# 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".
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.
| Detachment | Affiliation | Location | County | Postal Code |
| Alma Company |||||
| Company Headquarters | Encompassing Midlothian and the City of Edinburgh (minus the North detachments) | Eastfield Farm Road, Penicuik | Midlothian | EH26 8EZ |
| No. 10 Bonnyrigg Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Eldindean Road, Bonnyrigg | Midlothian | EH19 2HQ |
| No. 11 Penicuick Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Eastfield Farm Road, Penicuick | Midlothian | EH26 8EZ |
| No. 12 Dalkeith Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | East Houses Industrial Estate, Dalkeith | Midlothian | EH22 4DJ |
| No. 19 Gilmerton Troop | Royal Scots Dragoon Guards | Ferniehill Drive, Gilmerton, Edinburgh | Midlothian | EH17 7AR |
| Lothian and Borders Battalion ACF Pipes and Drums (No. 20 Troop) | E (Lothian and Borders Horse) Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry | 301 Colinton Road, Edinburgh | Midlothian | EH13 0LA |
| Lothian and Borders Battalion ACF Band (No. 21 Troop) | Royal Scots Dragoon Guards | Army Cadet Force Hut, Chesser Crescent, Edinburgh | Midlothian | EH14 1RA |
| No. 22 Lanark Road Troop | Royal Corps of Signals | Lanark Road, Edinburgh | Midlothian | EH14 2NA |
| No. 35 Alnwickhill Troop | E (Lothian and Borders Horse) Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry | Alnwickhill Road, Alnwickhill, Edinburgh | Midlothian | EH16 6NQ |
| No. 36 Loanhead Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | King George V Park, Loanhead | Midlothian | EH20 9LA |
| Kohima Company |||||
| Company Headquarters | Encompassing Northern Edinburgh and East Lothian | Goosegreen, Musselburgh | East Lothian | EH21 7SN |
| No. 14 Musselburgh Troop | E (Lothian and Borders Horse) Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry | Goosegreen, Musselburgh | East Lothian | EH21 7SN |
| No. 16 Dunbar Troop | E (Lothian and Borders Horse) Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry | Castle Park Barracks, Bayswell Road, Dunbar | East Lothian | EH42 1EU |
| No. 17 Granton Square Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Granton Square, Edinburgh | Midlothian | EH5 1HE |
| No. 18 Claremont Street Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | East Claremont Street, Edinburgh | Midlothian | EH7 4HU |
| No. 23 MacDonald Road Detachment | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | 124 MacDonald Road, Edinburgh | Midlothian | EH7 4NQ |
| No. 24 South Queensferry Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Roseberry Avenue, South Queensferry, Edinburgh | West Lothian | EH30 9NX |
| No. 31 Tranent Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Old School House, Sandersons Wynd, Tranent | East Lothian | EH33 1DA |
| No. 32 Prestonpans Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Rope Walk, Prestonpans | East Lothian | EH32 9BN |
| No. 33 Haddington Troop | E (Lothian and Borders Horse) Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry | Pencaitland Road, Haddington | East Lothian | EH41 4EW |
| No. 34 North Berwick Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Dunbar Road, North Berwick | East Lothian | EH39 4DG |
| Minden Company |||||
| Company Headquarters | Encompassing the Eastern Scottish Borders (Berwickshire, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire, and Selkirkshire) | Paton Street, Galashiels | Roxburghshire | TD1 3AT |
| No. 1 Eyemouth Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Acredale Industrial Estate, Eyemouth | Berwickshire | TD14 5AN |
| No. 2 Duns Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Volunteer Hall, Duns | Berwickshire | TD11 3AF |
| No. 4 Kelso Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Eschiehaugh, Kelso | Roxburghshire | TD5 7BS |
| No. 5 Jedburgh Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Jedburgh | Roxburghshire | |
| No. 6 Hawick Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Union Street, Hawick | Roxburghshire | TD9 9LF |
| No. 8 Galashiels Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Paton Street, Galashiels | Roxburghshire | TD1 3AT |
| No. 9 Selkirk Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Dovecot Park, Selkirk | Selkirkshire | TD7 4ER |
| No. 15 Peebles Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Walkers Haugh, Peebles | Peeblesshire | EH45 8AU |
| Somme Company |||||
| Company Headquarters | West Lothian | Beveridge Square, Dedridge, Livingston | West Lothian | EH54 6QF |
| No. 25 Linlithgow Troop | E (Lothian and Borders Horse) Squadron, Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry | 52 Barrowshill Avenue, Linlithgow | Linlithgowshire (West Lothian) | EH49 7SQ |
| No. 26 Livingston Platoon | 243 Provost, Royal Military Police | Beveridge Square, Dedridge, Livingston | West Lothian | EH54 6QF |
| No. 27 Bathgate Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Torphichen Street, Bathgate | West Lothian | EH48 4HH |
| No. 28 Broxburn Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Pyot Hall Road, Port Buchan, Broxburn | West Lothian | EH52 6HN |
| No. 29 Whitburn Platoon | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | 264 West Main Street, Whitburn | West Lothian | EH47 0JB |
| Broxburn Academy Detachment | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Broxburn Academy, Cardross Road, Broxburn | West Lothian | EH52 6AG |
| Broxburn Academy Detachment | Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Regiment of Scotland | Broxburn Academy, Cardross Road, Broxburn | West Lothian | EH52 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.