First World War online exhibition
Following the German invasion of Belgium, Great Britain declared war on Germany on 4th August 1914. Less than two weeks later, the 1st Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) arrived in France as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). They were there to help our Belgian and French allies stop the advancing German army.
At home, the British Army was rapidly expanding as thousands of men volunteered to fight. By the end of October 1914, five new battalions of The Cameronians had been raised from volunteers and were training for overseas service.
The 1st Battalion were involved in fighting at Mons, Le Cateau, the retreat from Mons, and the Battle of the Marne.
By the end of 1914, 1st, 2nd and 5th Battalions of The Cameronians were serving at the Front, and 111 soldiers of the Regiment had died in service. This was only the beginning; it would be four more years before the fighting would come to an end, by which time over 7000 Cameronians had lost their lives.