Robert Woollcombe was born in London in 1922 and educated at Marlborough College. He enlisted in the 60th Rifles in 1941, and was commissioned into the 6th Battalion, the King's Own Scottish Borderers in 1942, with whom he served in North-West Europe as part of the 15th Scottish Division. He served with the 2nd Battalion, the KOSB in India 1945-46. 'Lion Rampant', his account of his experiences fighting from Normandy to the Rhine, was first published in 1955.

Robert Woollcombe's association with the KOSB spanned three generations: his uncle was killed in action with the Regiment in France in 1914; his grandfather became Colonel of the Regiment and commanded IV Army Corps which bore much of the brunt of the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Robert Woollcombe lived in West Sussex until his death in 1996.

In August 2006 The Kings Own Scottish Borderers merged with the Royal Scots Battalion to become the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 SCOTS).