The King's Own Scottish Borderers battalions in WW1


Regular and reserve battalions
1st Battalion August 1914 : in Lucknow, India. Returned to England on 28th December 1914 and attached to 87th Brigade, 29th Division.
2nd Battalion August 1914 : in Dublin. Part of 13th Brigade, 5th Division.
3rd (Reserve) Battalion August 1914 : in Dumfries. Remained in UK and Ireland throughout the war.

Territorial battalions
1/4th (The Border) Battalion August 1914 : in Galashiels. Part of South Scottish Brigade, Lowland Division. On 11th May 1915 formation became 155th Brigade, 52nd Division.
1/5th (Dumfries and Galloway) Battalion August 1914 : in Dumfries. Part of South Scottish Brigade, Lowland Division. On 11th May 1915 formation became 155th Brigade, 52nd Division. On 28th June 1918 transferred to 103rd Brigade, 34th Division.
2/4th (The Border) Battalion Formed at Galashiels, September 1914. In January 1915 attached to 194th Brigade, 65th Division. In November 1915 formed No.14 Bn., with 2/5th Bn. In January 1916 absorbed into 2/5th Bn.
2/5th (Dumfries and Galloway) Battalion Formed at Dumfries, September 1914. In January 1915 attached to 194th Brigade, 65th Division. In November 1915 formed No.14 Bn., with 2/5th Bn. In January 1916 the 2/5th Bn. absorbed the 2/4th Bn. On 15th May 1918 disbanded in Ireland.
3/4th and 3/5th Battalions Formed in January and March 1915, in Galashiels and Dumfries, respectively. Supplied drafts to the 1/4th and 1/5th Bns. On 8th April 1916 became 4th and 5th (Reserve) Bns. On 1st September 1916 the 4th (Reserve) Bn. absorbed the 5th (Reserve) Bn.

Service battalions
6th (Service) Battalion Formed at Berwick-on-Tweed, August 1914, as part of K1. In August 1914 attached to 28th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. On 6th May 1916 transferred to 27th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division.
7th (Service) Battalion Formed at Berwick-on-Tweed, September 1914, as part of K2. In August 1914 attached to 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. On 28th May 1916 merged with 8th Bn. to form 7/8th Bn.
8th (Service) Battalion Formed at Berwick-on-Tweed, September 1914, as part of K2. In August 1914 attached to 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. On 28th May 1916 merged with 8th Bn. to form 7/8th Bn.
9th (Reserve) Battalion Formed in Portland, November 1914, as a Service battalion, part of K4. In November 1914 attached to 102nd Brigade, original 34th Division. On 10th April 1915 became a second Reserve battalion (after the 3rd Bn.). On 1st September 1916 became the 53rd Training Reserve Bn., 12th Reserve Brigade.
10th (Service) Battalion Formed at France, 11th June 1918, when the 9th Garrison Guard Bn. became the 10th (Garrison) Bn., and attached to 120th Brigade, 40th Division. By 13th July 1918 renamed 10th (Service) Bn.
9th Garrison Guard Battalion See 10th (Service) Battalion.

The information provided within this table is the original work of Chris Baker, The Long, Long Trail


Brief summary of theatres of war served in by KOSB battalions

On the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, the Regular (1st & 2nd), Reserve (3rd) and Territorial (4th & 5th) battalions were mobilised. In addition, 'Kitchener's New Army' battalions (6th, 7th and 8th) were raised, together with a 9th battalion, which ended up as a second reserve battalion providing reinforcements for the other battalions. The 10th (Garrison) Bn. was raised during the summer of 1918.