1939 - 1945
For the first two years of the war all three battalions were engaged in training and defence duties, the most satisfying service falling to the 3rd Bn which was in action throughout the Battle of Britain and subsequently air offensives as part of the AA defences of London.
The London Scottish Regiment 'D' Company 1940. |
The 1st Bn went overseas in August, 1942, as part of 56th (London) Division and joined the Persia and Iraq Force in the area of Kirkuk. The Battalion, as part of 168 Brigade, joined the 50th (Northumbrian) Division for the invasion of Sicily and remained with them throughout this campaign. After the invasion of Italy, they rejoined 56th Division and served with them in both the 5th (American) and 8th Armies during the Italian campaign. They fought in all the major battles from the River Volturno to the crossing of the River Garigliano, the Anzio Bridgehead, the breaking of the Gothic Line and the subsequent fighting on the banks of the River Po. After crossing the Po, they formed part of the force which chased the remnants of the German army to Trieste where the Battalion became part of the Army of Occupation.
The 2nd Bn, after many disappointments, was denied active service as a unit although most of the personnel who served in it were drafted to the 1st Bn or to other units, often in the 51st Highland Division. In 1944, after D Day, it was organised as a reserve battalion in the 48th Reserve Division stationed at Thornhill in Dumfriesshire until the end of the war.
The 3rd Bn was converted from static to mobile HAA and left for Egypt in December, 1942. It subsequently fought through the Sicilian and Italian campaigns often being employed in a ground role instead of AA. It took part in the actions at Cassion, Poggibonsi, Arezzo and San Archangelo where 298 Battery was in direct support of the 1st Bn. |  | 
The Second World War Memorial in the drill hall of the headquarters. |
The NDC, although reorganised as No 1 (London Scottish) Company, 10th Bn, The Middlesex Regiment, stoutly maintained its individuality and wore Balmoral bonnets with London Scottish badges and flashes. It carried out various guard duties at vulnerable points around London.
One VC and three DSOs were awarded to members of the Regiment and the total fatal casualties amounted to 350 killed in one battalion alone. A large number of London Scots went on to take commissions in other Regiments, just as they had in World War 1.
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