would not have the freedoms we now enjoy, the world over. To my Grandad and all those who made the ultimate sacrifice, I wholeheartedly say thank you.

Dieter King



Pte. Glyn Walters 8th Btn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (d.18th April 1945)

Glyn Walters was killed in action at 26 years of age during the Battle of the Argenta Gap.

Nia Jenkins



Roderick Scott 8th Btn. Argyll and Southern Highlanders (d.12th Jan 1943)

Roderick Scott died in Algiers.

Lynda Scott



Capt. Ralph Barrie Erskine 8th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (d.23rd April 1943)

Barrie in kilt 1941

Barrie Erskine was born in January 1918, two weeks after his father Captain Ralph Erskine RFC was killed in Italy when his Sopwith Camel was shot down behind enemy lines. Educated at Harrow, Barrie was by all accounts a charming man with some unconventional habits such as standing in front of an open fire and lifting his kilt to warm his bottom!He joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1940 and was killed in action while laying telephone cables at the Battle of Longstop Hill on 23rd of April 1943.

Robert Lee



Gnr. Archibald Mackay Robertson 8th Btn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

My grandpa Archie Robertson was a Brenn Gunner in the 8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of WW2. He was captured and spent 5 years as a POW. He was captured in France and spent time working in the salt mines, and he was later marched all the way back to Germany.

Katie









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