4th Battalion, Black Watch

   4th Battalion, The Black Watch was a territorial unit based in Dundee with the Black Watch Brigade when war broke out in August 1914. They proceeded to France on the 26th of February 1915, landing at Le Havre and on the 4th of March joined the Bareilly Brigade, Meerut Division. On the 26th of September they amalgamated with 2nd Black Watch but resumed their own identity on the 6th of November when they transferred to 139th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division. On the 14th they transferred again, this time to 44th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. On the 7th of January 1916 they transferred to 154th Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division, then on the 29th of February they transferred to 118th Brigade, 39th Division and amalgamated with 1/5th Battalion to form the 4/5th Black Watch on the 15th of March 1916.

   The 4th (City of Dundee) Battalion Black Watch had their HQ at The Drill Hall in Bell Street, Dundee and A to H Companies were all drawn from the city. At the outbreak of war they were part of the Black Watch Infantry Brigade, their allocated war station was the Scottish Coastal Defences.
The Black Watch in the Great War - Major General A.G Wauchope

4th of February 1915 Chicken Sentries

16th May 1915 Heavy losses for 4th Black Watch  1/4th Black Watch were moving from Neuve Chapelle towards Festubert, when they suffered many casualties at Rue du Bois, most were buried in mass grave and commemorated at Le Touret.

21st Sep 1915 Lucky Charm

13th May 1916 Reliefs

17th May 1917 Tragic Case

25th Sep 1917 Into Position

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There are:7 items tagged 4th Battalion, Black Watch available in our Library

These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

Those known to have served with
4th Battalion, Black Watch
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Black Peter. Pte. (d.18th Sep 1916)
McGee James. Pte (d.28th Nov 1915)
McKee John Bernard. Pte.
Watson Pete. CSM.

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Records of 4th Battalion, Black Watch from other sources.

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CSM. Pete Watson 4th Battalion Black Watch

All I know is these were my grandmother Mary Watson's two brothers that served in the 4th Dundee Battalion, Black Watch. Pete Watson was company Sergeant Major and Joe was a private, they both died in France. When my grandmother married John Cartmill around 1918-20 they lived at 32 Lawson Place in Dundee, my grandfather was a Captain in the Salvation Army in Wishaw. I received a photo from my cousin recently found in the estate of my recently deceased uncle. Any information you can give me would be appreciated including the place of Pete and Joe's death and burial if that is known.
Paul Cartmill

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Pte James McGee 4th Btn Black Watch (d.28th Nov 1915)

James and the 4th Battalion disembarked in Le Havre, France on February 26th 1915. Over the next seven months the Battalion fought in several battles and suffered heavy casualties. When the Battalion arrived in France they had 900 men, but by September 24th this had dropped to 423 fighting men. At the Battle of the Loos another 230 were killed or wounded. At this stage the Battalion had lost so many men it amalgamated with 2nd Battalion Black Watch.
4th Battalion resumed their own identity on the 6th of November when they transferred to 139th Brigade, 46th (North Midland)Division. It was shortly after this that James was shot and captured as a POW, he was transferred to Wesel Military hospital on the 13th November. Red cross files indicate James had been shot in the right shoulder and later died in hospital due to Sepsis on the 28th November 1915
James in now buried in the Cologne Southern Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen at grave reference XI. F. 5
Stephen

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Pte. Peter Black 1/4th Btn. Black Watch (d.18th Sep 1916)

Peter Black served with the Black Watch 1/4th Btn. He was executed for desertion on18th September 1916 and is buried in Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, France. He already had a suspended sentence of death for desertion when he went missing a second time just before going into action. His absence lasted for a month and, after Court Martial, he was shot on 18th September 1916 near the border between France and Belgium.
s flynn

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4th Battalion, Black Watch
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4th Battalion, Black Watch

Want to know more about 4th Battalion, Black Watch?

Those known to have served with4th Battalion, Black Watchduring the Great War 1914-1918.

Can you help?

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

Announcements

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- 4th Battalion, Black Watch during the Great War -

Those known to have served with
4th Battalion, Black Watch
during the Great War 1914-1918.