8th Royal Scots 1914

[Terry]

Do any of the Pals know if the 8th Bn., Royal Scots, one of the first Territorial units to land in France (5 Nov.,1914), actually saw action between then and 22 Nov to qualify for the Aug-Nov bar?

[Malcolm]

8th RS dug communication trenches for 22nd Brigade, 7th Division from 10th November 1914. 8th RS first went into the frontline on 20th November 1914. Their first action was 18th December 1914 near Touquet

from The Royal Scots 1914-1919 by John Ewing.

Aye

Malcolm

[Terry]

Thanks Malcolm; it sounds like they just got in under the wire to qualify for the bar.

[dycer]

I can confirm members of the Battallion were awarded the "1914 Star".

Two of my Uncles served in the Battallion and were conferred the "Star" posthumously.

582 Pte J Souness dow 29/01/1915

20(subsequently)225002 Sjt G.S. Souness kia 22/03/1918.

I have both "Stars" and covering letter issued to Family of Sjt Souness on 24/02/1920.

[dycer]

To expand earlier reply.

From a booklet printed by the Haddingtonshire Courier shortly after the War entitled the "1/8th Battalion The Royal Scots and the European War".

"The first work of the Battalion was digging communication trenches.On the night of 20th November 1914, four Companies went into the line for the first time, relieving a Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the La Boutillerie sector, the other Companies remaining at Fleurbaix. No 42,Sergeant D. Grieve, killed on the night of 15th November, was the first casualty."