9th (Scottish) Division

9th (Scottish) Division
Active	World War I 21 August 1914 – 16 March 1919
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	New Army
Type	Infantry
Engagements	Battle of Loos Battle of the Somme Capture of Longueval Battle of Delville Wood Battle of The Scarpe Third Battle of Ypres Ludendorff 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

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 1st South African Infantry Brigade Group joined in early 1916, the division was known colloquially as the Jocks and Springboks.

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 James Dalgleish 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 (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of 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]

1st (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)

General Officers Commandering

Commanders have included:^[2]

• 1902-1905 Major-General Edward Leach

• 27 August 1914 - 11 October 1914 Major-General Colin Mackenzie
• 26 October 1914 - 31 December 1914 Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Fergusson
• 21 January 1915 - 8 September 1915 Major-General Herman Landon
• 8 September 1915 - 26 September 1915 Major-General George Thesiger
• 28 September 1915 - 2 December 1916 Major-General William Furse
• 2 December 1916 - 4 March 1918 Major-General Henry Lukin
• 13 March 1918 - 16 March 1918 Major-General Cyril Blacklock
• 28 March 1918 - 1919 Major-General Hugh Tudor

See also

• List of British divisions in WWI
• British 9th (Highland) Infantry Division (For WWII)

References

1. ^ Transferred to 15th Division and amalgamated with 10th Battalion The Gordon Highlanders in May, 1916
2. ^ Army Commands

1. Transferred to 26th Brigade & replaced 8th Gordon Highlanders May, 1916. Transferred to 32nd Division in February, 1918
2. Transferred to the 15th Division and amalgamated with 7th Battalion the Royal Scots Fusiliers in May, 1916
3. Transferred to 27th Brigade & replaced 6th Battalion The Royal Scots Fusiliers in May, 1916
4. 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
5. Broken up May, 1916 & replaced with 28th (South African) Brigade.
6. Amalgamated May, 1916 & Transferred to 15th Division.
7. Replaced 28th Brigade May, 1916
8. 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
• The 9th Scottish Division Memorial