The division was formed in late 1914 as a second-line Territorial Force formation which served on home defence duties throughout the war.

It remained on home defence and training duties in Scotland and England throughout the war, and disbanded in early 1919 following the Armistice of 11 November 1918.

The second line units also served to absorb the large number of new, untrained, recruits who had joined the Territorial Force following the outbreak of war.

[4] Through the next two years, the 2nd Highland, numbered as the 64th Division in 1915, provided trained men for its parent unit as well as carrying out home defence duties.

In March 1916 the division was transferred to England, where it was stationed in East Anglia as part of Northern Army.