The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 SCOTS) was an

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions a ...

of the

Royal Regiment of Scotland The Royal Regiment of Scotland is the senior and only Scottish line infantry regiment of the British Army Infantry. It consists of three regular (formerly five) and two reserve battalions, plus an incremental company, each formerly an indiv ...

. The battalion formed on 1 August 2006 when its antecedent regiments - the

Royal Scots The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment), once known as the Royal Regiment of Foot, was the oldest and most senior infantry regiment of the line of the British Army, having been raised in 1633 during the reign of Charles I of Scotland. The regime ...

and the

King's Own Scottish Borderers The King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSBs) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. On 28 March 2006 the regiment was amalgamated with the Royal Scots, the Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's O ...

- amalgamated just after the formation of the Royal Regiment of Scotland in 2006. On 1 December 2021, the battalion transferred to the new Ranger Regiment as the 1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment (1 RANGERS).

History

When the Scottish infantry regiments amalgamated to form the

on 28 March 2006, the

and the

initially maintained their identities as separate battalions; the 1st Battalion, Royal Scots became the Royal Scots Battalion and the 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers became the King's Own Scottish Borderers Battalion. This was an interim arrangement, as the overall plan had always been to amalgamate the two into a single battalion. This was not a new idea: the origins of the combined entity, ''Royal Scots Borderers'', dates from the 1990 ''

Options for Change Options for Change was a restructuring of the British Armed Forces in summer 1990 after the end of the Cold War. Until this point, UK military strategy had been almost entirely focused on defending Western Europe against the Soviet Armed Forces, ...

'' review, when it was initially announced that the Royal Scots and King's Own Scottish Borderers would amalgamate. That amalgamation was subsequently rescinded. The Royal Scots Battalion and King's Own Scottish Borderers Battalion duly amalgamated on 1 August 2006 – upon their amalgamation, the new battalion took the name The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland. Since the amalgamation, the battalion has been deployed several times both to Iraq on Operation TELIC and to Afghanistan on

Operation HERRICK Operation Herrick was the codename under which all British operations in the War in Afghanistan were conducted from 2002 to the end of combat operations in 2014. It consisted of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Ass ...

, most recently to Afghanistan in September 2012 on HERRICK 17 as the Brigade Advisory Group and Operations Company. In September 2014, B Company deployed to Sierra Leone on Operation GRITROCK to help fight the outbreak of Ebola and in September 2015, the 1 SCOTS Battlegroup deployed on Operation TOSCA to Cyprus as part of the ongoing UN peacekeeping operations. A written statement in December 2016 stated that it will be a Specialised Infantry battalion, reconfigured to provide an increased contribution to countering terrorism and building stability overseas. Following this change of role, the battalion will be assigned to the Specialised Infantry Group. In October 2017 the battalion officially joined the Specialised Infantry Group, and are due to move to Aldershot Garrison. Under the Defence in a Competitive Age programme, the battalion will help seed part of the new Ranger Regiment.

Uniform and traditions

Uniform

The battalion wears a flat black

hackle The hackle is a clipped plume or short spray of coloured feathers that is attached to a military headdress, with different colours being associated with particular regiments. In the British Army and the armies of some Commonwealth countries, ...

behind the Royal Regiment of Scotland cap badge on the TOS ( Tam o' Shanter) to distinguish itself as the Royal Scots Borderers.

Recruiting & Links

It recruits its soldiers from Dumfries and Galloway,

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

, the Lothians,

Borders A border is a geographical boundary. Border, borders, The Border or The Borders may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film and television * ''Border'' (1997 film), an Indian Hindi-language war film * ''Border'' (2018 Swedish film), ...

and parts of

Lanarkshire Lanarkshire, also called the County of Lanark ( gd, Siorrachd Lannraig; sco, Lanrikshire), is a historic county, lieutenancy area and registration county in the central Lowlands of Scotland. Lanarkshire is the most populous county in Scotl ...

, which was traditionally the recruiting ground of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) until they were disbanded in 1968. The battalion home headquarters and museums are based at Edinburgh Castle for the

and Berwick for the

. A Company of 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland maintains an affiliation to the 1st Battalion.

Battalion Music

Battalion music includes: * Charge: The Standards on the Braes of Mar * Quick March: Blue Bonnets o'er the Border (from KOSB) * Slow March:

The Garb of Old Gaul ''The Garb of Old Gaul'' (sometimes given as "Auld Gaul") is an 18th-century patriotic Scottish march and song about Highland soldiers during the Seven Years' War. Origins The music was written by General John Reid, who was a senior officer of t ...

(from R SCOTS) * March on the Colours:

Dumbarton's Drums Dumbarton's Drums is a traditional Scottish song. The text was first printed in 1724 albeit with a different tune. The current tune was popularised by The Beers Family of Fox Hollow, New York in the 1960s. The song exists in several variants. I ...

(from R SCOTS) * General Salute:

Loch Leven Castle Lochleven Castle is a ruined castle on an island in Loch Leven, in the Perth and Kinross local authority area of Scotland. Possibly built around 1300, the castle was the site of military action during the Wars of Scottish Independence (1296–13 ...

Pipes and Drums

Role

Pipes and Drums have been a staple for Scottish and Irish regiments. 1 SCOTS pipes and drums were divided into two 'sections': Drummers, led by the Drum Major, and the Pipes led by the Pipe Major. Pipers and Drummers were classed as soldiers first and have an operational role in each battalion order of battle. As part of the battalion's conversion into a 'Specialised Infantry battalion', the unit's pipes and drums were reduced to nil strength. However, after much conversation and debate with senior army officials, it was decided to reform the platoon and move them to

Redford Barracks Redford Cavalry and Infantry Barracks is located on Colinton Road, near the Edinburgh City Bypass, east of the suburb of Colinton in Edinburgh, Scotland. Redford Barracks was built between 1909 and 1915 by the War Office and designed by Harry ...

. The P&Ds will now support public duties throughout

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

, and can be deployed if needed. After their move to Edinburgh, the pipes and drums began recruiting again, however its establishment was effectively in a '

black economy A black market, underground economy, or shadow economy is a clandestine market or series of transactions that has some aspect of illegality or is characterized by noncompliance with an institutional set of rules. If the rule defines the ...

'. Finally on 15 February 2021 the pipes and drums were formally disbanded and its personnel distributed to other battalions of the

Uniform

In short terms, because of their amalgamation, the pipers maintained the overall uniform of the

(RS), while the drummers maintained the uniform of the

(KOSB). General uniform worn throughout: Royal Regiment of Scotland Capbadge, Blackcock feather SCOTS pattern: For PM, DM, and SNCOS: archer green barathea doublet with golden braided shoulder wings and gold Russia piping. Wide gold braiding for PM and DM doublet. For OR pipers and drummers; white braided shoulder wings and white Russia piping. No medal ribbons. White collarless shirt or issued T-shirt., and black Scottish pattern black shoes.Dress regulations part two, pp. 6–13. The uniform descriptions below are specific to those sections and types. Drum Major Gold braid DM rank insignia and gold laurel wreath DM insignia. No cord and tassels, SCOTS pattern gold embroidered thistle, RS pattern DM

baldric A baldric (also baldrick, bawdrick, bauldrick as well as other rare or obsolete variations) is a belt worn over one shoulder that is typically used to carry a weapon (usually a sword) or other implement such as a bugle or drum. The word ma ...

, DM sword belt, white and RS DM buckle, Crimson silk sash worn over right shoulder and under baldric, No. 8 RS Hunting Stuart trews. Broad sword with full basket and plated scabbard. RS pattern mace, and white gloves. Drummers SCOTS pattern glengarry, Gold braid rank insignia with drummer qual badge, Army pattern cord and tassels (red/blue/yellow), KOSB pattern gilt castle collar badges, military pattern drummer white sling cross belt, military pattern waist belt, white with KOSB drummer buckle, for SNCO only, issued red sash worn over right soldier, No. 7 KOSB Leslie tartan trews, KOSB Leslie tartan fly plaid and brooch, lowland patter gaiters, white canvas, and white buttons, Tenor and Bass drummers wore cougar skins on blue backing. All Pipers Dark blue pipers glengarry (scarlet tourie), Military pattern piper cross belt, black with KOSB accoutrements for PM and RS accoutrements for pipers. Royal Stuart kilts, SCOTS pattern stockings, footless, (red and black dicing), SCOTS pattern scarlet flat 4 inch flashes worn as per SCOTS legdress policy. Gaiters in Scottish pattern, white canvas with eight white buttons worn on the outside of the leg, secured by white canvas strap and no sword/mac/accoutrements. Pipe Major Gold braid PM rank insignia and pipes in gold laurel wreath insignia, no coard and tassels, KOSB pattern gold embroidered castle, military pattern waist belt, black with KOSB PM buckle, crimson silk sash worn over left shoulder and under piper plaid, KOSB PM kilt pin, white hair sporran with three black tassels. KOSB PM cantle, Royal Stuart scarf plaid with KOSB PM plaid brooch, PM KOSB

dirk A dirk is a long bladed thrusting dagger.Chisholm, Hugh (ed.), ''Dagger'', The Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th ed., Vol. VII, New York, NY: Cambridge University Press (1910), p. 729 Historically, it gained its name from the Highland Dirk (Scot ...

pattern, PM KOSB pattern

Sgian-dubh The ( ; ) – also anglicized as skene – is a small, single-edged knife ( gd, sgian) worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress along with the kilt. Originally used for eating and preparing fruit, meat, and cutting bread and cheese, ...

. Pipers Gold braid rank insignia with piper qual badge, SCOTS pattern gilt thistle, Military pattern, black and TS piper buckle, for SNCO only, issued red sash worn over right soldier, RS pipers kilt pin, White hair sporrans with two black tassels, RS pipers cantle. Royal Stuart tartan scarf plaid with RS plaid brooch, Military pattern piper dirk, and SCOTS pattern

Commanding Officers

Commanding Officers have included:Regiments and Commanding Officers, 1960–
* 2006–2008: Lieutenant Colonel Robert Bernard Bruce * 2008–2010: Lt Col Charles L. G. Herbert * 2010–2013: Lt Col Benjamin M. A. Wrench * 2013–2015: Lt Col Matthew E. Munro * 2015–2018: Lt Col Nicholas M. Wight-Boycott * 2018–2021: Lt Col Andrew R. W. Watson

Alliances

* –

The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) ("Ready for the fray" or "ready to sting" – see §Motto) , colours = Red, blue, and green , colours_label = , march = Blue Bonnets Are over the Border , mascot ...

* – Royal Newfoundland Regiment * – 1st Battalion, The Royal New Brunswick Regiment (Carleton and York) * – 25th/49th Battalion, The Royal Queensland Regiment * – 5th Battalion, The Royal Malay Regiment * –

Bambatha Rifles The Bambatha Rifles (formerly the Witwatersrand Rifles) is a reserve mechanised infantry regiment of the South African Army. History Origin The Witwatersrand Rifles (often familiarly known as the "Wits Rifles or the Wit Rifles") was formed by ...

* – HMS ''Edinburgh'' * – Amiens Company Glasgow and Lanarkshire ACF * – Minden Company, West Lowland Battalion ACF

Footnotes

References

* *

External links

British Army - 1 SCOTS
{{Authority control Battalions of the British Army Royal Regiment of Scotland