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Timeline

Notable dates in the history of the KOSB

March 18th 1689

David Leslie, 3rd Earl of Leven raises a new Regiment for the protection of the City of Edinburgh against the Jacobites. Over 800 men are recruited within the space of two hours in the grounds of Holyrood Abbey.

1689

July 27th 1689

Six regiments of foot, including Leven’s Regiment, face the Jacobite army at the Pass of Killiecrankie. Although the Government forces are forced to retreat, Leven’s Regiment acquits itself well, and as a reward is granted the privilege of beating up for recruits in Edinburgh without the permission of the Lord Provost.

1689

1691 – 1692

Regiment campaigning in Ireland.

1691

1692 – 1697

Flanders (Nine Years’ War)

1692

July 27th 1695

At the Siege of Namur in Flanders, over 500 officers and men are killed by a mine. The Regiment rallies, and renews the assault on the French garrison, driving the enemy back and capturing part of the offences. ‘Namur’ is later awarded as a Battle Honour to be borne on the Regimental Colours.

1695

1697 – 1719

Scotland.

1697

November 13th 1715

The Regiment forms part of a Government army sent to fight Jacobite forces at Sheriffmuir. Though inconclusive, the action ends the Jacobite campaign for the time being.

1715

1719 – 1728

Ireland.

1719

1728 – 1736

Gibraltar. Part of a garrison of 6000 men besieged by Spanish forces.

1728

1743 – 1746

Flanders. The 25th Foot fight the French at Fontenoy (10th May 1745), and later garrison the town of Ath, under siege by the French.

1743

16th April 1746

The Battle of Culloden – the Regiment’s third major encounter with the Jacobites, defending the Government Army’s left wing and inflicting heavy casualties on the rebels. The defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s army marks the end of Jacobite hopes for the return of a Stuart monarch to the British throne.

1746

1751

The Regiment is officially titled The 25th Regiment of Foot.

1751

1st August 1759

Six regiments of the British Army, together with two battalions of Hanoverian Guards, confront the might of the French cavalry at Minden. Repeated cavalry charges are repulsed, and the main body of the French cavalry is broken, uniquely by unsupported infantry. ‘Minden Day’ becomes the Regimental Day.

1759

1782 – 1792

Gibraltar. ‘Great Siege’ by French and Spanish forces ended 1783.

1782

1st June 1794

Detachments of the Regiment, serving as marines aboard ships of Admiral Howe’s fleet, take part in the great naval victory over the French 400 miles off Brest known as ‘the Glorious First of June’.

1794

7th May 1805

Having been ‘The Sussex Regiment’ since 1782, the Regiment is redesignated ‘The 25th (King’s Own Borderers) Regiment of Foot’ and becomes a Royal Regiment.

1805

1808 – 1817

1st Battalion West Indies. 2nd Battalion Baltic Expedition and Low Countries; disbanded 1816.

1808

1840 – 1842

South Africa: Cape of Good Hope, Natal (confrontation with Boers).

1840

1842 – 1856

South India.

1842

1859

A 2nd Battalion is again formed.

1859

1864 – 1867

1st Battalion in Canada, to counter incursions from the US by Irish Republican sympathisers (Fenian Raids).

1864

1863 – 1867

2nd Battalion in Sri Lanka.

1863

1875 – 1878

1st Battalion in India.

1875

1878 – 1880

1st Battalion in Afghanistan (2nd Afghan War). Punitive expedition against rebel Zakka Khel forces, then Battalion joins Kabul Field Force.

1878

1880 – 1886

2nd Battalion in Ireland (Cork, Dublin). Irish Land War.

1880

1881

The Regiment is allocated a Depot at Berwick-upon-Tweed.

1881

1887

The Regiment is retitled ‘The King’s Own Scottish Borderers’.

1887

1888 – 1890

2nd Battalion in Egypt and Sudan, fighting Dervish army under the Khalifa at Suakim and Gemaiza.

1888

1889 – 1890

1st Battalion in Burma (Chin Lushai Expedition).

1889

1890 – 1903

2nd Battalion in India (Relief of Chitral, 1895; Tirah Campaign, 1898).

1890

1900 – 1902

1st Battalion, 3rd (Militia) Battalion, and 3 Volunteer Service Companies serve in South Africa (2nd Boer War). VC and DSO awarded to Lieutenant GHB Coulson.

1900

1903 – 1906

2nd Battalion in Burma.

1903

1906 – 1911

1st Battalion in Egypt and Sudan.

1906

1910 – 1914

2nd Battalion in Ireland. July 1914, skirmishes with Irish Nationalist gun-runners.

1910

1914 – 1918

World War I. 9 Battalions serve on the Western Front (Ypres 1,2 and 3, Loos, the Somme, Arras, Cambrai etc.), on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and in Palestine. 4 VCs awarded, including one to Piper Daniel Laidlaw, the ‘Piper of Loos’.

1914

1919 – 1922

1st Battalion in India.

1919

1921 – 1922

2nd Battalion in Ireland (Bantry Bay in County Cork). Country in state approaching civil war. 3 soldiers murdered by IRA on way to post office to buy stamps.

1921

1922 – 1923

1st Battalion in Egypt.

1922

1923 – 26

2nd Battalion in Egypt.

1923

1926 – 1930

2nd Battalion in Hong Kong – anti-piracy duties. Detachment guarding Shameen Island, an Anglo-French outpost (civil war in nearby Canton City).

1926

1930

2nd Battalion moves to India.

1930

1936

1st Battalion in Palestine, to counter Arab uprising, protect civilian population, and guard power lines and oil installations.

1936

1939 – 1945

World War II. 1st Battalion: Dunkirk, D-Day, France, Low Countries, Germany; 2nd Battalion: Burma (1943 – 1945); 4th and 5th Battalions: 2nd British Expeditionary Force (June 1940), landings on Walcheren Island, November 1944, Low Countries, Germany; 6th Battalion: France, June 1944, Low Countries, Germany; 7th Battalion: Arnhem (September 1944); Norway 1945.

1939

1946 – 1948

1st Battalion in Egypt and Palestine, attempting to keep the peace between Zionist and Arab factions.

1946

1951 – 1952

1st Battalion in Korea. ‘Guy Fawkes Battle’ 4th – 5th November 1951: 3 forward companies fend off attack by Chinese division. Private Bill Speakman wins VC.

1951

1955 – 1959

Malaya. Fighting Communist terrorists.

1955

1962-1964

Aden. Assisting the civil powers in maintaining law and order.

1962

1964

Aden (Radfan). Assisting Federal troops against attacks by rebel Yemeni tribesmen.

1964

1965 – 1966

Borneo. Countering incursions into Malaysia by Indonesian forces.

1965

1970

Northern Ireland (keeping the peace – first of 14 tours up to 2006).

1970

1991

Gulf War. KOSB engaged in mopping up pockets of resistance, and taking and guarding prisoners.

1991

2003

Iraq War. Maysan Province. KOSB involved in reconstruction and resisting attacks by insurgents and criminal gangs.

2003

2006

March 28th: the Regiment becomes the King’s Own Scottish Borderers Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland; August 1st: merger with the Royal Scots Battalion to form the Royal Scots Borderers (1st) Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

2006
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