British 9th (Scottish) Division
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Template:Infobox British WWI division
The 9th (Scottish) Division, was one of the Kitchener's Army divisions raised from volunteers by Lord Kitchener to serve on the Western Front during the First World War.
After the South African Brigade joined in early 1916, the division was known colloquially as the Jocks and Springboks.
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Unit history
In the Battle of Loos, notable for being the first battle in which British forces used poison gas, the 9th (Scottish) Division assaulted the Hohenzollern Redoubt, the 5th Camerons suffered horrific casualties, and Corporal J. D. Pollock gained a Victoria Cross for his actions.
The 9th (Scottish) Division took part in major fighting during the Somme offensive. Notably it relieved the 30th Division at Montauban and later attacked German positions at Bernafay Wood, where it succeeded in capturing vital objectives and forcing a German withdrawal.
Formation
The division comprised the following brigades:
- 26th Brigade
- 8th Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
- 7th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders (Rosshire Buffs, The Duke of St. Albany's)
- 8th Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders [1]
- 5th Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
- 10th Battalion, Princess Louise's (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders) [2]
- 27th Brigade
- 11th Battalion, the Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
- 12th Battalion, the Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
- 6th Battalion, the Royal Scots Fusiliers [3]
- 10th Battalion, Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) [2]
- 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers [4]
- 9th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) [5]
- 28th Brigade [6]
- 6th Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers [4]
- 9th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) [5]
- 10th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry [7]
- 11th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry [7]
- 28th (South African) Brigade [8]
- 1st Battalion, South African Infantry [9]
- 2nd Battalion, South African Infantry [9]
- 3rd Battalion, South African Infantry
- 4th Battalion, South African Infantry [9]
- Pioneers
- 9th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders (Rosshire Buffs, The Duke of St. Albany's)
Commanders
- Major-General C. Mackenzie 27th August, 1914
- Brigadier-General S. Scrase-Dickens (Acting) 11th October, 1914
- Lieutenant-General. Sir Charles Fergusson 26th October, 1914
- Brigadier-General S. Scrase-Dickens (Acting) 31st December, 1914
- Major-General H. Landon 21st January, 1915
- Major-General George Thesiger 9th September, 1915 Killed in action
- Major-General E. Bulfin (Temporary) 27th September, 1915
- Major-General W. Furse 28th September, 1915
- Major-General H. Lakin 2nd December 1916
- Brigadier-General H. Tudor (Acting) 4th March, 1918
- Major-General C. Blacklock 13th March, 1918
- Brigadier-General H. Tudor (Acting) 16th March 1918
- Major-General H. Tudor 28th March, 1918
Battles
- Battle of Loos
- Battle of the Somme
- First Battle of Ypres
- Ludendorf Offensive
- Battle of Messines
- Battle of Bailleul
- Battle of Kemmel Ridge
- Battle of Scherpenberg
- Battle of the Lys Salient
- Fourth Battle of Ypres
- Battle of Courtrai
- Battle of Ooteghem
Notes
- Transferred to 15th Division and amalgamated with 10th Battalion The Gordon Highlanders in May, 1916
- Transferred to 26th Brigade & replaced 8th Gordon Highlanders May, 1916. Transferred to 32nd Division in February, 1918
- Transferred to the 15th Division and amalgamated with 7th Battalion the Royal Scots Fusiliers in May, 1916
- Transferred to 27th Brigade & replaced 6th Battalion The Royal Scots Fusiliers in May, 1916
- Transferred to 27th Brigade & replaced 10th Battalion Princess Louise's in May, 1916, Transferred to 14th Division in February, 1918, rejoined 9th Division, 28th Brigade April, 1918
- Broken up May, 1916 & replaced with 28th (South African) Brigade.
- Amalgamated May, 1916 & Transferred to 15th Division.
- Replaced 28th Brigade May, 1916
- Amalgamated into South African (Composite Regiment) April, 1918 due to heavy casualties, Battalions reformed September, 1918
External links
The British Army in the Great War: The 9th (Scottish) Division (http://www.1914-1918.net/9div.htm)