If you enjoy this siteplease consider making a donation.
Home
Index of Memories.
Add Your Story
Features
Airfields
Allied Forces
Axis Forces
Home Front
Prisoner of War
Secret Places
Ships of WWII
Women at War
Those Who Served
Day-by-Day
World War One
Submissions
How to add Memories
Add Your Memories
Can you Answer?
Printable Form
Schools
School Study Center
Children's Bookshop
Information
Your Family History
Contact us
News
Bookshop
About
Links
World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII
The 4th Battalion The Cameron Highlanders
Excerpt from Tobruk: The Story of a Seige; by Anthony Heckstall-Smith, 1960.
The 4th Battalion The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders were part of 152 Infantry Brigade of the 51st (Highland) Division with the BEF early in the war. The 4ths were part of the two brigades who covered the British and French withdrawal to Dunkirk and were captured in France in June 1940.
The 4th Battalion was reconstituted in Inverness in July 1940, and departed to garrison the Dutch West Indies. In march 1942 they were The Battalion was then assigned to 46th (Highland) Brigade of the 15th (Scottish) Division, as replacements for the 7th Battalion. In November 1942, they were posted to the 228th Independent Infantry Brigade, part of the Orkney & Shetland Defences (OSDEF). In December 1942 after 2nd Battalion had been lost at Tobruk, the 4ths were disbanded and reformed as the 2nd Battalion
On the 20 December 1942 the 4th Battalion The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (228th Independent Infantry Brigade, Orkney & Shetland Defenses) were disbanded and reformed the 2nd Battalion. In January 1944 they were assigned to the 11th Indian Infantry Brigade, 4th Indian Infantry and departed for Taranto, Italy. They took part in the lengthy campaigns in Italy until November 1944 when they were then sent to Greece. In July 1945 they were flown to Austria as part of 61st Infantry Brigade, 6th Armoured Division for occupation duties returning to Britain at the end of August 1945.
List of those who served with 4th Battalion The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders during The Second World War
- Lt Col Ian E. Begg 4th Btn Read his Story.
- Neil Campbell MM. 4th Btn.
- Hugh Oliver MM. 4th Btn.
Lt Col Ian E. Begg 4th Btn Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Early in 1942 this unit along with the 2nd BN Shropshire Light Infantry was transported by train from New Orleans to Halifax NS. From 21 Feb-9 Mar 1942 these two BNs were stationed at Ft Slocum, NY, an installation of the New York Port of Embarkation located in Long Island Sound near New Rochelle, NY (just north of the Bronx line. Because of wartime secrecy little is known about this episode. I am the historian of Ft. Slocum. I would be grateful if anyone could provide more information about Lt/Col Begg and/or his unit.
Links
Can you help us to add to our records?
The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them
Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area?
If so please let us know.
Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice.
Celebrate your own Family History
Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc.
Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.
Allied Forces Index