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The 9th Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
The 9th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was raised in 1939. They undertook training in the UK and formed part of the UK defensive force. They joined the 46th (Highland) Infantry Brigade on 28 December 1942 and began ttraining and preparations for D-Day.
The 9th Cameronians set sail for Normandy, France on 17 June 1944, they did not land until 23 June, as their motor transport was delayed due to a storm. They finally disembarked at the British Mulberries at Arromanches. Their first objective was the village of Haut Du Bosq, which was captured on the 26th of June.
The Cameronians Regiment page
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List of those who served with the 9th Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) during The Second World War
- Rifleman Stanley Fredrick Archer 9th Battalion (d.30th Apr 1945) Read his Story.
- Rfm. Ernest Bates 9th Btn. (d.16th Feb 1945)
- Leslie Chapman 9th Btn.
- Rfm. Charles Coleburn 9th Btn. (d.24th Sep 1944)
- Rfm. John Dawson 9th Btn. (d.6th Aug 1944)
- Rfm. Frank Gibbs 9th Btn.
- Cpl. Benjamin Charles Jackman 9th Btn. (d.16th Jan 1945)
- Gerald Jeffrey 9th Btn. D. Coy Read his Story.
- Rfm. Frank Norman Lewis 9th Btn. (d.30th Apr 1945)
- Sgt. Ronald Bernard Loftus 9th Btn. (d.7th Sep 1944)
- Rfm. Andrew McLean 9th Btn.
- Rfm. John Gerald Oliver 9th Btn. (d.26th Sep 1944)
- Cpl. Edgar George Price 9th Btn.
- Rfm. John Ritchie 9th Btn.
- Rfm. Robert Turnbull 9th Btn. (d.28th Nov 1944) Read his Story.
- Mjr. Lance Greville Warrington MC. (d.20th Nov 1944) Read his Story.
- Rfm. Walter Welton 9th Btn. Read his Story.
Gerald Jeffrey 9th Btn. D. Coy Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Soon after my 18th birthday I was conscripted into the Army and had to report at Carlisle. Later I was transferred to Ballykinla in Northern Ireland to undergo about 10 weeks training with the Royal Ulster Rifles. On completion I was then posted to Keighley to join the 9th Battalion "Cameronians" (Scottish Rifles), D Company.
As the time drew close to the D-Day landings, we were moved to Hove to be part of the build up to the landings. However, we did not join the actual invasion itself, but arrived on the 17th June 1944 to support and relieve the initial forces. The first on-going battle after the landings was known as "OPERATION EPSOM" which began on 26th June 1944. I think it was said that about 60,000 men took part with an enormous support barrage by the Royal Navy and Royal Artillery. Our company joined the start line and around 7.00am we moved across a corn field to commence our engagement with the enemy. It wasn't too long before we encountered cross-fire from the Germans in hedges either side. We were each given 3 or 4 hand grenades to lob in trenches that we saw ahead as we progressed. In my next move there was a trench, but not wanting to waste it, I tore past without using the grenade. However there were 3 Germans in it, whereupon I shouted to the men coming up from behind, and the next thing was the Germans had emerged and surrendered.
Our objective at Haut-du-Bosq was reached later that day. En route to Grainville-sur-Odon we had a bitter fight with the enemy, where I witnessed many men shot and wounded together with many falling dead around me. The cause of this was a sniper hiding out in a church. Having had to withdraw from that encounter, we sought to move forward again next morning. I was required to recover the dead body of an officer which was in a farmyard area and could be still under enemy fire. On his recovery to put him alongside other dead people, I saw many men who had suffered death by being charred by flame throwers. Other casualties had horrendous wounds including limbs blown off. After the battle there, we continued towards Grainville-sur Odon and were expecting to be relived for a rest and return to Mensil Patry. However, before that, 10 men were required to go on a night fighting reconnaissance into enemy territory.
Having infiltrated the German lines and being unable to find the enemy, our officer decided to call it a day and return back. At that point we came under attack and fell to the ground instinctively. Our officer, bren gunner and NCO were able to return fire and were able to flee the area. Unknowingly I was unaware I had been hit. With the Germans at the hill-top in the field, their fire towards us was clearly visible from the flashes from their weapons. Being very dark at the time (early hours after midnight) the remaining 7 of us huddled together along the hedgerow. Obviously the Germans knew we were somewhere there, and began scanning for us the other side. It didn't take them long to guess where we were, and began lobbing stick grenades over the hedge. In no time everyone was wounded in one way or another, and one named Allan Strathan Watson No 14515884 was severely wounded by shrapnel and died during that first night of captivity.
We had no hope of returning to our unit and so we decided to surrender, shouting out " Kamerad, Kamerad" we were dragged over the hedge where I collapsed with my injured foot. Immediately a pistol was put to my head by a German whereupon I screamed "Kamerad" at him. Another German spoke to him and he put the pistol away. Taken up to a farm out-building my boot was taken off while I was in great pain and screaming to stop. The bullets had entered my foot and ankle taking the sock and part of the boot as well. After spending 3 days at the front with the Germans they placed me on a pole-seat and took me to the roadway where a kind of jeep took me to be interrogated by a German officer. He insisted I told him the purpose of our patrol, who was on our left and right flanks and which regiments in the area were taking part. For my part I was completely ignorant of the answers, as we really did not know anything, so I was somewhat relieved not to be pressurised into telling him. However, after that I was placed in a field among many Hitler jugend members of the 12th SS Panzer Grenadiers where I was subjected to much verbal abuse.
Later I was placed in an ambulance along with 4 German wounded, but as there was no more stretcher room, I had to crouch at the rear, to suffer agonising pain with my wounded foot. The ambulance set off that night, but en route to its final destination, I was taken out of it and placed in a classroom at a school and left there alone and in pitch darkness. The next day I was taken to Rennes where it seemed a local school was being used as a hospital. I was in the hospital for the remainder of my captivity, not having any treatment whatsoever, save for the Nuns coming in to dress my wound. As the war progressed the American Army was getting nearer to the hospital, for we could hear gunfire in the distance. The Germans threatened us that anyone looking out of the window at the planes would be shot, and anyone able to escape, there would be 10 of us shot for their daring. As a bed patient I was naturally very concerned.
When eventually the American Army over-ran the area, I was taken to their field hospital and had penicillin pumped into me at regular intervals during the night. I was soon taken to Cherbourg to be taken by landing craft and on to "Blighty". In taking details of everyone wounded and going home the American soldier with his clip-board, shouted out pointing to me, "This is one for the Poiple Heart" ( The Purple Heart was a medal issued to American soldiers for getting wounded). Of course I had to correct him that I was not entitled to it. I arrived back in Weymouth and taken to Winford Hospital near Brisol. Eventually I was discharged from the Army being medically unfit. All this happened between December 1943 until January 1945 and with only 9 months actual military service. I was still only 18 years old to the time I was released as a P.O.W.
Rfm. Robert Turnbull 9th Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.28th Nov 1944)
I'm looking for information on the rifleman Robert Turnbull number : 3863491 who served on the 9th Bn., Cameronians ( Scottish rifles ) and was killed on 28th November 1944 in Lottum/Grubbenvorst in Holland.
Mjr. Lance Greville Warrington MC. South Staffordhire Regiment (d.20th Nov 1944)
Mjr Warrington was attached to the 9th Btn of the Camerionians (Scottish Rifles) when he was killed. He was 31 years old and was married.
Rfm. Walter Welton 9th Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Rifleman Walter Welton served in the 9th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). He fought from Hout Do Bosq, Eterville. Lost a lot of comrades at Paderbourn (Germany). Did some serious street to street fighting in Celle (Germany). He also remembers going through Keel, Cleve? (Germany).
Rifleman Stanley Fredrick Archer 9th Battalion Cameronian Scottish Rifles (d.30th Apr 1945)
Hello trying to trace any imformation re my husband uncle killed on the river Elbe,would like to know what fighting he would have been engaged in as it was almost the end of the war in europe. Some years ago we did visit his grave in Hamberg Cemetery and there were about eight more graves along side all from the same reg we assumed they may have all died in the same conflict. Stan had only been married ten weeks his wifes name was Jean and lived in Shields.Len my husband was thirteen when Stan died so looked on him like a brother never forgot him and often speaks of him so it would be great if someone maybe remembers him or what really happend him. regards.
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