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- 2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)



   2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) were based at Catterick Camp, Yorkshire when war broke out in 1939. They were deployed to France with the BEF and were involved in some of the heaviest fighting in the Dunkirk campaign. After a spell in Britain engaged in home defence, they served in Sicily, Italy and North-West Europe.

 

11th of March 1940 Orders

1st Apr 1940 Exercise  location map

3rd Apr 1940 Visit

4th Apr 1940 Visit

5th Apr 1940 Visit  location map

9th Apr 1940 Reorganisation  location map

10th Apr 1940 Orders  location map

11th Apr 1940 Stand Fast

13th Apr 1940 Orders  location map

28th Apr 1940 Warning

1st May 1940 On the Move

2nd May 1940 On the Move

3rd May 1940 Move Cancelled  location map

4th May 1940 Preparations  location map

7th May 1940 Concentration  location map

8th May 1940 Training  location map

9th May 1940 Training  location map

10th May 1940 Orders  location map

11th May 1940 Orders  location map

12th May 1940 Divisional HQ Moves

13th May 1940 Recce  location map

14th May 1940 Orders  location map

16th May 1940 On the Move  location map

17th May 1940 In Action  location map

18th May 1940 On the Move  location map

19th May 1940 On the Move  location map

20th May 1940 Air Raids  location map

20th May 1940 Orders  location map

21st May 1940 Hard Fighting  location map

21st May 1940 Orders

21st May 1940 Orders

21st May 1940 Intelligence

22nd May 1940 Under Pressure

23rd May 1940 Surrounded

24th May 1940 On the Move

25th May 1940 Congestion

26th May 1940 Bombing  location map

26th May 1940 Escape corridor

27th May 1940 Air Attacks

27th May 1940 Enemy Attacks

28th May 1940 Air Attacks  location map

28th May 1940 In Action  location map

29th May 1940 Withdrawal

30th May 1940 Withdrawal  location map

21st May 1942 On the Move

30th of September 1942 Movement Order No. 3.  location map

2nd Sep 1943 Planning

26th Sep 1944 Exercise

13th Dec 1944 Rifle Meeting

16th December 1944 Football match

19th May 1945 On the Move

21st May 1945 In Action

22nd May 1945 Advance


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, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Anderson John William. Rfmn. (d.10th-31st May 1940)
  • Ballinger Robert. Pte. (d.2nd Jun 1940)
  • Baylise Ernest May. Rifleman (d.23rd May 1940)
  • Breen James Anthony. Sgt.
  • Callender Christopher James. Rflmn.
  • Cameron Allan. Cpl.
  • Colwell James. Rfmn.
  • Devlin John Joseph. C/Sgt
  • Fish Stephen. Sgt.
  • Galloway Andrew. Capt.
  • Godsall Charles Herbert. Sgt. (d.btwn. 25th May and 4th June 1940)
  • Griffin Enoch Frederick. Rflmn. (d.27th May 1940)
  • Higgins Frank. Pte. (d.19th Jul 1943)
  • Koppens Johannes Martinus. Rflmn. (d.27th May 1940)
  • Leckenby A.. Rfmn.
  • Logan John. Rflmn. (d.6th Aug 1943)
  • McCallum Thomas Jones. Rfn. (d.8th Apr 1944)
  • Meek George. 2nd Lt.
  • Norton Arthur. Pte.
  • Openshaw William. Pte.
  • Peel Thomas Anthony. Pte.
  • Richardson Richard. L/Cpl. (d.22nd April 1944)
  • Shakesby John. L/Cpl.
  • Simmons Dennis. Rifleman
  • Stockley Norman. Rflmn. (d.1st August 1943)
  • Thomson Allan Stewart. Rflmn. (d.30th Mar 1942)
  • Watson James . Rfm.
  • Wright Fred John. L/Cpl.

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, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) from other sources.



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


There are:1371 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 Second World War.


Rfmn. John William Anderson 2nd Btn Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.10th-31st May 1940)

John Anderson was my Grandfather, my Mother's father, who died between the 10th and 31st of May 1940, the month before my Mother was born. He served with the Scottish Rifles 2nd Battalion in WW2. We understand he was almost kicked out of the Army for enlisting under the name Foster. His correct surname was Anderson but he was raised by his Gran who was a Foster. He is buried in Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery in Belgium, along with three other Cameronians.

Jill Parkin



Rflmn. Norman Stockley 2nd Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.1st August 1943)

Norman Stockley, was killed in action on the 1st of August 1943. He was 23 years old. Married to Claire. They had one son also named Norman who was born in the March of that year. Clare and the family, Walter and Rose received a letter of condolence from Norman's commanding officer before the official notice was received. Bruce, Norman's brother had been wounded at Dunkirk and taken prisoner. Just another of the tragic events of war.

Norman enlisted in 1939 before war broke out. Born in Essex but served with the Cameronian Scottish Rifles.

Bruce Stockley



Sgt. Charles Herbert Godsall 2nd Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.btwn. 25th May and 4th June 1940)

Herbert Godsall was my great uncle, he is buried in Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery.

Iain Cowan



Pte. Robert Ballinger 2nd Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.2nd Jun 1940)

Robert Ballinger died between 31st of May and 2nd of June 1940. He is buried at Middelkerke Communal Cemetery in Belgium.




Rflmn. John "Logie" Logan 2nd Battalion Cameronians Scottish Rifles (d.6th Aug 1943)

John Logan served with 2nd Battalion, Cameronians Scottish Rifles I am John's youngest nephew. I would like to know more about him and his injuries that he died from.

David Logan Stewart



Pte. William Openshaw 2nd Battalion Cameronian Scottish Rifles

Bill Openshaw was initially in India in the mid 1930's. He left the Army in 1938 and was called back into service in 1939. He was deployed with BEF to Belgium and was evacuated from Dunkirk.

He sailed for Madagascar but was diverted to Sicily. He fought on through Italy and then the lowlands of Europe. He was demobbed in 1946 and lived in Liverpool until his death in 1985.

Ian Openshaw



Capt. Andrew Galloway 2nd Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

Andrew Galloway was born in Girvan in the West of Scotland in 1901 died in 1999 aged 98. One of 10 children, one of his brothers died of tuberculosis at the age of 6. He Left school at 12 and was indentured by his father to a local farmer for the grand sum of £50 in 1913.

Andrew joined 2nd Battalion, Cameronians Scottish Rifles in 1918 as a Piper. He served in Ireland and Northern India, Iraq and Afghanistan during the 1920's and 30's. He had stories to tell about leading the battalion on the march through the Khyber Pass and being shot at constantly and lots of small skirmishes but rarely even having sight of the attackers. He left the army in 30's at which point he was the Pipe Major of the battalion.

He was re-enlisted as a Captain at the beginning of 2nd World War back into 2nd Cameronians where they were part of The British Expeditionary Force sent to France to fight the Germans. His major military action was at the Battle of The Ypres-Comis Canal, 26th to 28th of May 1940. The 2nd Cameronians were in the vanguard of an attack by The British 5th Division in a do or die attempt to hold the German troops at bay to allow the main body of the BEF to retreat back to Dunkirk. They succeeded in doing this for 3 days which was critical in allowing the main British fighting to escape the German blitzkrieg. Most of his friends and comrades many of whom he served with for many years in the Cameronians were killed. A part of his life he never spoke about.

He worked as a green keeper at Belleisle Golf Course in Ayr after his military service and was a keen golfer and a very modest, kind, stable and very well respected member of his local community in Ayr where he continued to serve as a Major in the Territorial Army after leaving the Regular Army.

Sandy Aird



Rflmn. Johannes Martinus "John" Koppens 2nd Battalion Cameronians (d.27th May 1940)

John Koppens was a Rifleman with 2nd Battalion, Cameronians who died on 27th of May 1940 aged 20, he is buried at the Esquelmes War Cemetery in Belgium.

Lisa Koppens



Sgt. James Anthony "Jock" Breen 2nd Btn. Scottish Rifles

My father was in the 2nd Scottish Rifles and was part of the BEF. He was captured in 1940 and my mother was on the widow's pension twice as missing presumed dead. He escaped twice and was liberated by the Americans in 1945 in one of the Stalag camps near Berlin.

William Breen



Rflmn. Allan Stewart Thomson 2nd Battalion Cameronians (d.30th Mar 1942)

I never met Allan Thomson, my uncle. He lied about his age as he was desperate to join up and gave his name as Robert Smith. He will not be forgotten. I admire him and his fellow countrymen who gave their lives to save us.

Carol









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