Tyneside Scottish

Tyneside Scottish is an honour title which has been held by a variety of British Army units since 1914. The Regiments which have held the title are the Northumberland Fusiliers, Durham Light Infantry, Black Watch and Royal Artillery.

As of 2010, the Tyneside Scottish title is maintained by 204 (Tyneside Scottish) Battery, 101st (Northumbrian) Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)

Tyneside Scottish History
The origins of the Tyneside Scottish are in the Kitchener's Army and the call to arms in World War I. The Recruitment to the British Army during World War I saw the raising of the Pals battalion. The Tyneside Scottish Committee was formed and raised the Tyneside Scottish Brigade of four service Battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers. The Brigade's first major action was the Battle of the Somme where it sustained a large number of casualties. The Brigade was subsequently brought up to strength and served at Armentiers, Battle of Arras (1917), and the final battles of 1918. The Brigade was disbanded in 1919.

In 1939 the TA expanded and the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry duplicate Battalion (12 DLI) was authorised to be raised as the Tyneside Scottish. The Battalion immediately sought the affiliation with a Scottish unit and became the 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment). The Battalion deployed to France as part of as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and were part of the Dunkirk evacuation. Following a period of Home Defence, 1TS joined the 49th (West Riding) Division and were sent to Iceland. Returning to England in 1942 another period of Home Defence preceded the Invasion of Normandy in 1944. The Battalion were engaged in Operation Martlet gaining the Battle Honour "Defence of Rauray". Following the Battle and subsequent actions in the Caen area, the Battalion was reduced to cadre strength and subsequently placed in suspended animation.

In 1947 on the re-constitution of the Territorial Army, the honour title passed to the Royal Artillery. Initially the title was held by 670th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (Tyneside Scottish), before passing to a Battery, 439th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA. In 1974, the title was adopted by 204 Battery of 101st (Northumbrian) Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers).

Northumberland Fusilers 1914-1919
1914-1916 six battalions raised in The Northumberland Fusiliers: 20th (Service) Battalion (1st Tyneside Scottish) 21st (Service) Battalion (2nd Tyneside Scottish) 22nd (Service) Battalion (3rd Tyneside Scottish) 23rd (Service) Battalion (4th Tyneside Scottish)

The 1st to 4th Tyneside Scotiish Battalions formed 102nd Tyneside Scottish Brigade as part of the 34th Division

29th (Reserve) Battalion (Tyneside Scottish) 33rd (Reserve) Battalion (Tyneside Scottish)

1918-1919 disbanded

Durham Light Infantry 1939 - 1940
1939.03.31 12th (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry Formed in T.A. as duplicate of 9th Battalion, DLI

1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish 1940 - 1944
1940.02.01 1st Battalion, The Tyneside Scottish, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)

The 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish were part of the 70th Infantry Brigade

1944.11.15 disbanded

Royal Artillery 1947 - 1967
1947.01.01 670th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (Tyneside Scottish) Reconstituted in T.A. with HQ at Newcastle

1955.03.10 S (Tyneside Scottish) Battery, 439th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA 1956.10.31 Q (Tyneside Scottish) Battery, 439th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA

1967.04.01 disbanded and concurrently re-formed as two units: Tyneside Scottish troop, 204 Battery, 101st (Northumbrian) Medium Regiment, RA in TAVR II D Company (Tyneside Scottish), The 4th/5th/6th (Territorial) Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers in TAVR III

Royal Northumberland Fusiliers 1968 - 1969
1969.04.01 D Company disbanded and its Tyneside Scottish lineage discontinued

Royal Artillery 1974 - present
1974 204 (Tyneside Scottish) Medium Battery, 101st (Northumbrian) Medium Regiment, RA (redesignation of 204 Battery from its Scottish troop)

1976 204 (Tyneside Scottish) Field Battery, 101st (Northumbrian) Field Regiment, RA

1993 204 (Tyneside Scottish) Battery, 101st (Northumbrian) Regiment, RA

The Battery currently serves as a Surveillance and Target Acquisition Battery within 101st (Northumbrian) Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers).

Tyneside Scottish Memorials
Tyneside Scottish Brigade The memorial to the Tyneside Scottish Brigade is situated at La Boiselle, Somme where the Brigade sustained heavy casilaties on the first day of the Somme. The memorial, in the form of a seatr also commemorates the losses of the Tyneside Irish. The memorial was unveiled in 1920 by Marshal Foch.

Tyneside Scottish Memorial La Boislelle