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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.
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