King's Own Scottish Borderers

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=King's Own Scottish Borderers


caption=Cap Badge and Tartan of the King's Own Scottish Borderers
dates=1689 - 1 August 2006
country=United Kingdom
branch=Army
type=Line Infantry
command_structure=Scottish Division
role=
size=One Battalion
current_commander=
garrison= Berwick Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed
ceremonial_chief=HRH the late Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, GCB, CI, GCVO, GBE
ceremonial_chief_label=Last Colonel-in-Chief
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
motto= "In Veritate Religionis Confido" (I put my trust in the truth of religion)
"Nisi Dominus Frustra" (Without the Lord, everything is in vain)
colors=
identification_symbol_2= [http://www.regiments.org/tradition/tartans/stuartro.htm Royal Stewart (pipers kilts and plaids)]
identification_symbol_2_label=Pipes and Drums' Tartan
identification_symbol_label=Tactical Recognition Flash
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=Minden - 1st August

The King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. It was raised on 18th March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours. The Regiments first action was at the Battle of Killiecrankie on 27th July of the same year. Although this battle was a defeat for the government army the Jacobite commander Viscount Dundee (Bonny Dundee) was killed by a volley fired by Leven's Regiment bringing an end to James II attempt to save his throne. The Regiment was judged to have performed well and was granted the privilege of recruiting by beat of drum in the City of Edinburgh without prior permission of the provost. For a period it was known as Semphill's Regiment of Foot, the name under which it fought at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. When the British infantry were allocated numerical positions in the 'line' of Infantry the regiment was numbered 25th Foot (based on its formation date) in 1751. The Regiment fought at the Battle of Minden on 1st August 1759 with five other regiments; this battle honour was celebrated by the Regiment each year on 1st August. The 25th was the county regiment of Sussex from 1782 to 1805, before its recruiting area was moved to the Scottish Borders region. From then it was known as the King's Own Borderers, becoming the King's Own Scottish Borderers in 1887. The Regiment was affectionately known by the Scottish public as the "Kosbies" but this term was never used within the Regiment.

Restructuring of the Infantry

Until 2004 the regiment was one of five in the line infantry never to have been amalgamated, the others being:
*The Royal Scots
*The Green Howards
*The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment
*The Royal Welch Fusiliers

In 2004, as part of the British Government's defence review, it was announced that the Scottish Division would lose an infantry battalion. This was achieved through the amalgamation of the King's Own Scottish Borderers with the Royal Scots to form the Royal Scots Borderers on August 1 2006. This single battalion became the 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Court Case

Campaigners against the amalgamation of the KOSB argued that the Westminster government is "outwith the competency" (i.e. does not have the right) to merge or disband the regiment, because it was raised by the independent Scottish Parliament prior to the foundation of the United Kingdom and had been in continuous service ever since. To this end, the campaigners went to court in Edinburgh in an unsuccessful attempt to get an injunction against the amalgamation with the Royal Scots.

[ www.kosb.us KOSB WWII historical reenactment unit ]