Lothian and Borders Battalion, Army Cadet Force

The Lothian and Borders Battalion, Army Cadet Force (Lothian & Borders Bn, ACF) is a cadet battalion forming part of the Army Cadet Force operating within the Scottish Lowlands. Since 2014, the county has been part of Headquarters Scotland and is currently divided into five companies and includes a regimental band and pipes and drums.

Background In 1863, along with the formation of the Volunteer Force, the first government sanctioned cadet groups were allowed to be formed. These groups would mostly be formed in connection with existing volunteer companies and battalions. Following the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 which organised the former Volunteer Force into a coherent organisation, known as the Territorial Force (TF), the cadets were expanded. Each company consisted of no less than 30 cadets, and four of these companies formed a "Cadet Battalion", the predecessors to the modern "Cadet County".Westlake 1984, pp. 1–3

Unlike their modern successors, the first cadet battalions were administered by their local County Territorial Force Associations, and rarely ever came under an "army command". However, following changes to the organisation of the Cadets, in 1923 all cadet forces were taken under complete control of the County Associations.

Following the Options for Change announced following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union and subsequent End of the Cold War, the Lothian Battalion and King's Own Scottish Borders Battalions of the Army Cadet Force were merged into the new Lothian and Borders Battalion, Army Cadet Force. The first mention of the battalion was for a Second Lieutenant on probation appointed to be Lieutenant in the battalion from 23 November 1996. This battalion however had been formed in 1992.

In 2013, the battalion was reorganised from six companies (lettered A-F) into four companies named after battle honours of the Royal Scots Borderers. Following this reorganisation, the battalion's structure was revamped and the below structure is that of 2021 after the reforms.

As of December 2021, each Army Cadet Force county reports to their local brigade deputy commander, or in the case of independent regional headquarters the commander. However, for administrative duties each cadet county reports to Commander Cadets, who is a senior 1* Brigadier part of Headquarters, Regional Command.

Organisation As of January 2022, the Lothian and Borders Battalion ACF consists of appx. 700 cadets and 150 adult volunteers in 34 detachments spread throughout the Lothians and Border areas. Each Army Cadet Force 'county' is in-fact a battalion, and each 'detachment' is equivalent to that of a platoon.Army Cadet Force Regulations, Army Cadets Order #14233. Version 1.12. Headquarters, Army Cadet Force. February 2017. DetachmentAffiliationLocationCountyPostal CodeAlma CompanyCompany HeadquartersEncompassing Midlothian and the City of Edinburgh (minus the North detachments)Eastfield Farm Road, PenicuikMidlothianEH26 8EZNo. 10 Bonnyrigg PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandEldindean Road, BonnyriggMidlothianEH19 2HQNo. 11 Penicuick PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandEastfield Farm Road, PenicuickMidlothianEH26 8EZNo. 12 Dalkeith PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandEast Houses Industrial Estate, DalkeithMidlothianEH22 4DJNo. 19 Gilmerton TroopRoyal Scots Dragoon GuardsFerniehill Drive, Gilmerton, EdinburghMidlothianEH17 7ARLothian and Borders Battalion ACF Pipes and Drums (No. 20 Troop)E (Lothian and Borders Horse) Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry301 Colinton Road, EdinburghMidlothianEH13 0LALothian and Borders Battalion ACF Band (No. 21 Troop)Royal Scots Dragoon GuardsArmy Cadet Force Hut, Chesser Crescent, EdinburghMidlothianEH14 1RANo. 22 Lanark Road TroopRoyal Corps of SignalsLanark Road, EdinburghMidlothianEH14 2NANo. 35 Alnwickhill TroopE (Lothian and Borders Horse) Squadron, Scottish and North Irish YeomanryAlnwickhill Road, Alnwickhill, EdinburghMidlothianEH16 6NQNo. 36 Loanhead PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandKing George V Park, LoanheadMidlothianEH20 9LAKohima CompanyCompany HeadquartersEncompassing Northern Edinburgh and East LothianGoosegreen, MusselburghEast LothianEH21 7SNNo. 14 Musselburgh TroopE (Lothian and Borders Horse) Squadron, Scottish and North Irish YeomanryGoosegreen, MusselburghEast LothianEH21 7SNNo. 16 Dunbar TroopE (Lothian and Borders Horse) Squadron, Scottish and North Irish YeomanryCastle Park Barracks, Bayswell Road, DunbarEast LothianEH42 1EUNo. 17 Granton Square PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandGranton Square, EdinburghMidlothianEH5 1HENo. 18 Claremont Street PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandEast Claremont Street, EdinburghMidlothianEH7 4HUNo. 23 MacDonald Road DetachmentRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland124 MacDonald Road, EdinburghMidlothianEH7 4NQNo. 24 South Queensferry PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandRoseberry Avenue, South Queensferry, EdinburghWest LothianEH30 9NXNo. 31 Tranent PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandOld School House, Sandersons Wynd, TranentEast LothianEH33 1DANo. 32 Prestonpans PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandRope Walk, PrestonpansEast LothianEH32 9BNNo. 33 Haddington TroopE (Lothian and Borders Horse) Squadron, Scottish and North Irish YeomanryPencaitland Road, HaddingtonEast LothianEH41 4EWNo. 34 North Berwick PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandDunbar Road, North BerwickEast LothianEH39 4DGMinden CompanyCompany HeadquartersEncompassing the Eastern Scottish Borders (Berwickshire, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire, and Selkirkshire)Paton Street, GalashielsRoxburghshireTD1 3ATNo. 1 Eyemouth PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandAcredale Industrial Estate, EyemouthBerwickshireTD14 5ANNo. 2 Duns PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandVolunteer Hall, DunsBerwickshireTD11 3AFNo. 4 Kelso PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandEschiehaugh, KelsoRoxburghshireTD5 7BSNo. 5 Jedburgh PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandJedburghRoxburghshireNo. 6 Hawick PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandUnion Street, HawickRoxburghshireTD9 9LFNo. 8 Galashiels PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandPaton Street, GalashielsRoxburghshireTD1 3ATNo. 9 Selkirk PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandDovecot Park, SelkirkSelkirkshireTD7 4ERNo. 15 Peebles PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandWalkers Haugh, PeeblesPeeblesshireEH45 8AUSomme CompanyCompany HeadquartersWest LothianBeveridge Square, Dedridge, LivingstonWest LothianEH54 6QFNo. 25 Linlithgow TroopE (Lothian and Borders Horse) Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry52 Barrowshill Avenue, LinlithgowLinlithgowshire (West Lothian)EH49 7SQNo. 26 Livingston Platoon243 Provost, Royal Military PoliceBeveridge Square, Dedridge, LivingstonWest LothianEH54 6QFNo. 27 Bathgate PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandTorphichen Street, BathgateWest LothianEH48 4HHNo. 28 Broxburn PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandPyot Hall Road, Port Buchan, BroxburnWest LothianEH52 6HNNo. 29 Whitburn PlatoonRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland264 West Main Street, WhitburnWest LothianEH47 0JBBroxburn Academy DetachmentRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandBroxburn Academy, Cardross Road, BroxburnWest LothianEH52 6AGBroxburn Academy DetachmentRoyal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of ScotlandBroxburn Academy, Cardross Road, BroxburnWest LothianEH52 6AG

Lord-Lieutenant's Cadets

The Lord-Lieutenant's Cadet is seen as the aide and representative of the cadet forces to the British royal family and the Lord-lieutenant in an administrative county Scotland. Typically, one is chosen from each of the main cadet forces, the Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps and Sea Cadets (United Kingdom). Occasionally, one may also be chosen from the Combined Cadet Force. They are selected each year at the Spring Lord-lieutenant's awards in each county.

They provide an essential link between the armed forces and the local community, assist with recruiting within the cadet forces and assist the county's Reserve Forces and Cadets Association. The cadet from each arm of the cadet forces is selected and appointed based on their outreach and participation within their squadron, detachment or unit, and is seen as one of the highest achievements in the Cadet Forces.

See also

List of Army Cadet Force units Combined Cadet Force

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