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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

5th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)



   The 5th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) had their HQ at 261 West Princes Street in Glasgow, all the companies, A to H were based in the city. They were part of the Scottish Rifle Brigade, Lowland Division when war broke out in August 1914. They proceeded to France, landing at Le Havre on the 5th of November 1914, attached to 19th Brigade in 6th Division which reinforced the hard-pressed BEF on the Aisne before moving North to Flanders. The 1/5th Cameronians were one of the units to take part in the Christmas truce of 1914.

On the 31st of May 1915 19th Brigade transferred to 27th Division and saw action in the Second Battle of Ypres, moving to 2nd Divsion on the 19th of August 1915 and then on the 25th of November 1915 to 33rd Division to strengthen the inexperienced division. On the 29th May 1916 the 5th Cameronians merged with 1/6th Battalion to become 5/6th Battalion. They saw action at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, the Arras Offensive, on the Flanders Coast and the Third Battles of Ypres in 1917, the Battles of the Lys, the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in Picardy in 1918.

26th Nov 1914 Doing Well

11th February 1915 Temporary posting to 5th Scottish Rifles  Capt T B Nicholls posted to temporary charge of 5/Scottish Rifles in relief of Lt Greaves proceeding to England on 8 days leave. Lt Cohen proceeded on 8 days leave to England.

War Diary 19th Field Ambulance RAMC, Armentières



13th February 1915 Enteric Fever Case notified  

Lt Haydon admitted to hospital suffering from Acute Bronchitis. Telegraphic orders received for Capt. T B Nicholls to take over No 1 Advanced Depot Medical Stores, Merville.

Lt. Hampton took over temporary medical charge of 5/Scottish Rifles from Capt. t B Nicholls. Visited HQ of 2/Durham Light Infantry to enquire into contacts of a Pte Hall notified from the Base as suffering from Enteric Fever. All contacts to be sent to 19 Field Ambulance for examination as to being 'carriers'.

War Diary 19th Field Ambulance RAMC, Armentières



9th March 1915 Preparations for Houplines  Lt. R Clark posted to medical charge of 5/Scottish Rifles in relief of Lt. Hampton who rejoins the Field Ambulance for duty. 'B' Bearer Subdivision ordered to be held in readiness with wagons by AAMO 6th Division, in the event of being required if a demonstration is made in front of the Houplines section of trenches.

*AAMO Assistant Administrative Medical Officer

War Diary 19th Field Ambulance RAMC, Armentières



21st May 1915 53rd RFA arrives  Lt. Macleod taken around trenches of 1/Cameronians by Lt. Robertson for instruction, also to 5/Scottish Rifles by Lt. Clark.

53 Btn Royal Field Artillery (9 Div) arrived in 19 1B area.

War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys



22nd May 1915 

23rd May 1915 Training

4th June 1915 Enteric fever and meningitis cases   Reported case of Enteric Fever in Estaminet au Pogrès - a civilian occupant. Armourers of Division removed and put in other billets and place placed "out of bounds".

Pte. Dainton 5/Scottish Rifles admitted to Field Ambulance with cerebrospinal meningitis and special wagon sent for, and case sent to Isolation Hospital, Bailleul. The case was apparently a sporadic case, and occurred in billets. All steps were taken with Lt. Clark, MO of Regiment for isolation of contacts and daily inspection. Officer commanding Sanitary Section informed and billet disinfected.

War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys



5th June 1915 Reports of more meningitis cases   Pte. Dainton's case reported positive; several suspected cases were sent up to Field Ambulance and isolated in tents for observation. Visited MO 5/Scottish Rifles in their billets, and owing to a number of other suspicious cases arranged to lend him some bell tents for segregation purposes.

War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys



6th June 1915 Suspicious meningitis cases are negative  Officer in charge of Mobile Laboratory visited the Field Ambulance today and saw all the suspicious cases, and also those segregated in tents of 5/Scottish Rifles, and pronounced the opinion that he considered them negative. General Snow 27th Division visited the Field Ambulance today.

War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys



8th June 1915 More meningitis cases  Visited with Deputy Assistant Director Medical Services 27th Division, the Assistant Director of Medical Services (ADMS) XII Division re arrangements for attachment of officers of 12th Division Field Ambulance to this Field Ambulance.

Four cases reported suspected cerebrospinal meningitis in 5/Scottish Rifles ordered to be sent to Isolation Hospital, Bailleul by ADMS 27th Division. Transferred 8 am 9th June.

War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys



26th June 1915 Temporary MO appointment - 5th Scottish Rifles  Lt. Grellier took on temporary medical charge of the 5th Scottish Rifles in relief of Lt. Clark proceeded on leave.

War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys



2nd July 1915 Two lieutenants resume duties  Lt. Hampson returned from leave this morning, and Lt. Grellier from temporary duty with the 5/Scottish rifles.

War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys



4th Jul 1915 Reliefs  location map

5th Jul 1915 Reliefs  location map

16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme

6th Nov 1915 Reliefs  location map

7th Nov 1915 Reliefs  location map

9th Nov 1915 Orders

10th Nov 1915 Orders

11th Nov 1915 Orders Issued

12th Nov 1915 On the Move

17th Nov 1915 On the Move

18th Nov 1915 Orders

23rd Nov 1915 Reliefs Complete

1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets

1st Dec 1915 Reliefs  location map

2nd Dec 1915 Specialist Training

2nd Dec 1915 Poor Conditions  location map

4th Dec 1915 Quiet

6th Dec 1915 Bombardment

7th Dec 1915 Artillery Active

8th Dec 1915 Mine Exploded

9th Dec 1915 Wet Day

10th Dec 1915 Moves

11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment

11th Dec 1915 Reliefs

12th Dec 1915 Flooding

12th Dec 1915 Training

15th Dec 1915 Training

17th Dec 1915 Instructions Issued

19th Dec 1915 Instructions

21st Dec 1915 Storm

22nd Dec 1915 Conference

23rd Dec 1915 Orders Issued  location map

24th Dec 1915 Flooding

26th Dec 1915 Flooding

27th Dec 1915 On the March

28th Dec 1915 Reliefs  location map

29th Dec 1915 Reliefs

30th Dec 1915 Reliefs  location map

31st Dec 1915 Shelling  location map

10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens

23rd Jan 1916 Heading South

27th Jan 1916 Hard Work

3rd Feb 1916 Train  location map

5th Feb 1916 Soldier's Feed  location map

6th Feb 1916 Heavy Bombardment  location map

7th Feb 1916 Shock

9th February 1916 Call Ups

26th Feb 1916 Concert

1st April 1916 All Fools

20th April 1916 Wiring, Bombing & Drill.

21st Apr 1916 Outpost

7th May 1916 Strange Sights

28 May 1916 Quiet

2nd Jun 1916 Orders

10th Jun 1916 On the March

2nd Jul 1916 Death's valley  location map

15th July 1916 Carrying Duty

20th July 1916 Attack Made

20th July 1916 High Wood

21st July 1916 Wounded

10th August 1916 Preparations

15th Sep 1916 Assault Made

15th Sep 1916 Onwards

15th Sep 1916 Thoughts

16th Sep 1916 Crawling Back

2nd Oct 1916 Advance Continues

17th Oct 1916 Reliefs  location map

4th Dec 1916 Rejoining

10th Dec 1916 Hold the Line

26th Dec 1916 Rest

31st Dec 1916 Celebrations

1st Jan 1917 Sore Heads

10th Jan. 1917 Trench Work

25th Feb 1917 In Action

28th February 1917 Promotion

18th March 1917 Somewhere in France

20th March 1917 Sulky

1st April 1917 Joke

2nd April 1917 Vimy Ridge

1st May 1917 In Action

3rd May 1917 Pushing Back

4th May 1917 Plum & Apple

6th May 1917 No Rations

1st Jun 1917 Leave

2nd Jul 1917 Hellsfire Corner

20th Jul 1917 Carry On

12 Oct 1917 

29th November 1917 A Sad Man

19th Dec 1917 At Rest

1918 

15th Jan 1918 Busy

17th Jan 1918 Reliefs

25th Jan 1918 Reliefs

25th January 1918 Major General J. Hill G.O.C. 52nd Division presented Ribbons

4th Feb 1918 Piped out

6th Feb 1918 On the Coast

30th March 1918 Leave

13th Apr 1918 Holding the Line  18th DLI report "At about 10am enemy commenced very heavy shelling on all trenches in the neighbourhood. This shelling lasted more than an hour. Quiet again until 3.45pm when very heavy shelling again started and continued until about 6.30pm. Sent to 19th Brigade to ask to be rationed by them and to try to get into communication with our own Brigade. 2Lt Pattison sent yesterday to try to find Brigade. Received orders for our relief by 5th Scottish Rifles and to report to Borre. We were unable to be spared however owing to artillery shelling which it was thought portended a heavy attack. D Coy ordered up to connect up right of Scottish Rifles and to search wood in front of them which it was thought was occupied by enemy after the bombardment. Patrol of Sgt Dickenson and 8 men sent to get in touch with Queens Regiment on left of Scottish Rifles who had lost touch. This patrol established touch throughout the front line and the OC 5th Scottish Rifles thanked OC 18th DLI for this help. Quiet night trenches much improved."

18th Durham Light Infantry War Diary WO95/2361/1



20th April 1918 On the Move

28th Apr 1918 Transfer

May 1918 On the Move

May 1918 Training

May 1918 Training

30th Sep 1918 A Terrible Time

10th Oct 1918 Advance

11th Oct 1918 Advance

13th Oct 1918 Fight

20th Oct 1918 Advance

28th Oct 1918 Long Marches

Nov 1918 Waiting

11 Nov 1918 Heavy Fighting

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.





Want to know more about 5th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)?


There are:5356 items tagged 5th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.


Those known to have served with

5th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Crichton David. L/Cpl. (d.25th Mar 1918)
  • Dawson VC. James Lennox.
  • Finlay James. Rflm.
  • Gunn James McKinley. Batman
  • Hurl William. Pte.
  • Johnstone James A.H. . Pte.
  • McGhee James. Pte. (d.29th October 1916)
  • Whitelaw Thomas Mitchell. 2nd Lt. (d.29th May 1918)

All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of 5th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) from other sources.


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  Pte. James A.H. Johnstone 5th Btn. Cameronians

James Johnstone was captured at High Wood on the Somme in 1916, having been injured during the battle to take High Wood. He and other prisoners were force marched to Germany and remained there until the end of the war.

<p>James A H Johnstone far right back and other POWs

F Jackson






  Rflm. James Finlay 5th Btn. Scottish Rifles

James Finlay enlisted on the 22nd of May 1915 in the 5th Battalion, Scottish Rifles and served throughout the war. After his death, his diary was recovered from his home, as no relatives could be located, it was donated to The Wartime Memories Project.







  L/Cpl. David Crichton 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles (d.25th Mar 1918)

David Crichton enlisted at the outbreak of war, joining No. 7 Company, 5th Btn Scottish Rifles. He was later transferred to 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles, where he was a Lance Corporal. David was killed near Pozieres on 25th of March 1918 and is remembered on Pozieres Memorial.

Iain Cox






  Batman James McKinley Gunn 5th Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

My grandfather, James Mckinley Gunn, was a member of the 5th Scottish Rifles. A note in a book on this outfit states he was Batman to the Colonel.

He died before my birth but, having an interest in military history, my Grandmother passed his badges and books to me. I recently attended a Scottish festival in Bridgeport, West Virginia, USA, and found it unusual that no-one there could speak of this outfit. My Grandmother represented it as famous (maybe only to her). I would like to make contact with anyone with knowledge or an interest in this outfit.

R.E. Rogers






   James Lennox Dawson VC. 187th Field Coy. Royal Engineers

James Dawson enlisted into the 5th Cameronians in November 1914 and transferred to the Royal Engineers in March 1915. He was awarded the VC as a Corporal in the 187th Company, Corps of Royal Engineers, he was 23 years old. His citation reads:

"On 13 October 1915 at Hohenzollern Redoubt, France, during a gas attack, when the trenches were full of men, Corporal Dawson exposed himself fearlessly to the enemy's fire in order to give directions to his sappers and to clear the infantry out of sections of the trench which were full of gas. Finding three leaking cylinders, he rolled them well away from the trench, again under heavy fire, and then fired rifle bullets into them to let the gas escape. His gallantry undoubtedly saved many men from being gassed."

He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in December 1916 and demobilised as a Major in 1919. After graduating from Glasgow University he was commissioned in the Army Education Corps in 1920, but transferred to the Indian Army Ordnance Corps in 1931 and later achieved the rank of colonel.







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