Highland Light Infantry - 9th (Glasgow Highland) Bn - 1908-1914

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry between 1908 and 1914.

The 9th Battalion, which had previously existed at the 5th (Glasgow Highland) Volunteer Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, was formed on the 1st April 1908. The Territorial Year Book for 1909 recorded that the battalion strength was 30 officers and 696 men. At the annual camp in 1908, 344 officers and men attended for eight days whilst 286 officers and men attended for 15 days. Private J Chisholm of D Company was the best shot of the battalion. 

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength was 31 officers and 1000 other ranks, a steady increase on the previous year, and in line with increases in other HLI Territorial Force Battalions. At the annual camp in 1909 438 officers and men attended for 8 days whilst 477 officers and men attended for 15 days. Serjeant J W Mathieson of A Company was the best shot of the battalion. Camp for 1910 was scheduled for Stirling from the 16th July.

The battalion was headquartered at 81 Greendyke Street, Glasgow and used the Drill Hall at Glasgow Green. There was a shooting range at Patterton, five miles from HQ. It too formed part of the Highland Light Infantry Brigade in the Lowland Division. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the 9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.

457 joined on the 9th April 1908
815 joined on the 15th March 1909
1207 joined on the 23rd February 1910
1295 joined on the 16th January 1911
1457 joined on the 12th February 1912
1746 joined on the 7th April 1913
1949 joined on the 28th January 1914
2205 joined on the 6th August 1914

Use these regimental numbers to approximate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example if your man's number was 1568 he would have joined the battalion between February 1912 and April 1913.

The image that I have used for this post shows officers and men of the Highlnad Light Infantry on Laffans Plain. To search for photos of your Highland Light Infantry ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

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Highland Light Infantry - 7th (Blythswood) Bn - 1908-1914

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 7th (Blythswood) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry between 1908 and 1914.

The 7th Battalion, which had previously existed at the 3rd (Blythswood) Volunteer Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, was formed on the 1st April 1908. The Territorial Year Book for 1909 recorded that the battalion strength was 29 officers and 571 men. At the annual camp in 1908, 20 officers and men attended for eight days whilst 460 officers and men attended for 15 days. Serjeant J Humphreys was the best shot of the battalion. 

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength was 31 officers and 928 other ranks, a significant increase on the previous year, and in line with increases in the 5th and 6th Battalions. At the annual camp at Gailes in 1909 257 officers and men attended for 8 days whilst 572 officers and men attended for 15 days. Private Doctor of E Company was the best shot of the battalion. Camp for 1910 was scheduled for Stirling from the 16th July.

The battalion was headquartered at 69 Main Street, Bridgeton and had drill halls at its HQ and another at Glasgow Green. There was a shooting range at Dechmont, Cambuslang, seven miles by road from HQ, or five miles by rail. Like the 5th & 6th Battalions, the 7th Battalion’s eight companies drew men from the city of Glasgow. It too formed part of the Highland Light Infantry Brigade in the Lowland Division. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the 7th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.

29 joined on the 28th May 1908
637 joined on the 2nd March 1909
1201 joined on the 28th February 1910
1311 joined on the 20th February 1911
1391 joined on the 9th February 1912
1625 joined on the 18th April 1913
1714 joined on the 26th February 1914
2125 joined on the 7th August 1914

Use these regimental numbers to approximate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example if your man's number was 1234 he would have joined the battalion between February 1910 and February 1911.

The image that I have used for this post shows officers of the 3/7th Highland Light Infantry photographed in 1915. The photograph was published in The Tatler on the 15th December that year. To search for photos of your Highland Light Infantry ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

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Highland Light Infantry - 6th (City of Glasgow) Bn - 1908-1914

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 6th (City of Glasgow) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry between 1908 and 1914. 

The 6th Battalion, which had previously existed at the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, was formed on the 1st April 1908. The Territorial Year Book for 1909 recorded that the battalion strength was 23 officers and 562 men. At the annual camp in 1908, 135 officers and men attended for eight days whilst 366 officers and men attended for 15 days. Lance-Serjeant E Patience was the best shot of the battalion. 

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength was 21 officers and 974 men, a good increase on the previous year. At the annual camp in 1909 377 officers and men attended for 8 days whilst 553 officers and men attended for 15 days. Camp for 1910 was scheduled for Stirling from the 16th July.

The battalion was headquartered at 172 Yorkhill Street, Glasgow and had drill halls at its HQ and another at Westend Park. There was a shooting range at Dechmont, Cambuslang, nine miles from HQ. Like the 5th Battalion, the battalion’s eight companies drew men from the city of Glasgow. It too formed part of the Highland Light Infantry Brigade in the Lowland Division. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the 6th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.

425 joined on the 19th August 1908
603 joined on the 13th April 1909
1168 joined on the 3rd June 1910
1210 joined on the 2nd May 1911
1318 joined on the 6th May 1912
1469 joined on the 11th February 1913
1656 joined on the 27th January 1914
1839 joined on the 5th August 1914

Use these regimental numbers to approximate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example if your man's number was 1600 he would have joined the battalion between February 1913 and January 1914. 

The image that I have used for this post shows men of the Highland Light Infantry in camp. To search for photos of your Highland Light Infantry ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website. 

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Highland Light Infantry - 5th (City of Glasgow) Bn - 1908-1914

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry between 1908 and 1914. 

The 5th Battalion, which had previously existed at the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, was formed on the 1st April 1908. The Territorial Year Book for 1909 recorded that the battalion strength was 20 officers and 397 men. At the annual camp in 1908, 109 officers and men attended for eight days whilst 265 officers and men attended for 15 days. 

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength was 28 officers and 949 men, a significant increase on the previous year. At the annual camp 166 officers and men attended for 8 days whilst 701 officers and men attended for 15 days. Camp for 1910 was scheduled for Stirling from the 16th July.

The battalion was headquartered at 24 Hill Street, Garnethill, Glasgow and its eight companies drew men from the city of Glasgow. The battalion formed part of the Highland Light Infantry Brigade in the Lowland Division. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the 5th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.

53 joined on the 3rd April 1908
432 joined on the 1st February 1909
1083 joined on the 11th March 1910
1187 joined on the 25th January 1911
1340 joined on the 8th May 1912
1377 joined on the 3rd February 1913
1591 joined on the 15th March 1914
1637 joined on the 4th August 1914

Use these regimental numbers to approximate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example if your man's number was 1200 he would have joined the battalion between January 1911 and May 1912. 

The image that I have borrowed for this post shows pipers of the Highland Light Infantry ‘in the park on the march’. To search for photos of your Highland Light Infantry ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

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Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) - 8th Battalion (TF) - 1908-1914

The 8th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was formed on the 1st April 1908 and prior to this had been the 4th Volunteer Battalion, Scottish Rifles. The Territorial Year Book for 1909 recorded that the battalion strength was 25 officers and 584 men. Sergeant J Miller was the best shot of the unit. 112 men attended camp in 1908 for 8 days, 33 men attended for between 9 and 14 days, and an impressive total of 408 men attended for 15 days.

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength had increased to 25 officers and 938 men and at the annual camp in 1909, 223 officers and men had attended for eight days whilst 655 officers and men had attended for 15 days. Private W J Clark of A Company was the best shot of the unit. Camp in 1910 was scheduled from the 16th July at Denny.

The battalion was headquartered at 149 Cathedral Street, Glasgow and, in common with the 5th and 7th Battalions was administered by the City of Glasgow County Association, drawing all of its recruits from Glasgow. It also formed part of the Scottish Rifle Brigade in the Lowland Division.

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 8th Battalion (TF), The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). The battalion did not start a new regimental number series from 1 on the 1st April 1908, but rather continued with the number series that had been in use for the 4th Volunteer Battalion. There is a wealth of surviving service records for men of this battalion who joined in April 1908, many of these numbers in the 4000s and lower. These are all men who joined from the 4th VB, bringing their old VB numbers with them.

7366 (formerly 4th VB) joined on the 6th April 1908
8145 joined on the 13th February 1909

8604 joined on the 31st January 1910

8733 joined on the 13th March 1911
8852 joined on the 22nd April 1912
9157 joined on the 27th February 1914

9403 joined on the 5th August 1914

9638 joined on the 29th September 1914

By December 1914 the battalion reached number 9999 and started a new number series from 1.

Use the regimental numbers above to estimate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and September 1914. For example if your man's number was 9500 he would have joined the battalion between  August and September 1914. 

The photo shows a regular soldier of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) when he was stationed in India.

1st and 2nd Battalions, Cameronian, Scottish Rifles

3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion

4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion

5th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

6th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

7th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

 

Battalion history, With the 8th Scottish Rifles 1914-1919, available from Naval & Military Press.

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To search for photos of your Scottish Rifles ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) - 7th Battalion (TF) - 1908-1914

Here's another Scottish Rifles post. This time I will be looking at regimental numbering in the 7th Battalion (TF), The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) between 1908 and 1914.

The 7th Battalion was formed on the 1st April 1908 and prior to this had been the 3rd Lanark Rifle Volunteers. The Territorial Year Book for 1909 recorded that the battalion strength was 35 officers and 453 men. Colour Sergeant J L Main was the best shot of the unit. 193 men attended camp in 1908 for 8 days, with 196 men attending for 15 days.

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength was 8 officers and 774 men and at the annual camp at Troon in 1909, 360 officers and men had attended for eight days whilst 391 officers and men had attended for 15 days. Private W J Clark of A Company was the best shot of the unit. Camp in 1910 was scheduled from the 16th July at Denny.

The battalion was headquartered at Victoria Road, Glasgow and, in common with the 5th and 8th Battalions was administered by the City of Glasgow County Association, drawing all of its recruits from Glasgow. It too formed part of the Scottish Rifle Brigade with the Lowland Division.

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 7th Battalion (TF), The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). The battalion started a new regimental number series from 1 on the 1st April 1908, the bulk of the numbers in 1908 being issued to serving members of the old Volunteer Force predecessor battalion.

22 joined on the 1st April 1908
554 joined on the 15th March 1909

964 joined on the 9th March 1910

1034 joined on the 28th January 1911
1110 joined on the 30th January 1912
1228 joined on the 5th February 1913
1409 joined on the 21st January 1914
1616 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 January and August 1914. 

1st and 2nd Battalions, Cameronian, Scottish Rifles

3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion

4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion

5th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

6th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

8th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

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To search for photos of your Scottish Rifles ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) - 5th Battalion (TF) - 1908-1914

In this post I will look at regimental numbering in the 5th Battalion (TF), The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) between 1908 and 1914.

The 5th Battalion was formed on the 1st April 1908 and prior to this had been the 1st Lanarkshire Volunteer Rifle Corps. The Territorial Year Book for 1909 recorded that the battalion strength was 40 officers and 592 men. Sergeant D Reid was the best shot of the unit. Thirty officers and 339 men attended camp in 1908 for 8 days, with eight officers and 123 men attending for 15 days.

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength was 37 officers and 896 men and at the annual camp at Troon in 1909, 531 officers and men had attended for eight days whilst 313 officers and men had attended for 15 days. Colour-Sergeant Instructor Kensit was the best shot of the unit. Camp in 1910 was scheduled from the 16th July at Denny.

The battalion was headquartered at 261 West Princes Street, Glasgow and, togther with the 7th and 8th Battalions of the same regiment, was administered by the City of Glasgow County Association. The battalion drew all of its recruits from the City of Glasgow and formed part of the Scottish Rifle Brigade with the Lowland Division.

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 5th Battalion (TF), The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Unlike the majority of newly formed Territorial Force battalions, the 5th Scottish Rifles did not start a new regimental number series from 1 but carried on from where the old Volunteer Force numbering had left off.

5161 joined on the 13th April 1908
5882 joined on the 22nd March 1909

6106 joined on the 17th February 1910

6268 joined on the 15th March 1911
6345 joined on the 23rd February 1912
6601 joined on the 9th May 1913
6736 joined on the 27th January 1914
6820 joined on the 5th August 1914

The battalion reached the number 9999 in September 1915 and then commenced a new number series beginning from 1. (So beware gleeful eBay sellers proclaiming "low number!" when selling their 5th Battalion Scottish Rifles medals. Here, a low number does not equal an early enlistment. Gets me every time).

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 6000 he would have joined the battalion between March 1909 and February 1910. 

The photo on this post shows officers of the 1/5th Battalion. It was published in The Tatler on the 28th April 1915.

Also see these related posts:

1st and 2nd Battalions, Cameronian, Scottish Rifles

3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion

6th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

7th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

8th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

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To search for photos of your Scottish Rifles ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.