Timeline

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.

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.

Regiment campaigning in Ireland.

Flanders (Nine Years’ War)

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.

Scotland.

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.

Ireland.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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’.

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

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

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

South India.

A 2^nd Battalion is again formed.

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

2^nd Battalion in Sri Lanka.

1^st Battalion in India.

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

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

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

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

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

1^st Battalion in Burma (Chin Lushai Expedition).

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

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

2^nd Battalion in Burma.

1^st Battalion in Egypt and Sudan.

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

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’.

1^st Battalion in India.

2^nd 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.

1^st Battalion in Egypt.

2^nd Battalion in Egypt.

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

2^nd Battalion moves to India.

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

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

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

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

Malaya. Fighting Communist terrorists.

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

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

Borneo. Countering incursions into Malaysia by Indonesian forces.

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

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

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

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