King's Own Scottish Borderers
The red beret (officially "maroon" or wine red) was worn by the 7th Battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB) during World War II. This battalion formed part of the 1st Airborne Division as an airborne unit and fought in the Battle of Arnhem, among other places.
The 7th Battalion and the Red Beret
Although the KOSB was originally a regular line infantry regiment, the 7th Battalion was given special status in 1943.
- Airborne Role: The battalion trained as airborne troops deployed in gliders.
- Symbolism: As part of the Airborne Division, they adopted the iconic red beret, designed by General Browning as a symbol for elite airborne troops. Identity: On their red berets, they wore their own regimental cap badge (Edinburgh Castle with a Scottish thistle wreath) instead of the general Airborne emblem.
Battle of Arnhem (1944)
The 7th Battalion is best known for its actions during Operation Market Garden.
- Ginkel Heath: They landed on Ginkel Heath near Ede to secure the landing zones for the rest of the division.
- The White House: In Oosterbeek, they defended the sector around Hotel Dreyeroord (called "The White House" by the troops) against heavy German attacks.
- Losses: The battalion suffered enormous losses; of the more than 700 men, only a few returned across the Rhine.
Current Status
The King's Own Scottish Borderers was incorporated into The Royal Regiment of Scotland in 2006. The Borderers' traditions are now continued by the battalion The Royal Scots Borderers (1 SCOTS), which now wears a black hackle (feather headdress) on its beret.
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