British WWI Officer Regimental Swagger Stick- The King’s Own Scottish Borders New Made Items

New Made Item: A swagger stick is a short stick or riding crop carried by a uniformed person as a symbol of authority. A swagger stick is shorter than a staff or cane, and is made from rattan. British swagger sticks are often topped with a silver cap, bearing regimental insignia. A swagger stick remains an essential part of an officer’s equipment.

The King’s Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. It was raised on 18 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 Regiment’s first action was at the Battle of Killiecrankie on 27 July of the same year. Although this battle was a defeat for the Williamite army, the Jacobite commander, Viscount Dundee (Bonnie Dundee), was killed by a volley fired by Leven’s Regiment, bringing an end to James II’s 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 1 August 1759 with five other regiments; this battle honor was celebrated by the Regiment each year on 1 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. The regiment saw service during both World Wars.

Swagger Stick Length varies: approximately 27-28″ long.