Robert Dunsire
18274 Private Robert Dunsire, 13th Battalion, The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment).
For most conspicuous bravery on Hill 70 on 26th September, 1915. Private Dunsire went out under very heavy fire and rescued a wounded man from between the firing lines. Later, when another man considerably nearer the German lines was heard shouting for help, he crawled out again with utter disregard to the enemy's fire and carried him in also. Shortly afterwards the Germans attacked over this ground. LG 18/11/1915
Henry Reynolds
T./Capt. Henry Reynolds, M.C., R. Scots.
For most conspicuous bravery when his company in attack and approaching their final objective, suffered heavy casualties from enemy machine guns and from an enemy "Pill-box ". which had been passed by the first wave. Capt. Reynolds reorganised his men who were scattered, and then proceeded alone by rushes from shell hole to shell hole, all the time1 being under heavy machine gun fire. When near the '' Pill-box "' he threw a grenade intending that it should go inside, but the enemy had blocked the entrance. He then crawled to the entrance and forced a phosphorous grenade inside. This set the place on fire and caused the death of three of the enemy, while the remainder, seven or eight, surrendered with two machine-guns. Afterwards, though wounded, he continued to lead his company against another objective; and captured it taking seventy prisoners, and two more machine guns.
During the whole attack-the company was under heavy machine gun fire from the flanks, but despite this Capt. Reynolds kept complete control of his men. 12th Battalion, 20 September 1917 near Frezenberg, Belgium. LG 8/11/1917
Roland Edward Elcock
No. 271410 L./Cpl. (A./Cpl.) Roland Edward Elcock, M.M., 11th Bn., R. Scots (Wolverhampton).
For most conspicuous bravery and initiative south-east of Capelle St. Catherine on the 15th October, 1918, when in charge of a Lewis gun team. Entirely on his own initiative, Cpl. Elcock rushed his gun up to within ten yards of enemy guns, which were causing heavy casualties and holding up the advance. He put both guns out of action, captured five prisoners, and undoubtedly saved the whole attack from being held up. Later, near the River Lys, this non commissioned officer again attacked an enemy machine gun and captured the crew. His behaviour throughout the day was absolutely fearless. LG 26/12/1918
David Stuart McGregor (Attached MGC)
Lt. David Stuart McGregor, late 6th Bn., R. Scots (T.F.), and 29th Bn., M.G. Corps.
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near Hoogmolen on 22nd of October, 1918, when in command of a section of machine guns attached to the right flank platoon of the assaulting battalion. Immediately the troops advanced they were subjected to intense enfilade machine gun fire from Hill 66 on the right flank. Lt. McGregor fearlessly went forward and located the enemy guns, and realised that it was impossible to get his guns carried forward either by pack or by hand without great delay, as the ground was absolutely bare and fire-swept. Ordering his men to follow by a more covered route, he mounted the limber and galloped forward under intense fire for about 600 yards to cover. The driver, horses and limber were all hit, but Lt. McGregor succeeded in getting the guns into action, effectively engaging the enemy, subduing their fire and enabling the advance to be resumed. With the utmost gallantry he continued to expose himself in order to direct and control the fire of his guns, until, about an hour later, he was killed. His great gallantry and supreme devotion to duty were the admiration of all ranks. LG 14/12/1918
Henry Howey Robson.
No. 11340 Private Henry Howey Robson, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment).
For most conspicuous bravery near Kemmel on the 14th December, 1914, during an attack on the German position, when he left his trench under a very heavy fire and rescued a wounded Non-commissioned Officer, and subsequently for making an attempt to bring another wounded man into cover, whilst exposed to a severe fire: In this attempt he was at once wounded, but persevered in his efforts until rendered helpless by being shot a second time. LG 18/2/15
Hugh McIver
No. 12311 Pte. Hugh McIver, M.M., late R. Scots (Newton). For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when employed as a company runner. In spite of heavy artillery and machine-gun fire he carried messages regardless of his own safety. Single-handed, he pursued an enemy scout into a machinegun post, and having killed six of the garrison captured twenty prisoners with two machine guns. This gallant action enabled the company to advance unchecked. Later, he succeeded at great personal risk in stopping the fire of a British Tank which was directed in error against our own troops at close range. By this very gallant action Pte. McIver undoubtedly saved many lives. 2nd Battalion, 23 August 1918 east of Courcelle-le Compte, France. LG 15/11/1918 - also awarded the MM and bar, LG 19/9/1916 and 21/10/1918
Joseph Prosser
No. 1672 Private Joseph Prosser, 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment
For two acts of bravery:
1st. On the 16th of June, 1855, when on duty in the trenches before Sebastopol, for pursuing and apprehending (while exposed to two cross fires) a soldier in the act of deserting to the enemy.
2nd. On the 11th August, 1855, before Sebastopol, for leaving the most advanced trench, and assisting to carry in a soldier of the 95th Regiment, who lay severely wounded, and unable to move. This gallant and humane act was performed under a very heavy fire from the enemy.
LG 24th February 1857
 

Medals of the Regiments:
The Royal Scots

 

© Images Copyright ©

Cap Badge of the Royal Scots Royal Scots Collar Badges
The badge of the regiment; the star of the Order of the Thistle with St Andrew and cross in the centre. A red cloth backing is normally worn behind the voided area. Pair of Royal Scots gilding metal collar badges
Kipling and King 589 

 
 

 

 

The Royal Scots
1633 - 2006
 
 
 
Titles
pre 1881 post 1881
1st,  (The Royal Scots) Regiment The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
   
 
Earliest recognised formation: 1633: when raised as Sir John Hepburn's Regiment, for service in France. (although some historians start 8 years earlier with Hepburn's Regiment serving on the Swedish and Danish establishments) The regiment returned to England from service on the continent in 1661. Titled "His Majesty's Royal Regiment of Foot " in 1684, and by 1751 known as as the 1st (Royal) Regiment of Foot.
 
Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit = No one provokes me with impunity.
 
Regimental Journal:  The Thistle.
 
WWI: Battle Honours; 71 Victoria Crosses; 6 Died; 11,162
WWII:    Battle Honours;  38 Victoria Crosses;  0 Died;  ????
 
Amalgamated: 2006, with the The Royal Highland Fusiliers, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, The Black Watch, The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons), and The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, to form The Royal Regiment of Scotland
 
 
War with France 1801-16: The Regiment was eventually increased to a maximum of 4 Regular battalions during this period.
 

West Indies (1st Battalion) Egypt Campaign 1801 (2nd Battalion) and the Peninsula War 1808 - 1814   (3rd Battalion)

Military General Service Medal.  1793 - 1814

 
             1st Battalion ? (assumed)
clasp:

Martinique

Guadaloupe

          
number: 27        
 
  2nd Battalion
   
clasp:

Egypt

            
number: 29            
 
  3rd Battalion
clasp:

Corunna

Busaco

Fuentes d' Onor

Badajos

Ciudad Rodrigo

Salamanca

Vittoria

number: 74         
 
clasp:

St Sebastian

Nivelle

Nive

 Total Medals Max clasps    
number:           
 

 

 

Battle Honours: St Lucia, Corunna, Busaco, Salamanca, Vittoria, St Sebastian, Nivelle,  Peninsula;  and a Sphinx superscribed Egypt was permitted to be borne on the colours

 
 
 

Battle of Waterloo 1815;  3rd Battalion

Waterloo Medal 1815

Number: 622
 
 

Casualties 16th, 17th & 18th June 1815 (extracted London Gazette 8/7/1815 & "Medals of the British Army: and how they were won" T. Carter 1861*)

Officers:  Killed; 1 Lieutenant, 1 Ensign. Wounded; 1 Major,  3 Captains, 6 Lieutenants, 3 Ensigns and 1 Staff. .

 

*Sergeants, Trumpeters, Drummers, Farriers and Rank and File:

Killed Wounded Missing
Died of wounds Suffered amputation Discharged Transferred to Veteran or Garrison Battalions Rejoined the Regiment Remaining in hospitals in April 1816 Total Rejoined the Regiment Not since heard of, supposed dead.
21 207 1 4 231 0 263 0 0
 

 

 

*Carter's figures are in turn  extracted from the return prepared by the Adjutant-Generals office, 13th April 1816.

 

Battle Honour;  Waterloo.

 
4th Battalion disbanded 1816,  3rd Battalion disbanded 1817
 

3rd Mahratta War (Pindari War) 1817-1819 & First Anglo-Burmese War 1824-1826 2nd Battalion

Army of India Medal 1799 - 1826

clasp:

Nagpore

Maheidpoor

Ava

number: 95 38 118
 

Battle Honours; Nagpore, Maheidpoor, Ava.

 
 
 

Crimean War  1854 - 1856   1st and 2nd Battalions (2nd Battalion arrived in 1855, missing the earlier clasp actions, although suffered double the battle casualties of the 1st for the campaign as a whole)

Crimea Medal 1854 -56

1st Battalion
Clasp: →..none...

Alma

Balaklava

Inkermann

Sebastopol

 
Number: → ?980 37678 ? 
 
2nd Battalion
Clasp: →..none...   

Sebastopol

 
Number: → ?    ? 
 
 

Battle Casualties; (1st/2nd )

Action.Killed +(DOW)"Wounded"Dangerously
Wounded 		Severely
Wounded		Slightly
Wounded 		Missing
Battle of the Alma -/- -/- -/- -/- -/- -/-
First bombardment of Sebastopol, first battle of Inkermann and minor actions 1/-8/- -/--/- -/--/-
The Battle of Inkermann 1/--/- -/--/- -/--/-
The Assault on the Quarries -/8+1*-/- -/9-/11 -/33-/-
The First Attack on the Redan 2/--/- -/-1/1 2/3-/-
The Final Attack on the Redan -/1-/- -/3-/9 -/14-/-
2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and final bombardments of Sebastopol and minor actions 7/13-/- 1/420/16 38/46-/-
The Magazine Explosion at the French Siege Train -/--/- -/--/- -/--/-
       

Grand Totals:  81/172    

+1* = 2450 Private Thomas Ellis, 2nd Btn,  "Mortally Wounded" 7/6/55

 
 

Men who served in the Crimea also eligible for:

Turkish Crimea Medal 1855

 


VCs: 1; Prosser

 

Battle Honours: Alma; Inkermann; Sevastopol.

 

 
 
 

Second China War 1856-60  2nd Battalion

Second China War Medal 1856-60

  
clasp:..none...

Taku Forts 1860

Pekin 1860

total medals
number: ?? ?592*
     
 

*majority had two clasp medals.

 

Battle Honours;  Taku Forts, Pekin 1860

 
 
 

South African War 1899 - 1902 or "Boer War"   1st Battalion (November 1899- end of the war) with three service companies provided from the volunteer battalions.

Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902, with or without the King's South Africa Medal 1901 - 1902

Common clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; also:

 
             
clasp:

Wepner

Wittebergen

Belfast

      
number: 83 ? ?      
             
 

 

Casualties:

Officers NCOs and Men
KIA + DOW/ DOD Wounded Missing / POW KIA & DOW Death from disease Wounded Missing / POW
 
2/2 4 1 17 63 32 6
 

Battle Honour: South Africa 1899-1902

 
 
 

The Great War 1914 - 1918 & Archangel 1918 - 1919  ( 34 battalions; 17 served overseas:- )

Generally awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal, men overseas prior to 1/1/1916 also a 1914 or 1914-15 Star.

Battalion → 1*  2 1/4 1/5 1/6 1/7*** 1/8 1/9
Queen's Edinburgh Rifles
5/6** Highlanders
date of first overseas service.
 (first theatre red x )		 20/12
1914		 14/8
1914		 4/6
1915		 2/4
1915		 14/9
1915		 4/6
1915		 5/11
1914		 26/2
1915
France & Flanders x x x x x x x x
Gallipoli     x
(14/6/15)		 x
(25/4/15)		   x
(14/6/15)		    
Egypt & Palestine     x x x x    
Mesopotamia               
Macedonia x              
                 
Star
possible ? 		1914 or 1914-15   x         x  
or 1914-15 only x   x x x x   x
VCs at a glance:            
died
Extracted from : "Soldiers / Officers Died in the Great War" (consider approximate - in addition the regiment as a whole lost at least an additional  111 officers who are recorded with 'battalion not shown'  or with battalions not shown here, or who we have  not yet allocated a battalion.)		 279 1643 515 414 177 514 403 1036
400
 
Regular Territorial Force New Armies Garrison.
 

* 1st Battalion were in India at the start and moved first to the UK

**5th/6th Battalion formed 15/6/16 from the amalgamation of the 1/5th and 1/6th Battalions.

***1/7th Battalion:  On 22nd May 1915, while travelling in a troop train en route to their overseas embarkation point, A and D Companies with  Battalion HQ, were in a terrible train crash near Gretna Green . The Troop train collided with a local train, and within a few seconds the wreckage was crashed into by the London to Glasgow express, setting the whole lot on fire. 227 officers and men perished, with 246 injured. This crash remains Britain's worst rail disaster to this day. The remaining B and C companies served as a composite unit with the 1/4th at Gallipoli, resuming its identity on the move to Egypt, 20th Jan 1916.

 

Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19
 46 officers and 113 men of the Royal Scots also qualified for this medal.

 

VCs; 6: 
 McIver,  Robson,  McGregor,  Elcock,  Reynolds,  Dunsire

 

Battle Honours:  Le Cateau; Marne 1914, 1918; Ypres 1915, 1917, 1918; Loos; Somme 1916, 1918; Arras 1917, 1918; Lys; Struma; Gallipoli 1915-16; Palestine 1917-18. Mons; Retreat from Mons; Aisne 1914; La Bassee 1914; Neuve Chapelle; Gravenstafel; St Julien; Frezenberg; Bellewaarde; Aubers; Festubert 1915; Albert 1916, 1918; Bazentin; Pozieres; Flers-Courcelette; La Transloy; Ancre Heights; Ancre 1916, 1918; Scarpe 1917, 1918; Arleux; Pilckem; Langemarck 1917; Menin Road; Polygon Wood; Poelcapelle; Passchendaele; Cambrai 1917; St Quentin; Rosieres; Estaires; Messines 1918; Hazebrouck; Bailleul; Kemmel; Bethune; Soissonais-Ourcq; Tardenois; Amiens; Bapaume 1918; Drocourt-Queant; Hindenburg Line; Canal du Nord; St Quentin Canal; Beaurevoir; Courtrai; Selle; Sambre; France and Flanders 1914-18; Macedonia 1915-18; Helles; Landing at Helles; Krithia; Suvla; Scimitar Hill; Rumani; Egypt 1915-16; Gaza; El Mughar; Nebi Samwil; Jaffa; Archangel 1918-19.

 
 
 

The Great War 1914 - 1918 & Archangel 1918 - 1919  (continued....)

Generally awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal, men overseas prior to 1/1/1916 also a 1914 or 1914-15 Star.

Battalion → 2/10 11 12 13 15 16 17 19* 1st**
Cyclist 1st  & 2nd Edinburgh Rosebery Labour Garrison
date of first overseas service.
 (first theatre red x )		 23/8
1918		 ?/5
1915		 ?/5
1915		 ?/7
1915		 8/1
1916		 8/1
1916		 1/2
1916		 ?/5
1916		 4/11
1915
France & Flanders   x x x x x x    
Gallipoli                 x
(2 Coys)
Egypt & Palestine               x x
North Russia x                
Cyprus                 x
(3 Coys)
                   
Star
possible ? 		1914 or 1914-15                  
or 1914-15 only   x x x         x
VCs at a glance:            
died
Extracted from : "Soldiers / Officers Died in the Great War" (consider approximate - in addition the regiment as a whole lost at least an additional  111 officers who are recorded with 'battalion not shown'  or with battalions not shown here, or who we have  not yet allocated a battalion.)		 160 1037 1096 1071 804 909 398 2* 44
 
Regular Territorial Force New Armies Garrison.
 

*Transferred to Labour Corps 4/17 - deaths prior to this date.

**1st Garrison to Mudros 4/11/1915 with two companies to Cape Helles Gallipoli 8/11/1915. By the end of the war one company was left in Egypt with three in Cyprus guarding Turkish POWs.

 
 
 
 1921; title changed to "The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)"
 

Jewish / Arab unrest, Palestine 1936 - 39 1st Battalion (1937-8)

General Service Medal 1918 -62

clasp:

Palestine

numbers: ?
 
 
 
 
 

WW2 1939 - 1945  four battalions served overseas

Battalion → 1st 2nd 7/9th* 8th
campaign ↓        
France and  Belgium 1940.
(Dunkirk )		 x   x  
North Africa & Middle East        
Hong Kong   x
Captured by the Japanese.		    
Burma x      
Sicily / Italy   x    
N.W. Europe     x x
 

Notes.
  4th Infantry Brigade except the period 3/11/42-3/7/43 when functioning with the Independent Infantry Brigade Group for Special Operations in the Arakan Hong Kong Infantry Brigade 3/9/39-16/11/41, Kowloon Infantry Brigade 16/11/41-25/12/41 captured by the Japanese.
reformed in the UK by redesignation of the 12th Battalion.
1st Gibraltar Brigade 22/4/43-22/7/44, then to 66th Infantry Brigade: Italy Palestine and Syria, 20/4/44-31/8/45		 155th Infantry Brigade for the duration.
Landed Cherbourg with the ill-fated  2 BEF 13/6/40. Evac 4 days later.
Landed NW Europe 20/10/44		 44th Infantry Brigade for the duration.
Landed NW Europe 17/6/44
 
 
 

WW2 Stars common to the Battalion. (excluding 39-45 star )
 Key: A = Africa, P = Pacific, B =  Burma, I = Italy,  F&G = France and Germany
  B P or  I F&G F&G
         

*7th and 9th amalgamated after the First World War.

 

Most also entitled to the 1939-45 War Medal and many the Defence Medal

 

Battle Honours:  Defence of Escaut; Odon; Aart; Flushing; Rhine; North-West Europe 1940, 1944-5; Gothic Line; Italy 1944-5; Kohima; Burma 1943-5. Dyle; St Omer-La Bassee; Cheux; Defence of Rauray; Caen; Esquay; Mont Pincon; Nederrijn; Best; Scheldt; Meijel; Venlo Pocket; Roer; Rhineland; Reichswald; Cleve; Goch; Uelzen; Bremen; Artlenberg; Marradi; Monte Gamberaldi; South-East Asia 1941; Donbaik; Relief of Kohima; Aradura; Shwebo; Mandalay.

 
 
 

Jewish / Arab Unrest,  Palestine 1945 - 48 2nd  Battalion (1945)

General Service Medal 1918 -62

clasp:
Palestine 1945-48
number: ?
 
 
 
Regulars reduce to a single battalion (the 1st) 1949
 

Korean War 1950 - 1953 1st Battalion   (arrived July 1953, the last month of the qualifying period for the Queen's Korea Medal.)

Queen's Korea Medal

   
number: ?
 
 
 
 
 

The Cyprus Emergency 1955 - 1960  1st Battalion (Sept 1955- Jan 1956)

General Service Medal 1918-62

clasp:

Cyprus

number:?
 

CO: Lt. Col W.T. Campbell

 
 
 

Aden 1964 - 67  1st  Battalion,  (June 1964 - March 1965)

General Service Medal 1962-2007

clasp:
South Arabia
number: ?
 
 
 
 

Northern Ireland "Operation Banner"  1969-2007 1st Battalion. (numerous tours 1970 - 2000)

General Service Medal 1962-

clasp:

Northern Ireland

number:?

 

 
 
 

Gulf War to liberate Kuwait  1990-1991 1st Battalion in Warrior APCs, 4th Armoured Brigade.

Gulf Medal 1990-91

clasp:...none...

16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991

number: 2574
 

Battle Honours: Wadi Al Batin; Gulf 1991.

 
 
 

The Iraq War, or Second Gulf War 2003, and Aftermath.  1st Battalion. Operation Telic III (Nov 2003- March 2004)  & Operation Telic VII (2006)

Iraq Medal 2003-

clasp: ....none....
number: ?

 

 
 
 
 
 

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Selected Links

The Regimental Museum. (Located in )   

 
 
 

Selected Bibliography;

 
Author Title Publisher
Compiled by Major Joseph Wetherall. An Historical Account of His Majesty's First, or The Royal Regiment of Foot: General George, Duke of Gordon, Colonel.  226 pp.  London: printed by W. Clowes, 1832.
Compiled by Richard Cannon, Esq., Adjutant-General's Office, Horse Guards. Historical Record of The First, or Royal Regiment of Foot; containing an Account of the Origin of the Regiment in the reign of King James VI of Scotland and of its subsequent Services to 1846.  289 pp.  London: Parker, Furnivall & Parker, 1847.
 Lawrence Weaver. With a Preface by the Earl of Rosebery. The Story of The Royal Scots (The Lothian Regiment) formerly The First or The Royal Regiment of Foot.  272 pp. (" Country Life " Series of Military Histories)  London: " Country Life " [1915]
Compiled by J. C. Leask and H. M. McCance, Capt., late The Royal Scots. The Regimental Records of The Royal Scots (The First or The Royal Regiment of Foot).   787 pp. (includes 12 plates of badges.) Dublin: Alexander Thom & Co., Ltd., 1915.
Lauchlan Maclean Watt. The Royal Scots.  63 pp. Edinburgh: W. P. Nimmo, Hay & Mitchell [1916].
 Major John Ewing. With a Foreword by the Right Hon. Lord Salvesen. The Royal Scots, 1914-1919.  2 vols.  Edinburgh: Published for the Association of Lowland Scots by Oliver and Boyd, 1925.
Col. H. J. Simson. Three Hundred Years. The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment).   143 pp. Edinburgh: printed by J. Skinner & Co. Ltd., 1935
Augustus Muir; foreword by H.R.H. The Princess Royal. The First of Foot; the History of The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment). 504 pp.  Edinburgh: The Royal Scots History Committee, 1961.
anon. The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment), 1633-1933. Tercentenary Souvenir.. 28 pp. ( includes 11 coloured plates of uniform.)  [Aldershot: Gale & Polden Ltd., 1933]
anon.? Diary of Services of the First Battalion Royal Scots during the Boer War, South Africa, 1899-1902.  83pp. London: Burt & Sons, printed for private circulation, 1904.
T. F. Henderson, Lieut. With a Foreword by Sir lain Colquhoun of Colquhoun and Luss, Bart. Freemasonry in The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment). 100 pp.  Aldershot: printed by Gale & Polden Ltd., 1934.
John Mackay (late) of Herriesdale. An Old Scots Brigade, being the History of Mackay's Regiment now incorporated with The Royal Scots. With an Appendix containing copies of many original documents connected with the history of the Regiment. 260 pp.  Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons, 1885
     

 

Additional Bibliography for this Page.

 
Author/Compiler Title Publisher
Officers of the Regiment. Unpublished rolls in the care of the National Archives; WO 100/ etc. -
     
  Additional bibliography same as Northumberland Fusiliers page  
     
     
 

 

 

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