On the outbreak of war in September, 1939, The Cameronians mobilised SIX active Battalions:
(i) Two Regular Battalions:
1st Battalion
The 1st Battalion saw heavy fighting in the Burma retreat of 1942, and later in General Wingate’s famous “Chindit” campaign in 1944.
2nd Battalion
The 2nd Battalion was sent to France at the onset of hostilities, and subsequently took part in some of the heaviest fighting in the Dunkirk campaign. In the latter years of the war the 2nd Battalion served in Sicily, Italy and North-West Europe
(ii)Four Territorial Battalions:
The 6th and 7th Battalions took part in North-West Europe with the British Liberation Army in 1944.
6th Battalion
The Headquarters of the 6th Cameronians was in Hamilton, and in the main it drew recruits from a wider area – Hamilton, Motherwell, Lanark and throughout the County of Lanarkshire.
Click here for list of personnel who served with the 6th Battalion in WW2
7th Battalion
The 7th Battalion had its Headquarters at Coplaw Street, Glasgow and drew its recruits mainly from the city itself and its immediate suburbs.
Click here for list of personnel who served with the 7th Battalion in WW2
Click here for Battalion/ Company/ Platoon Photographs.
10th Battalion
At the outbreak of hostilities, the 9th and 10th Cameronians were in the 45th Infantry Brigade of the 15th (Scottish) Division. In December 1942 the 15th Division was re-organised. Some Battalions, including the 10th Cameronians, were transferred to reserve Divisions, and others brought in to replace them. From January 1943 the 10th ceased to be a Field Force Battalion. At the same time, the 9th Cameronians left the 45th Brigade to join the 46th (Highland) Infantry Brigade.
The 9th battalion was the only Cameronian Battalion to take part in the original landing in Normandy in 1944.
In all of the above activities the Battalions of the Regiment played their part with great distinction, suffering no less than 1222 fatal casualties.