The Royal Scots

8th / 9th Battalions

(Territorial Army Battalions)

The Royal Scots

Thank you to Evan Reid for allowing me to reproduce this photo taken in 1961. The men seem to be in good spirits at the end of their manoeuvres.

Evan wrote:

8th / 9th Battalions

"This photograph is of a detachment of the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Scots, immediately after they had successfully completed the rigorous 1961 Nijmegen Marches (Holland).  The medals awarded can be seen on the right hand side of the uniforms.

Until earlier in 1961, the 8th/9th Battalion were known as the 7th/9th Battalion.  They were nicknamed ‘The Dandy Ninth’ because of the kilts they wore.  They were a Territorial Battalion based at the drill hall in East Claremont Street, Edinburgh."

The Photo

"I am standing in the back row third soldier along from the Piper. The soldier next to me, second along from the Piper, was David Munro.  We were both former pupils of Boroughmuir."

Evan Reid, Ayrshire, Scotland:  November 4+7+8, 2009

Reply

1.

Jim Robertson

Berlin, Germany

Thank you to Jim Robertson, now living in Berlin, Germany for telling me more about this photo.

Jim wrote:

8th / 9th Battalions

"I would just like to name everyone on this photo.  Most of these lads joined my Regt the 1st Bn Royal Scots later."

They are:

From Left

Cpl. Stevens (piper)

Cpl. Hill

Capt. Ramsey Hovel

Pte. Lodge

Pte. Carlin

Cpl. Rowan

Pte. Reid

Sgt. Jacks

Pte. Bell

Pte. Munro

Sgt. Darling

2nd Lt. Munro

Jim Robertson, Berlin, Germany:  Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book:  November 9, 2009

Reply

2.

Evan Reid

Ayrshire, Scotland

Thank you to Evan Reid who replied, saying that he agreed with almost all the names that Jim Robertson had given above, but  he did not agree with the order of the names.

Evan wrote:

8th / 9th Battalions

"I lost touch with all these men after the event and did not know that quite a number had gone on to the 1st Btn.  Shortly after our return I joined the Police Force."

These are the names given by Evan:

From Left

Cpl. Stephens (piper)

Sgt. R Jacks

2nd Lt. Munro

Pt H Rowan

Pt. A Lodge

Pt. E Reid

Capt. Ramsay Hovell

Pt. D  Bell

Pt. M Carlin

Sgt. D Darling

 Lt. W Cairns

Evan Reid, Ayrshire, Scotland:  November 9, 2009

Reply

3.

Jim Cairns

Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

Thank you to Jim Cairns for sending me the account, below, of his dad's involvement with the 7th/9th Royal Scots towards the end of World War II, in 1944.

Jim says he would be delighted to hear from any surviving comrades or their families.

An Edinburgh Battalion at War

The Dandy Ninth

1944

"As part of the preparations for D Day, the Signal Platoon was involved in fooling the Germans into thinking that the Allies were about to invade Norway. They spent weeks transmitting bogus messages to keep them guessing.   Then, in the middle of September, the Dandy Ninth (Royal Scots 9th Battalion) were sent to Lincolnshire, to take part in the second wave of airborne landings at Arnhem.

 Sadly, the first landings were a disaster, and the further operations were cancelled.  The 7/9th Royal Scots were posted to Belgium, to take part in the battles to take Antwerp and the Scheld Estuary, in order to open up the port as the main supply line for the Allies. On November 1 1944 they took part in the Battle of Flushing. Wading through the flooded town - the dykes had been breached - waist deep and more in the North Sea, their task was to capture the Hotel Britannia. In single file, holding on to the man in front¹s webbing they fought their way across the rapidly-flowing waters.

Their CO, Colonel Melvill, was wounded, but was propped up on a raised dyke, and urged his men onwards  The men were enraged that their Colonel had been shot, and charged forward to the hotel building, lobbing grenades into pill-boxes and windows. Bursting into a big concrete bunker outside the hotel, the Royals found that the bunker was packed with Germans, including the Commander of the Flushing garrison and all his staff. He immediately surrendered to the senior Dandy Ninth officer.  In all more than 500 Germans surrendered.

Dad was in charge of the only working  radio during the battle. The others had packed up due to the wet conditions. For his efforts, Dad was mentioned in despatches 'for gallant conduct¹. Walcheren was finally liberated on 6 November. Antwerp followed. They were rested on 28 December, before rejoining the fight.

In January the 7/9th continued to fight their way across Belgium, Holland and Germany. On 10 March they reached the Rhine. They crossed it under fire.

Their unit then became part of the 8th Army and moved on to Barnstorf, Osnabruck, and then to Soltau, where they met stiff resistance, but captured the town on 18 April. They were then sent towards the city of Bremen, but came under attack along the way. They were reunited into the 52nd (Lowland) Division for the Assault on Bremen on 20 April. Bremen was captured, and on May 1 it was announced that Hitler was dead. On the 5th of May 1945, Germany surrendered. The pictures show the 7/9th Signal platoon in Germany, and Dave Cairns guarding a jeep in Bremen.

Although the war was over, the Royal Scots were still needed to occupy Bremen.  Dad was not demobbed until 13 July 1946!"

Jim added:

"I'd be delighted to hear from any of his surviving comrades, or their families."

Jim Cairns, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland:  November 10, 2009

Reply to Jim?

If you'd like to contact Jim, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to him.  Thank you.

Peter Stubbs:  November 10, 2009

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