This is my final post on the Territorial Force battalions of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and this one will focus on the 6th Battalion. This was the only one of the four Territorial Force battalions to be headquartered outside Glasgow and it was administered by the Lanarkshire County Association whereas the other three battalions were all administered by the City of Glasgow Association. In this post I will look at regimental numbering in the 6th Battalion (TF), The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) between 1908 and 1914.
The 6th Battalion was formed on the 1st April 1908 and prior to this had been the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Scottish Rifles. The Territorial Year Book for 1909 recorded that the battalion strength was 25 officers and 722 men. 352 men attended camp in 1908 for 8 days, with eight 300 men attending for 15 days.
The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength was 25 officers and 957 men and at the annual camp at Troon in 1909, 363 officers and men had attended for eight days whilst 589 officers and men had attended for 15 days. Colour-Sergeant T Lavin was the best shot of the unit. Camp in 1910 was scheduled from the 16th July at Denny.
The battalion was headquartered at Muirhall, Hamilton drew its recruits from the following areas:
A Company: Muirhall, Hamilton
B Company: Muirhall, Hamilton
C Company: Uddingston
D Company: Larkhall, with a drill station at Strathaven
E Company: Bothwell, with a drill station at Palace Colliery
F Company: Blantyre
G Company: Motherwell
H Company: Motherwell
The battalion formed part of the Scottish Rifle Brigade with the Lowland Division.
Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 6th Battalion (TF), The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). The battalion started a new number series beginning at 1 on the 1st April 1908.
3 joined on the 1st April 1908
798 joined on the 26th February 1909
1144 joined on the 8th March 1910
1326 joined on the 9th February 1911
1610 joined on the 15th April 1912
1707 joined on the 4th April 1913
1975 joined on the 26th March 1914
2180 joined on the 7th August 1914
1610 joined on the 15th April 1912
1707 joined on the 4th April 1913
1975 joined on the 26th March 1914
2180 joined on the 7th August 1914
Use the regimental numbers above to estimate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example if your man's number was 1500 he would have joined the battalion between February 1911 and April 1912. Furthermore, if he came from Motherwell, he probably served in G or H Company.
The photograph on this post shows officers of the 1/6th Battalion. It was published in The Tatler on the 28th April 1915.
You may find these related posts of interest:
3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion
4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion
Remember. I research soldiers!
To search for photos of your Scottish Rifles ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.
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