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51st Infantry Brigade
51ScotBde.jpg
Insignia of 51st Infantry Brigade
ActiveWorld War I
1914 - 1918
1952 - Present
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeAll Arms and Services
RoleTraining and Administration
Military Aid to the Civil Authorities
Part of1st (United Kingdom) Division
Garrison/HQForthside Barracks, Stirling
Nickname(s)The Army In ScotlandThe Fighting 51st
EngagementsWorld War I
Cyprus Emergency
Commanders
CurrentcommanderBrigadier Robin Lindsay

51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland is an Adaptable Force Brigade of the British Army. It is the regional administrative formation responsible for all the units of the Army Reserve based in Scotland and an Adaptable Force Brigade under Army 2020. The Brigade is also regionally aligned with the Persian Gulf region as part of defence engagement.[1]

Although it takes its name and identity from, and is directly descended from the 51st (Highland) Division, formed as part of the Territorial Force in 1908 and which fought during the First and Second World Wars, it is also the modern descendant of the 52nd Lowland Division.

History[edit]

World War I[edit]

The British 51st Infantry Brigade began as a formation of the 17th (Northern) Division during the First World War. It spent the entirety of the war with the Division on the Western Front.[2]

World War II[edit]

Insignia of the 51st Highland Division, 51st (Scottish) Brigade's direct antecedent.

Although this brigade was not raised during the Second World War, the dominant historical threads behind the current 51st Scottish Brigade come from the famed 51st (Highland) Division which was deployed to France with the British Expeditionary Force. The 51st Division was attached to the French Southern Group of Armies and fought a lone battle as the remainder of the BEF was forced to retreat toward Dunkirk. For some time, it was forced to hold a line four times longer than that which would normally be expected of a division.[3]

Post war[edit]

The Territorial Army in Scotland re-raised the 51st/52nd Scottish Division in the late 1940s, which was in existence until the TA was disbanded and reorganised as the TAVR in 1967.[4]

The 51st/52nd Scottish Division was split into two separate Brigades in 1968, with the 51st Highland component reformed as Highland District, commanded by a Brigadier and the Lowland component forming 52nd Lowland Brigade. Since then the name of the formation changed first to Highland Area and then to a subordinate formation of Scottish District, Highlands, as 51st Highland Brigade. In 1975 the Brigade Headquarters moved from Highland House, St Catherine's Road, Perth to the old 51st Highland Division Officers’ Mess building at St Leonard's Bank, Perth. In 1989, towards the end of the Cold War it had various battalions under its command, such as the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalion, 51st Highland Volunteers, a field support squadron and reservist Royal Army Medical Corps under its command.[5][6]

21st century[edit]

On 1 April 2002, 51 (Scottish) Brigade took on the regional responsibility for the whole of Scotland, instead of just the Highlands, with its headquarters at Forthside Barracks in Stirling and its Regional Training Centre situated at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh. This enabled 52 (Lowland) Brigade, which previously administered all Lowland TA units, to be specifically reorganised to parent Regular light role infantry battalions for operational deployments. 51st (Scottish) Brigade also co-ordinated operational deployments within its regional area of responsibility, such as in scenarios requiring Military Aid to the Civil Community.[7]

In April 2012, with the disbandment of 2nd Division, the brigade came under the control of the new Support Command based in Aldershot.[8] On 31 March 2014, it was renamed 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland, and transformed as part of the Army 2020 programme.[9]

Current structure[edit]

51st Infantry Brigade[edit]

Units forming part of 51st Infantry Brigade, at Forthside Barracks, Stirling, include:[10]

  • 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland,[11] at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh[12][13]
    • The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (SCOTS DG), at Waterloo Lines,[14][15][16] Leuchars Station[17][18][19] (Light Cavalry)[19][20]
    • The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry (SNIY), HQ at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh[21][22] (Army Reserve, Light Cavalry) — paired with SCOTS DG[20][22]
    • The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS), at Fort George, Inverness[17][18] (Light Mechanised Infantry)[20]
    • 2nd Battalion, The Rifles (2 RIFLES), at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn[17][18] (Light Infantry)[20]
    • 51st Highland Volunteers, 7th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (7 SCOTS), HQ at Queen's Barracks, Perth[17][18] (Army Reserve Light Infantry) — paired with 3 SCOTS[20]
    • 8th Battalion, The Rifles (8 RIFLES), HQ in Bishop Auckland[17][18] (Army Reserve Light Infantry) — paired with 2 RIFLES — formed in 2018
    • Balaklava Company, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders the 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (5 SCOTS) in Redford Barracks, Edinburgh[17][18] (Public duties)[13]
      • Pipes and Drums of the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh[Note 1][23]

Headquarters Scotland[edit]

Headquarters Scotland, at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, oversees all units and ministry of defence estates in Scotland. Current organisations and units include:

  • Headquarters Scotland, at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh[24][25]
    • Military Secretary and General Officer Commanding Scotland 2 stars
    • Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, at Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh[26]
    • Defence High Frequency Communications Service, at Kinloss Barracks (Joint Services)[27]
    • Headquarters Edinburgh Garrison,[28] at Edinburgh Castle[29][30][31][32][33][34][35]
    • Headquarters Leuchars Station[36][37]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ As part of 1 SCOTS' reduction to a specialised infantry battalion, the pipes and drums were reduced to nil strength, but then brought back up to strength in summer 2020 and moved to Redford to support public duties and deploy as a specialist platoon if need be.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Information regarding British Army brigades being regionally aligned" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Ministry of Defence UK. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2020. Responsible Organisation 51st Infantry Brigade Region Gulf Region
  2. ^ "17th Division". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  3. ^ Saul David, Churchill's Sacrifice of the Highland Division, France 1940, ISBN 1-85753-378-X
  4. ^ "Divisional RE units". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  5. ^ "British Army units from 1945 on - Welcome". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  6. ^ "BOAR 1989" (PDF).
  7. ^ "Defence Basing Reforms". Scottish Parliament. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  8. ^ "HQ Regional Command". Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  9. ^ "51st Infantry Brigade and HQ Scotland". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  10. ^ "51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland - British Army".
  11. ^ "51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland - British Army".
  12. ^ "Today marked the formal move of 51 Brigade and Army Headquarters Scotland from Forthside Barracks, Stirling to its new home at Redford Cavalry Barracks in Edinburgh". The Army in Scotland – Twitter. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  13. ^ a b at 4:56pm, Tom Sables 20th October 2020. "Is Your Military Base Closing? Read The Full List Of Sites Shutting". Forces Network. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
  14. ^ "The wait is over! The first elements of SCOTS DG Battlegroup have left Waterloo Lines for Kirkcudbright". The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards – Facebook. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  15. ^ "We are at Waterloo Lines in Leuchars, Fife, watching the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards receive their new Standard from Her Majesty The Queen". British Army – Facebook. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  16. ^ at 12:38pm, Ali Gibson 29th September 2015. "Her Majesty The Queen Visits The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards". Forces Network. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  17. ^ a b c d e f "Army, Question for Ministry of Defence — current Order of Battle by manpower and basing locations for the corps". United Kingdom Parliament — Written questions, answers, and statements. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d e f "Written Question for the Ministry of Defence regarding Army basing and personnel". Parliamentary Replies. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  19. ^ a b at 8:24pm, 5th July 2018. "Queen Presents New Standard To Royal Scots Dragoon Guards". Forces Network. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  20. ^ a b c d e Ministry, of Defence (July 2013). "Transforming the British Army an Update" (PDF). Parliamentary Publishments. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  22. ^ a b at 3:49pm, Ali Gibson 28th November 2014. "Scottish And North Irish Yeomanry Unit Launched in Edinburgh". Forces Network. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  23. ^ Relocation of 1 SCOTS Pipes and Drums at Facebook. 6 April 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Today marked the formal move of 51 Brigade and Army Headquarters Scotland from Forthside Barracks, Stirling to its new home at Redford Cavalry Barracks in Edinburgh". The Army in Scotland – Twitter. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  25. ^ at 4:56pm, Tom Sables 20th October 2020. "Is Your Military Base Closing? Read The Full List Of Sites Shutting". Forces Network. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
  26. ^ "British Army Music". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  27. ^ "NATO BLOS Visit NCS Forest Moor" (PDF). 5 September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-01. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  28. ^ Army Secretariat, FOI(A) Request in relation to current British Army Garrisons/Installations with Garrison Sergeant Major s (20 March 2018). assets.publishging.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  29. ^ "Edinburgh Castle - Garrison Office". www.stjohnandthecity.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  30. ^ "Edinburgh Garrison". Army Garrisons. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  31. ^ "Edinburgh Garrison". Twitter. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  32. ^ "Army Welfare Community Support" (PDF). stmarksrcedin.files.wordpress.com. December 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  33. ^ Liam; Editor; Warfare.Today. "2 SCOTS Return from Iraq, South Sudan". Warfare.Today. Retrieved 2020-07-13.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  34. ^ "51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  35. ^ "#Edinburgh's Garrison Sergeant Major, WO1 Scott McFadden pays his respects to the fallen of all conflicts, by himself, at the Scottish National War Memorial, at @edinburghcastle to mark this, the most unusual of #Remembrance Sundays". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  36. ^ "Army, Question for Ministry of Defence — current Order of Battle by manpower and basing locations for the corps". United Kingdom Parliament — Written questions, answers, and statements. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  37. ^ "Written Question for the Ministry of Defence regarding Army basing and personnel". Parliamentary Replies. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2021.

External links and sources[edit]

  • 51st Infantry Brigade and HQ Scotland (Official Website)