15th Scottish Division

Lt-Col. E.M.A. Bradford

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Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Edward Bradford
9th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

From his first action it was apparent that he was an outstanding leader, and his continual coolness under fire became a byword in the battalion … Lt-Col Bradford was always conspicuous in the battles, and his complete disregard of danger was largely responsible for his successful leadership.

(Chevalier of the Order of Leopold with palm and Croix de Guerre 1940 with palm, citation, 8 December 1945)

Born on 30 November 1910 in London, Edward Montagu Andrew Bradford inherited the 3rd baronetcy of South Audley Street in September 1914 on the death of his father Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Evelyn Ridley Bradford at the First Battle of the Aisne. The younger Bradford grew up to also pursue an army career and took a commission with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in 1932. Like his father, he also played cricket as well as polo and raced horses.

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Lt-Col. R.M. Villiers

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Lieutenant-Colonel Dick Villiers
9th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

By his careful planning and his personal example in the deplorable conditions, his Brigade secured all their objectives. He was always to be found well forward, skillfully directing his Brigade and assisting to control the forward move of his supporting arms.

(D.S.O. Bar citation, 10 May 1945)

Born on 10 September 1905 in London, Richard Montagu Villiers was educated at Winchester College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, before taking a commission in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in 1925. He was promoted to captain in 1937 and then major in 1942. He assumed command of the 9th Battalion, Cameronians in January 1943.

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Lt-Col. P.M. Hunt

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Lieutenant-Colonel E.H.G. Grant
5th Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders
7th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders

Peter Hunt was a typical example of the best sort of traditional British general: brave, upright, straightforward, cheerful, friendly and with a sympathetic understanding of the needs, interests and emotions of all ranks, whether Scottish, English, Welsh, Irish or Gurkha.

(Michael Carver, The Independent, 7 Oct 1988, 17)

Born on 11 March 1916 in London, Peter Mervyn Hunt was a graduate of Royal Military College, Sandhurst and commissioned into the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders in 1936. In summer 1939, he was captain and adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, Liverpool Scottish before transferring to the 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders following the declaration of war. He was wounded during the evacuated from Dunkirk and four years later returned to France as a reinforcement officer for the 5th Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.

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Lt-Col. E.H.G. Grant

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Lieutenant-Colonel E.H.G. Grant
7th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders

During the recent ops from 26 Jun onwards until wounded on night 29 Jun, Lt-Col. Eneas Henry George Grant has displayed high qualities of leadership and has inspired his Bn by his personal courage and example at all times.

(D.S.O. citation, 19 Oct 1944)

Born on 14 August 1901 in Scotland, Eneas Henry George Grant was educated at Wellington College, Berks and Royal Military College, Sandhurst. In 1920, he took a commission with the Seaforth Highlanders, the regiment generations of his family had joined. Grant served with the 1st Battalion in Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Egypt. While stationed in Palestine during the Arab Revolt of 1936, he earned the Military Cross.

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Lt-Col. C.W.P. Richardson

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Lieutenant-Colonel C.W.P. Richardson
6th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers

I’m now getting on to rather dangerous ground because we wished to—as I say it’s no good trying to stop Scottish soldiers when they’ve had a drop to drink chasing women. And so the best thing to do is to recognize it and take precaution. And what we wanted to do, and we had the full approval of the general, was to start our own regimental brothel … And then who should step in but the bishop [of Hong Kong] … and he said “no” and that was that.

(Richardson, IWM museum, 5 Aug 1982)

Born on 8 June 1905 in Belfast, Ireland, Charles Walter Philipps Richardson attended Royal Naval Colleges, Osborne and Dartmouth but decided to make a career in the army instead. After transferring to Royal Military College, Sandhurst he was commissioned into the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in 1924. He served with the 2nd Battalion in Hong Kong, India, and Egypt during the late 1920s and 30s before the Second World War.

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Lt-Col. J.G. Shillington

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Lieutenant-Colonel J.G. Shillington
6th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers

From an Army point of view such a Team might be the Section, Platoon, Company, Battalion, Brigade or Division. In fact, this pride in the Team is described as esprit de corps ; but the term can have a wider meaning than that—it can embrace groups of Armies, such as the 21st Army Group, or a combination of the three Services, where mutual trust and pride are essential as was so well proved when, for instance, the Royal Navy successfully landed the Army on the beaches of Normandy under the umbrella of the Royal Air Force. Indeed, it can extend to nations, groups of nations and, in our utopian dreams, to the World itself.

(Shillington, “Morale,” RUSI Journal, 1950, 254)

Born on 18 December 1900 in Portadown, Armagh, Northern Ireland, John Graham Shillington was a steeplechaser and officer in the King’s Own Scottish Borders since 1921. His father Major David Graham Shillington was elected member of parliament for Armagh (1921–1929) and Armagh Central (1929–1941) for the Ulster Unionist Party. The younger Shillington followed his father in a military career and served as adjutant of the 2nd Battalion while stationed in Hong Kong during the late 1920s.

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Lt-Col. I. Mackenzie

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Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Mackenzie
6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers

I went on to tea with 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers, which was commanded by Winston [Churchill] for a time in the last war. Ian Mackenzie, who has been C.O. for the last six months, is a great little man. He’s only thirty and has done brilliantly. But I wouldn’t have recognised him for the gay, handsome chap he was when we two crossed the Channel together to join the B.L.A. on that sunny July day so many years ago. He looks ten years older; in fact, I had to look at his badges of rank when he came into the room. He admits he always feels tired nowadays.

(Martin Lindsay, So Few Got Through, 254)

Born in Johannesburg on 7 September 1914, Ian Mackenzie was a partner in a South African accounting firm. He had been educated in Scotland and obtained a degree in philosophy and economics from Pembroke College, University of Oxford in 1935 before returning to his home country. A prewar officer in the Transvaal Scottish Regiment, Mackenzie transferred to the 4/5th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers while visiting London on business in September 1939. He served as a lieutenant during the Battle of France and was on the last ship to evacuate Cherbourg ahead of the advancing German forces.

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Lt-Col. C.R. Buchanan

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Lieutenant-Colonel C.R. Buchanan
6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers

The Bn was very weary but the leading coys set off and reached the Northern edge of the village which they found to be strongly held … The CO was slightly wounded in the arm about 1300 hrs but when the 2 IC went up he insisted on finishing the battle and was only evacuated later in the evening when the 2 IC took over.

(War Diary, 9 Aug 1944)

Born on 22 May 1902 Shanghai, China, Colin Robert Buchanan was a commissioned officer with the Royal Scots Fusiliers since 1922. He served in the Far East and became 2nd Battalion adjutant in 1930. While stationed in Hong Kong, he and other officer were mistaken for Russian spies and briefly denied by Chinese authorities. He was promoted to captain in 1936 and made a major days before the outbreak of the Second World War.

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Lt-Col. B.A. Pearson

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Lieutenant-Colonel Barclay Pearson
8th Battalion, Royal Scots

During this period this officer continually moved about his battalion under intense art and mortar fire. His energy and determination altered the entire course of the operation and prevented much hard fighting and heavy casualties, not only amongst his own battalion but also for the rest of the brigade.

(D.S.O. citation, 10 May 1945)

Born on 13 January 1912 in Dorchester, Dorset, Barclay Andrew Pearson was commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1932. He served as adjutant with the 1st Battalion, which later fought in the Western Desert and Crete in 1941. In May 1942, the 15th Battalion was re-designated the 2nd Battalion, replacing the unit destroyed in the Battle of Singapore. Pearson served as major when it deployed to Normandy with the 15th Division in June 1944.

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Lt-Col. P.R. Lane-Joynt

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Lieutenant-Colonel P.R. Lane-Joynt
8th Battalion, Royal Scots

As the bn advanced enemy fire became most intense, control became increasingly difficult and extension of the bridgehead appeared impossible. However in the cramped and increasingly dangerous situation the CO pushed forward his coys in a continuous effort to enlarge the bridgehead.

(D.S.O. citation, 1 March 1945)

Born on 24 December 1901 in County Clare, Ireland, Philip Robert Lane-Joynt was educated at Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Royal Irish Rifles in 1921 before transferring to the Prince of Wales’s Volunteers the next year. He was promoted to captain in 1935 and major in 1938. He mobilized with the South Lancashire Regiment.

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