- 5th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) during the Great War -
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About
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 notifiedLt 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
5th Jul 1915 Reliefs
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
6th Nov 1915 Reliefs
7th Nov 1915 Reliefs
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
2nd Dec 1915 Specialist Training
2nd Dec 1915 Poor Conditions
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
24th Dec 1915 Flooding
26th Dec 1915 Flooding
27th Dec 1915 On the March
28th Dec 1915 Reliefs
29th Dec 1915 Reliefs
30th Dec 1915 Reliefs
31st Dec 1915 Shelling
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
23rd Jan 1916 Heading South
27th Jan 1916 Hard Work
3rd Feb 1916 Train
5th Feb 1916 Soldier's Feed
6th Feb 1916 Heavy Bombardment
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
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
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 FightingIf 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. CameroniansJames 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.F Jackson
Rflm. James Finlay 5th Btn. Scottish RiflesJames 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 EngineersJames 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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