Balaklava Company                                                                                                                        1972

1st Bn - Balaklava Coy on leave. 5 Jan Balaklava Coy returned from leave to Ritchie Camp, where it took over the camp and prepared it for the rest of the Bn to arrive. 15 Jan Bn reformed at Ritchie Camp, Kirknewton. Lt Col C P R Palmer as CO and WO1(RSM) J Kennedy as RSM. 17 Jan the Queens Colour was handed over to the newly formed Bn at Ritchie Camp. First drafts started to report to the Bn. 8 Feb Gen. Sir Henry Leask visited the Bn. 11 March Bn granted Freedom of Falkirk. 19-29 April Bn training at Stanford PTA. May Bn spent 1st 2 weeks of the month doing IS training at Lydd and Hythe, and the 2nd 2 weeks on leave. 3 July Bn provided a Guard of Honour for the Queen. 4 July Queen and Princess Anne visit the Bn at Kirknewton. 20 July Bn advance party arrived in NI and began taking over from 1 DWR. 26 July battalion arrived in Northern Ireland (Bessbrook) from Kirknewton (area of Ops South Down and South Armagh). 28 July At 1220hrs the Bn took over responsibility for Police Division H in Northern Ireland, A Coy were in Dungannon, B Coy were in Crossmaglen, Forkhill  and Newton Hamilton, D Coy were in Bessbrook Tech College, Bn HQ, Echelon and Recce were in Bessbrook Mill and Sp Coy were in Newry. 10 Sept Pte Duncan Mcphee and Pte Douglas Richmond were killed when their Saracen was blown up by a culvert bomb. 11 Sept L/Cpl William McIntyre died from wounds received in the above Saracen bomb. 22 Sept 2Lt Stewart Gardiner battalion was killed in a terrorist ambush. 12 November Pte David Harper battalion died after being struck by a train. 20 November Capt. DW Watson and C/Sgt James Struthers battalion were killed by an explosion while investigating a farmhouse. 28 November Pte John McGarry died as a result of a traffic accident. 28 November At 1640hrs the Bn handed over responsibility for Police Div. M to 1 Royal Hamps. 29 November Bn landed at Glasgow from the LSL Sir Bedivere to the sound of the Military Band. 4 Dec Bn on block leave till 3 Jan.

1st Bn The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise’s)                                       1973

1st Bn - Ritchie Camp, Kirknewton. 3 Jan battalion returned from block leave and reorganised as an airportable Bn, SP Coy which had been a rifle coy was reformed with Mortar, Anti-Tank, Assault Pioneer and GPMG (SF) Platoons, HQ Coy was split into Command and Admin. Coys.  The first 6 weeks of the year were devoted to cadres. 22 Jan-15 Feb The Bn’s annual fitness for role inspections took place. 1Feb Staff officers of 3 Div. Carried out their inspection of the Bn. 15 Feb battalion rifle meeting part of FFR inspection was inspected by Maj. Gen. Worsley at Dechmont Ranges. 5 March D Coy, battalion moved to Northern Ireland to guard polling stations during the Referendum, came under command of 3 Para. 12 March Bn advance party moved to Belfast. 18 March main body of battalion moved to Belfast (Springfield/Clonard) for an emergency tour and were based on HMS Maidstone docked in Belfast harbour. 27 March battalion left Belfast for Kirknewton, battalion then went on a long weekend. Bn had a ten day sort out period. battalion on leave till the 1st of May. May battalion start on public duties. 6 June Gen. Sir Michael Carver the Chief of the General Staff visited the Bn. 10 July Queen presents new colours to battalion in the gardens at Holyroodhouse. 31July -10 Sept B Coy, battalion on Tattoo duties. 1-12 Aug A Coy at Stanford. 13-17 Aug Sp. Coy at Barry Buddon. 14-18 Aug D Coy at Garelochhead. 19-24 Aug D Coy at Barry Buddon. Oct bn on Northern Ireland training. 11 November Bn moved to Northern Ireland. 12 November 1300hrs battalion took over responsibility for Police Division C from 2 Grenadier Guards, TAC HQ was in RUC Tenant Street, A Coy was in Flax Street Mill and Ardoyne Bus Station and responsible for the Ardoyne, B Coy were in Finniston School responsible for Bone, Cliftonville and Old Park, D Coy were in Ligoniel Mill responsible for Ligoniel and Ballysillan, SP Coy were in Flax Street Mill responsible for Shankhill, Glencairn and Woodville, Echelon were also based in Flax Street Mill.

1974

1st Bn - Belfast (Shankhill/Ardoyne). 25 Feb Bn handed over to 3 Para and returned to Kirknewton. 25 Feb 0700hrs LSL Sir Galahad docked at Princess Dock No 28 in Glasgow, it carried 440 men of the Bn, the other 240 men of the battalion had travelled the previous evening on the Larne to Stranraer ferry. March bn on block leave. End Mar-April battalion cadre period. 3 May battalion all ranks dance at the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh. 29 May battalion advance party flew from RAF Leuchars by Hercules to Cyprus, took over Anzio Camp. 9 June battalion complete in Cyprus. 10 July battalion return to Kirknewton from Cyprus. 20 July battalion receives Freedom of Alloa. 27 July battalion receives Freedom of Denny. 31July Bn Highland Games. Aug battalion on three weeks block leave. 2 Aug Lt Col C P R Palmer handed over as CO to Lt Col A W Scott-Elliot. 31Aug battalion receives the Freedom of Kilsyth. 6 Sept Civic reception for battalion given by the citizens of Tarbet. 10-11 Sept battalion rifle meeting at Dreghorn Ranges. 12 Sept battalion inter-coy boxing finals. 14 Sept battalion receives Freedom of Gourock? 18 Sept battalion hold a Provosts and Editors Open Day. 18 Sept -10 Dec Pipes and Drums tour America with Military Band of Welsh Guards. 29 Sept - 6 Oct battalion at Otterburn for dismounted tactical training. 14 Oct battalion pre-advance party departed for Osnabruck. 19 Oct Lt Col (Retd) GP “Timber” Wood took over as Regt Secretary. End 0f Oct 100 strong advance party of the battalion moved to Osnabruck. Main body of battalion on leave. 20-30 November battalion moved from Kirknewton to Mercer Bks, Osnabruck took over from 1 QLR and joined 12 Mech. Brig as a Mechanised Bn. 30 November battalion receives Freedom of Grangemouth?

1975

1st Bn - Mercer Bks, Osnabruck. 3rd Jan battalion warned for it’s next Northern Ireland tour in December. 4th Feb McEwan Cup. Last 2 weeks of Feb battalion carried out mechanised training at Soltau. 7th March WO1 (RSM) D Nicol took over as RSM from WO1 (RSM) J Kennedy.  2nd half of March battalion carried out field firing at Sennelager. 9th May annual FFR inspection. July battalion on spearhead for Northern Ireland. Early July battalion put on short notice to move to Northern Ireland. Friday 11th July B Coy, TAC HQ and advance party were sent to Northern Ireland for 3 days, spent weekend guarding Maze prison, arrived back in Osnabruck by midnight Sunday 13th July. 22th July battalion swimming gala. 23 July Inter-platoon march & shoot competition, won by 6 platoon. 15 August battalion went on 3 weeks leave. Oct/Nov battalion Northern Ireland training. 2 Dec battalion begin a 4 month tour of Belfast (Falls/Divis/Sandy Row) took over from 2 Royal Anglian, battalion HQ was in Hastings Street, A Coy at Brown Square, B Coy in North Howard Street, SP Coy in Albert Square and D Coy at Mulhouse.

1976

1st Bn - Belfast (Falls/Divis/Sandy Row). 4th April battalion left Belfast (Falls/Divis/Sandy Row) and returned to Osnabruck, handed over to 1 Staffords also from Osnabruck. 6th April to May battalion on block leave. May-June battalion cadres period. Mid June for 5 weeks Sp. Coy and a large admin detachment went off to organise and administer 1 (BR) Corps Anti-Tank concentration. 1st July Harry Oakley left the battalion after 27 years. 1st July battalion provided Guard of Honour for the 60^th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. What was left of the battalion spent the last 2 weeks of the month field firing at Sennelager. Aug a composite Pln, 33 strong + 17 other specialists were dispatched from the battalion to reinforce 1 Gordons while they are Holywood Resident Bn, Belfast. 13-26th August battalion at Soltau-Luneburg training area. 11-23rd Sept battalion at Sennelager for 2 weeks field firing. 8/9th Oct to Nov battalion at Batus. 11th Oct Sgt F Miller was killed in a Ferret Scout Car accident at Suffield Training area.

1977

1st Bn - Mercer Bks, Osnabruck. Late March battalion at Sennelager. 26th April The Prime Minister James Callaghan visited battalion at Soltau. May Lt Col I C Purvis-Hume took over as CO of battalion from Lt Col A W Scott-Elliot. 1-14th June Queen’s Jubilee Parade at Sennelager, battalion provided background staff. 11th June battalion open day. 14th June battalion was the first British unit to experience the Operational Readiness Test. Mid Aug to 5th Sept battalion on block leave. 6th Oct battalion moved to Woodlands Camp, Sennelager. 21st Oct battalion advance party for Belfast. 27/28th October battalion arrive in Belfast, Northern Ireland (Springfield/Falls)(Turf Lodge to Lower Falls) from Osnabruck , TAC HQ at Springfield Road RUC Station, A Coy in Fort Monagh in Turf Lodge, B Coy at Moyard in the Ballymurphy, Sp. Coy in MacCrory Park in Whiterock and D Coy and Echelon in Mulhouse in the Distillery area took over from 3 LI.

1978

1st Bn - Belfast (Springfield/Falls) (Turf Lodge to Lower Falls). 1st March battalion left Belfast and returned to Osnabruck. Till the end of March the battalion was on block leave. Spring Support Coy’s name was changed to C Coy the first time the battalion had a C Coy since 1959. April battalion cadres period. May battalion at Sennelager for two weeks field firing. 8-12th June B Coy at Halton training area. 14th July McEwan Cup, won by A Coy. Early Aug battalion left Osnabruck and to go on 6 weeks leave before moving into Bourlon Bks, Catterick, handed over to 1 DERR. 4th Oct battalion main body arrives in Catterick. 9th Nov HM Queen visits the battalion at Bourlon Bks. Nov-Dec battalion cadres period. 3-8 Dec A and D Coys take part in Ex “Great Delight” on Salisbury Plain. 21 Dec-8Jan battalion was due to go on block leave, but due to the tanker drivers strike 2 Coys would be going to NI. battalion returned from leave on the 27th but after some NI training went back on leave till the 3rd of Jan , a further postponement meant that the news not to come back off leave till the 8th was broadcast on the television.

1979

1st Bn - Bourlon Bks, Catterick. 8th Jan battalion returned from block leave. 10th Jan Lt-Gen. Sir David Scott-Barrett visited the Bn. 12/13 Jan A and B Coys travelled overnight to Northern Ireland, but only stayed a couple of days. 3-30th March battalion provided the Queen’s Guard in London (Public Duties), mostly D Coy with reinforcements from C Coy. Early April battalion ran annual north-east district TEWT for the TA (Fri.-Sun), Ex “Badgers Head III” 7-22nd April battalion on Easter block leave. During Easter leave the battalion was beaten in the UK Infantry Cup Final by 1 Scots Guards. 19th May D Coy provided Guard of Honour for the opening of the new Northeast District HQ at York. 26th May Regt reunion at Bourlon Bks. June Cruachan II retired. 5th June battalion became spearhead Bn. Early July battalion moved from Catterick to Hong Kong (Spearhead deployment), bn was based at Lo Wu Camp in the New Territories (close to the border) with B Coy at Dill’s Corner Camp. 1st Aug Typhoon Hope struck Hong Kong. Early Sept battalion left Hong Kong and returned to Catterick. Battalion went on 3 weeks block leave. Early Oct Ex “Stainton Chase”. Oct/Nov JNCO’s cadre run by B Coy, final exercise was at Otterburn. 27 October battalion was granted the Freedom of the District of Argyll and Bute, a Guard of Honour commanded by Maj. MR McVittie was mounted by the battalion at Kilmory Castle, also on parade were the Military Band and the Pipes and Drums. 19th Nov Brig. Hutton carried out the inspection of the battalion for the Annual Report Unit. Last 2 weeks Nov battalion NI training started with the NITAT team visiting the battalion at Catterick. Nov WO1(RSM) "Danny" Nicol handed over as RSM to WO1(RSM) "Duffy" Cairns. Battalion on Xmas and New Year leave.

1980

1st Bn - Bourlon Bks, Catterick. Battalion on block leave till 3^rd Jan. 7-18th Jan NI training at SPTA (Lydd and Hythe). 25-5th Feb battalion on NI training at Stanford Training area (Rural Phase), moved down by train from Darlington. Mid Feb battalion had 10 days block leave. 4th March Lt Col I C Purvis-Hulme handed over as CO to Lt Col H L Clark. 6th March battalion moved from Catterick to Shackleton Bks, Ballykelly (Resident Bn), took over from 40 Commando RM. Handed over Bourlon Bks, Catterick to 1 Green Howards. B The battalion started a 1 month cycle of Ops:- Brig Res, Ops, Guards & Duties and Training. 5th June Fire in ante room in Officers Mess, Shackleton Bks. Sept WO1(RSM) A D H Cairns was commissioned and WO1(RSM) J Auchterlonie took over as RSM of the Bn. October battalion finished deployments to Strabane for the Ops coy, handed over Strabane to 1 Staffords (Londonderry Resident Bn). 28 Oct - 28 Dec Companies from the battalion did guard duty at HMP Foyle (a temporary prison set up during the prison officers strike), C Coy were the first coy to guard the jail. 11th Nov Cpl Owen McQuade was shot dead outside Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry while carrying out his duties as families corporal. From 17th Nov The Bn’s Ops coy deployment was now Dungannon, C Coy were first to be deployed to Dungannon where it took over Castlehill Camp from C Coy 1 RHF. 28th Dec battalion handed over HMP Foyle to 1 Scots Guards (Aldergrove Res Bn).