52nd Lowland Volunteers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland |
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| Active | 28 March 2006 – present |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Line Infantry |
| Role | TA Reserve Light Role |
| Size | Battalion 470 personnel |
| Part of | 4th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North East |
| Garrison/HQ | BHQ – Glasgow HQ Company – Glasgow A Company – Edinburgh B Company – Ayr C Company – Glasgow |
| Motto(s) | Nemo Me Impune Lacessit (No One Assails Me With Impunity) (Latin) |
| March | Quick – Across the Lowlands Slow – Mist Covered Mountains Royal Salute – St. Andrew's Cross (Pipes and Drums) God Save the King (Military Band) Commanding Officer's Orders – A Man's A Man for A' That |
| Anniversaries | Walcheren Day (8 November) |
| Commanders | |
| Royal Colonel | The Princess Royal KG KT GCVO GCStJ QSO CD GCL |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical Recognition Flash |  |
| Tartan | Government Red Erskine (Pipes and Drums) Hunting Stewart (Military Band) |
| Hackle | Grey |
| Abbreviation | 6 SCOTS |
The 52nd Lowland Volunteers (52 LOWLAND) is a special group of soldiers in the British Army. They are part of the Army Reserve, which means they are not full-time soldiers but train in their spare time. This group is also known as 6 SCOTS. They are the 6th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
This unit is very old and important. It is the most senior (oldest) reserve infantry battalion in the British Army. It is based in the Scottish Lowlands. There is another similar reserve battalion, the 51st Highland (7 SCOTS), in the Scottish Highlands. The 52nd Lowland Volunteers were first formed in 1967. They brought together older groups of soldiers from the Lowland Brigade. Their name remembers the famous 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division from the First and Second World Wars.
Contents
History of the 52nd Lowland Battalion
Early Beginnings and World War I
The 52nd Lowland Battalion has a long history. It started with groups called Rifle Volunteers in the Scottish Lowlands. These groups were formed in the 1800s to help defend the country. Many different counties had their own volunteer groups.
One famous volunteer was William Alexander Smith, who started the Boys' Brigade. Another group had a football team that became the famous Third Lanark club. Some of these early volunteers even fought overseas in the Second Boer War.
Later, these volunteer groups joined up with regular army regiments. This happened around 1881. The current unit comes from the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division. This division was a big part of the Territorial Force, which was created in 1907. The Territorial Force brought together volunteers and other part-time soldiers into one system.
During the First World War, the 52nd (Lowland) Division fought in many important battles. They were in the Gallipoli area, Egypt, and Palestine. They also fought on the Western Front in France. Famous people like Winston Churchill and John Reith (who started the BBC) served with units that became part of the 52nd Lowland. Some soldiers from these units even won the Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery.
Between Wars and World War II
After World War I, the Territorial Force was restarted as the Territorial Army. The Lowland Battalions were reformed. In 1939, before World War II began, the 52nd (Lowland) Division created a second, similar division called the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division. Both divisions were ready when the war started.
The 52nd (Lowland) Division was the only completely part-time (Territorial) division to fight in World War II. They were first sent to France in 1940 but had to leave during Operation Aerial. Later, they trained in the Scottish Highlands for mountain warfare.
Before the invasion of Normandy, the 52nd Division was part of a clever trick called Operation Fortitude. This plan made the Germans think the invasion would happen in several places, including Norway. The 52nd was even prepared to be an Airborne force (paratroopers).
However, they ended up fighting in Belgium and the Netherlands in late 1944. They helped capture the important Port of Antwerp. They also fought in the Battle of the Scheldt, which included taking Walcheren Island. This opened up the Scheldt river for Allied ships.
In 1945, they fought in the Battle for the Roer Triangle. A soldier named Dennis Donnini from one of their battalions won the Victoria Cross during this battle. He was the youngest person to win the VC in World War II. The division then crossed the River Rhine and fought its last battle of the war in Bremen.
After the Wars and the Cold War
After World War II, the 52nd (Lowland) Division was temporarily disbanded. It was later brought back and combined with another division. In 1950, the 52nd Lowland Division became independent again. It took charge of all the Territorial Army units in the Scottish Lowlands.
In the 1960s, the British Army changed a lot. The Territorial Army was replaced by the Territorial & Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR) in 1967. The old battalions were made smaller. Three new reserve battalions were created. The 52nd Lowland Volunteers was one of these. It was designed to help the regular army if needed.
Later, some of these smaller units joined together. In 1971, the 2nd Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers (2/52 LOWLAND) was formed. This meant there were two battalions: the 1st Battalion and the 2nd Battalion.
During the Cold War, both battalions trained for NATO missions. The 1st Battalion even had a special anti-tank missile team ready to go to Germany. They also had companies focused on defending the home country.
Modern Era: After the Cold War
In 1995, the 1st Battalion of the 52nd Lowland Volunteers became part of another regiment, the Royal Highland Fusiliers. It was renamed the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers (3 RHF). The 2nd Battalion became known simply as The Lowland Volunteers (LOWLAND).
In 1999, these two battalions joined together again. They became one unit called The 52nd Lowland Regiment (52 LOWLAND). This meant fewer companies, but the unit still kept the history of both older battalions. In 2002, the 52nd Lowland Regiment joined the 51st (Scottish) Brigade, which looked after all Scottish part-time army units.
Finally, on March 28, 2006, the 52nd Lowland Regiment became the 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. This was part of a bigger change for all Scottish regiments.
Current Locations and Activities
How the Battalion is Organized Today
The main office for the battalion is at Walcheren Barracks in Maryhill, Glasgow. The battalion has a main support company and three rifle companies. These companies are spread out across the Scottish Lowlands. They also have special platoons with heavier weapons.
52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (6 SCOTS), around 2020
- Battalion HQ & HQ (Royal Highland Fusiliers) Company based at Walcheren Barracks, Glasgow
- A (Royal Scots Borderers) Company based in Edinburgh/Galashiels/Bathgate
- B (Royal Highland Fusiliers) Company based in Ayr/Dumfries
- C (Royal Highland Fusiliers) Company based in Glasgow/Motherwell
Soldiers in this battalion used to wear black or white feathers (called hackles) on their hats. But in 2010, they started wearing a new grey hackle. This helps them stand out within the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Ceremonial Duties and Music
The battalion has a military band called The Lowland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. They also used to have a Pipes and Drums band. This pipe band was very good and became the best in the British Army for a while.
The Lowland Band still performs at many events. These include military ceremonies and civilian events across the UK and even worldwide. They play at the battalion's annual Beating Retreat and Remembrance Day ceremonies. They also perform at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Opening of the Scottish Parliament.
Training for the Future
Most soldiers and officers in the 6 SCOTS are part-time. They have other jobs or are students. They train in their free time, usually in the evenings, on weekends, and during holidays. Many employers allow them special leave for training.
Each member must train for at least 27 days a year. This usually includes a two-week camp in the UK or another country. They also have weekly training evenings and monthly weekend training exercises. These exercises happen in places like Garelochhead and Barry Buddon.
The battalion also helps with emergencies in Scotland. They can provide support to the emergency services if needed. This is called the Civil Contingency Reaction Force.
Real-World Operations
The main job of the battalion is to provide reserve soldiers. These soldiers help the full-time battalions of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. Many members volunteer to serve alongside regular soldiers. They go on training exercises and real missions around the world.
They have served in places like Cyprus, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Northern Ireland. More recently, they have served in Operation Herrick in Afghanistan and Operation Telic in Iraq. Sadly, two soldiers from the 52nd Lowland were killed in Iraq in 2003.
Most deployments last for six months. But with training before and leave after, soldiers can be away from home for up to ten months. Reserve soldiers can be called up for overseas missions about once every three to five years.
From 2007 to 2008, a group from 52nd Lowland went to Kabul, Afghanistan. They helped protect the main base there. This was the first time a full unit from 52nd Lowland had been deployed since World War II. The group received a special award for their work.
The battalion continues to send volunteer reservists to support the British Army's missions overseas. They have served in Cyprus again and with other Scottish regiments in Afghanistan.
Lineage
| Lineage | |||||
| 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland | 52nd Lowland Regiment | 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers | 1st Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers | 52nd Lowland Volunteers (TAVR II) | 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Scots |
| 4th/5th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers | |||||
| 5th/6th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry | |||||
| The Lowland Volunteers | 2nd Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers | 3rd (Territorial) Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers (TAVR III) | 1st Glasgow Highlanders Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry | ||
| 4th/5th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers | |||||
| The Royal Scots and Cameronians Territorials (TAVR III) | 6th/7th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) | ||||
Alliances with Other Military Units
The 52nd Lowland Battalion has special friendships, called alliances, with other military units around the world. These alliances help them share traditions and support each other.
South Africa – Chief Maqoma Regiment- South Africa – Bambatha Rifles
Canada – The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada- Canada – The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)
- Canada – Royal Newfoundland Regiment
- Canada – 1st Battalion, The Royal New Brunswick Regiment (Carleton and York)
Australia – 25th/49th Battalion, The Royal Queensland Regiment
