2/7th Batt Royal Scots (TF)

[Lachlan]

This was the battalion my maternal Granddad, Peter Montgomery, served in during the Great War.

Reserve battalion for the 1/7th Royal Scots, the 2/7th was formed in Leith in August 1914. Like the 1/7th, it was composed of men from Leith and East Edinburgh, as well as nearby Musselburgh and other Midlothian towns. My Granddad was a Musselburgh man.

The 2/7th remained in the Edinburgh area until March 1915, when it moved to Peebles, in the South of Midlothian. In November 1915, the battalion was attached to 194th Bde, 65th Division (2nd Lowland) at Larbert, a staging post in Western Scotland used in 1915 for, among other things, dispatching troops to Liverpool Docks. In March 1916, the battalion moved to Widford Camp, Chelmsford, Essex where it remained until January 1917, when it was sent on internal policing duties to Ireland, in the aftermath of the 1916 Easter Rising. The 2/7th was disbanded in March 1918, its personnel being re-assigned elsewhere, my Granddad going to 4^th (Reserve) Batt Royal Scots as regimental police until his demob. Presumably the 4^th RS TF (Edinburgh Rifles) was merged with the 5^th Batt to become 4/5^th Batt RS TF and the vacant 4^th title taken over as a reserve unit or cadre.

It is quite a coincidence that in the 1980's-2000's, I lived in Chelmsford and the old Widford Camp, now part of Hylands Park, is only 2 miles from where I lived.

I would be very grateful for any information on my Granddad's service. He joined up in December 1914. I believe he possibly started as a private in the 2/7^th RS, then took up the bagpipes and after tuition became a piper in the battalion pipes and drums. His revised service number from 1917 was 300822. When discharged from the 4^th Reserve Batt RS at the start of 1919, his medical category was B II. At one point during his service during 1916, his brother in law, L/Cpl David E. Robertson, 8^th Batt Black Watch (9^th Scottish Div) wrote to his sister (Peter's wife), that Peter had written to him, expecting soon to be joining David somewhere on the Western Front, though in the event that did not materialise.

Two noteable events in the battalion's history occurred in 1915 and 1916. The first was the effect of Gretna Rail Disaster of 22nd May 1915, which caused nearly 50% casualties to the sister 1/7th Battalion while en route by train to Liverpool Docks bound for the landings at Helles, Dardanelles. The 1/7th losses included 226 dead, of whom 71 were Musselburgh men. The 2/7th supplied drafts to replace the Gretna losses, as well as the campaign losses later in the Dardanelles. My family-lore recalled that after Gretna, whole streets, such as Market Street, in the wee town of Musselburgh had drawn curtains in mourning, a scene soon to become all too common in Britain as the war took its toll of the pals-volunteers.

Another other event occurred in the wee sma' hours of 26th September 1916, when four Zeppelin airships, on a raid over London, were bounced by the RFC and one airship was shot down over Stock, Billericay. Among the troops mobilized to form a cordon around the wreckage to prevent souvenir-hunters and legions of sight-seers expected from London and the Essex area, the 2/7th were sent from Chelmsford to the crash-site and were there by mid-morning. That would suggest they marched, as Stock is only about 4 or 5 miles from Chelmsford.

The following are a series of photos of my Granddad and other members of the 2/7^th Batt Royal Scots, as well as panoramic photos of their military band and pipes and drums. I hope you find them interesting, informative and entertaining.

[dycer]

Lachlan,

Unfortunately cannot see any photographs.

Although not directly affected by the Gretna disaster,my Father as a Haddington teenager at the time,remembered it well.

Forum Member,John Duncan,takes a keen interest in the Royal Scots and has his own web-site-Newbattle at War-on which there are many photographs of Royal Scots of all Battalions.I would recommend you send John a personal message as he is always keen to add further photos to his site.

George(whose Uncles served in the 8th Battalion)

George

[Lachlan]

Photos to follow ! (Once I resize them - I used up my quota so I must re-post)

[eltoro1960]

Hi Lachlan

Got your PM And replied with my email, the photos sound evry interesting, regarding the Gretana disaster I have a gallery with some of the men who died featured.

There is also another album of teh men who were killed at Gallipoli, around 75% of the Battalion was gone one or another within a month.

John

[Lachlan]

I've shrunk the photos to about 15kb so they can be posted and still leave space for later. I've no idea what they'll look like in the posts !

The first 5 photos are all of my Granddad, Pte Peter Montgomery, 2/7^th Royal Scots. I have assumed the 2 clean-shaven photos, wearing standard battalion uniform, indicate he was a private at this time and later trained as a piper. Perhaps he was already a civilian piper before the war and initially joined as R&F, transferring to the Pipe band later. It's also possible however, that these first 2 photos are after he left 2/7^th RS in 1918 and joined 4^th (Reserve) Batt RS, being allocated to their police (his discharge papers are from 4^th (Res) Batt Royal Scots and describe his battalion duties as police). Maybe someone can unravel this one for me ?

[Lachlan]

Here are two photos of a local crowd watching the Pipes & Drums of the 2/7^th Batt Royal Scots beating retreat at Widford Camp, Chelmsford, Essex, in 1916.

The next photos are of 3 bugler/drummers from the band. Note that according to what my Granddad told my mum, the last youthful drummer lad, with the cheeky smile, later went to the Western Front where he died

[Lachlan]

Battalion pipers of the 2/7^th Royal Scots. I have presumed this due to the kilts being worn.

[Lachlan]

More pipers, though the Serjeant appars to wearing what I take to be the arm-badge of a PTI.

I'll follow soon with a split panoramic photo of the Military Band and the Pipes & Drums of the 2/7th Royal Scots, Widford Camp, Chelmsford, Essex, June 1916.

[john conley]

Hi

Fantastic pictures.

As you already know my man was sent to the 2/7th Royal Scots in Ireland.

While in Ireland he rec'd training including:-

Drill, Musketry, Bombing, Bayonet, Gas and Wiring.

I assume your men would have had the same training ie the whole battalion would have been involved.

Thanks again for the fantastic pictures and any more info on the 2/7th in Ireland you may have

would be very welcome.

Regards John C.

[eltoro1960]

Hi Lachlan

Thanks for the photos , much appreciated, working on the group photo at lunch time which is pretty damaged , but came up with this so far.

John

[Lachlan]

Brilliant !! I don't know how you managed to link up the sections and lose the worst of the cracks but well done !