Background:
From the early days of Scottish history the Lanarkshire Militia has been represented among the national forces. In the years following the Napoleonic Wars, the regiment was known as the 3rd North British Regiment of Militia. In the 1852 reorganisation of the militia, the quota of men to be furnished from the county was fixed at 2000; necessitating a division into two separate battalions.
On the further reorganisation of the Army in 1881, the first of these became the 3rd (Militia) Battalion 0f the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles); and the second, the 2nd Royal Lanark Militia.
In 1908 when the Army was again reorganized it was decided to disband one Militia battalion of each regiment. However, difficulties arose in carrying out this scheme owing to the fact that many militia battalions were very strong in numbers and there was no means of satisfactorily disposing of all the surplus personnel. As a consequence, It was decided to leave in being the existing 4th Battalions of the regiments of the Army, and to classify these as “ Extra Special Reserve Battalions,”
Thus the 4th Battalion of the Cameronians was created; (the last enlistment of a Lanarkshire militiaman taking place on January 14th, 1908, the first “Extra Special Reservist” being recruited just three days later.)
“In June, 1914, the Battalion was called out for training at Tinto, when His Majesty King George V visited Hamilton and the Battalion was accommodated in that town during his stay, assisting to line the streets and finding a guard of honour at the railway station on His Majesty’s departure. The training was scarcely completed when war broke out and general mobilization was ordered. The Battalion was detailed to guard the shipyards and factories on both banks of the Clyde, from Glasgow to Dumbarton on the northern bank, and from Glasgow to Fort Matilda on the southern, with headquarters at the last named place.
A very large draft was prepared and sent off to join the 2nd Battalion at Malta, and very shortly afterwards the 2nd Battalion proceeded to France.
The 4th Battalion was now kept busily engaged in enlisting the recruits who readily came in, in forwarding drafts to the Battalions in France and elsewhere, and in receiving, patching up, and returning those who came home sick and wounded.
In 1916 the Battalion was sent to the east for employment on coastal defence, and at one time held the coast line from Aberlady Bay to St. Abb’s Head, a distance of 50 miles, and strong posts were established at Gullane, North Berwick, Scoughal, Hedderwick Sands, Dunbar, and Cockburnspath, with advanced posts all round the coast. In June, 1918, the Battalion was relieved from the work of coastal defence, and from this date until the Armistice it was stationed in the infantry barracks at Redford near Edinburgh.
On demobilization being ordered, the Battalion, now reduced to 100 of all ranks, left Redford Barracks for Bridge of Allan, where the final act of demobilization took place, the remaining personnel being absorbed by the 3rd Battalion.
During the war the 4th Battalion was commanded by Colonel C. J. Lynch, and all officers and men served a tour of duty overseas.
Colonel Lynch received the following appreciative letter from FieldMarshal Sir Douglas Haig, dated June 24th, 1919 :
“Dear Colonel Lynch,
“I write to you on the occasion of the demobilization of your Battalion to express my warm appreciation of the work done by the 4th Reserve Battalion Scottish Rifles since mobilization. The high standard of the drafts sent overseas by your Battalion, due to the hard work of all concerned, contributed materially to the splendid achievements of the Battalions which fought under my command.
“Will you please convey to all who have served in your Battalion my high appreciation of their work in the past, and my most hearty thanks for the splendid service which they have rendered during the Great War.
“ Believe me, yours sincerely,
(Signed) ” D. Haig, Field-Marshal,
” Commanding-in-Chief, The Forces in Great Britain.”
During the course of the war there were drafted overseas from the 4th Battalion 674 officers and 27,142 non-commissioned officers and men.”
Source: H.C Wylly (1924) pp 33-35