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The Black Watch
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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar greatThe Black Watch
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) was raised in the wake of 1715 Jacobite rebellion when companies of trustworthy Highlanders were raised from local clans, Campbells, Grants, Frasers and Munros, to prevent fighting between clans, deter raiding and assist in enforcing the laws against the carrying of weapons. During World War I the 25 battalions of Black Watch fought mainly in France and Flanders, except for the 2nd Battalion which fought in Mesopotamia and Palestine, and the 10th Battalion which was in the Balkans. Only the 1st and 2nd battalions were regulars.
The 1st Battalion was in action at the very start of the war taking part in the Retreat from Mons before turning on the Germans at the River Marne and the subsequent advance to the Aisne. Trench warfare then set in and the 2nd Battalion arrived from India, both battalions taking part in the Battle of Givenchy. 1915 saw all battalions of the Black Watch engaged in Western Front battles. 1916 was dominated by the Battle of the Somme. Five battalions of the Regiment were involved at Contalmaison, High Wood, Delville Wood and Longueval - the last named changing frequently as the Germans counter-attacked and further assaults were made to regain it. April 1917 saw the launch of the First Battle of Arras. With the support of some of the first tanks, with more sophisticated artillery fire and improved tactics the five Black Watch battalions involved made some progress. They then held on tenaciously to the gains made at such cost against fierce counter attacks. Subsequent attacks in the Second and Third Battles were less successful but equally costly in lives. July saw six battalions of the Regiment taking part in the Third Battle of Ypres and the endeavours to extend the Salient. By September 1918 the 1st Battalion was involved in the successful attack on the last German fortified trench system, the Hindenberg Line.
Battalions during the Great War.
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Dec 2011
Please note we currently have a large backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site.
Those known to have served with The Black Watch during the Great War.
Select a story link or scroll down to browse those stories hosted on this site.
- L/Cpl. Jesse Birkinshaw MM. Read their Story.
- Pte. John Blacklock (d.23rd Apr 1917)
- Pte. John Blacklock (d.23rd Apr 1917)
- Pte. John Blacklock (d.23rd Apr 1917) Read their Story.
- Cpl. John Doulton Heath Read their Story.
- Serjeant David McCann (d.15th Sep 1915) Read their Story.
- Pte. John Bernard McKee
- Donald William McMillan Read their Story.
- Pte. Charles Nicol Read their Story.
- L/Cpl Albert Arthur Wykes (d.18th Jun 1917) Read their Story.
If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch.
Serjeant David McCann 9th Svc Bn, Royal Highlander Regt. (Black Watch) (d.15th Sep 1915)
Sergeant David McCann was killed in action at the battle of Loos, France.
L/Cpl. Jesse Birkinshaw MM. 8th Battalion Royal Highlanders
Jesse Survived the war but died in 1920 at his home in Ossett, West Yorkshire, he died of trench fever.
Cpl. John Doulton Heath 7th Btn Black Watch
John Doulton Heath was my grandfather who drove ambulances in France and Belgium during the Great War. I have studio photos of him in uniform and in France by vehicles with colleagues. I also have postcards sent from France by him to my father.
L/Cpl Albert Arthur Wykes 2nd Btn. Black Watch (d.18th Jun 1917)
Albert Wykes was a 2nd Cousin of my wife. It would appear he served in the Royal Field Artillery No 99081 and also the Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) No s/10238. He is shown as having died from his wounds.Can anybody explain why he would have served in 3 different Regiments? I understand that some men who had been wounded or were unfit for Front Line Duty transferred to the Labour Corps, but I am unable to work out in which order he served in the RFA and the Royal Highlanders and how would a cockney come to be in the Black Watch, any suggestions please.
Editor's Note: As Albert's record on CWGC shows him as being with the Black Watch, and transferred to the 13th Coy Labour Corps, it is reasonably safe to assume that he was with the Artillery as his first unit. It is quite common for men to serve with more than one unit, if injured and taken out of the front line for treatment, their place in the regiment would have to be filled by another man to maintain unit strength. On returning to duty they would be assigned to which ever unit required additional personne, so the regional identity of the regiments soon became muddled. Or a man with specialist skills might be transferred from one unit to another if there was a shortage of skilled men in another unit. The Labour Corps was largely made up of men who were not fully fit for front line fighting, so it is possible that Albert was injured or taken ill whilst with the Black Watch and transferred to the Labour Corps for a period of recovery.
Pte. John Blacklock 6th (Perthshire) Btn. The Black Watch (d.23rd Apr 1917)
I was researching the family tree recently and found out the John who is my maternal great grand father was killed in action in Arras on 23/04/1917. If anyone can give me any more info on him I would appreciate it.
Pte. Charles Nicol 6th Perthshire Battalion The Black Watch
Charles married his wife Amelia Drydon in Perth, Perthshire, on June 26, 1915. He was a watchmaker and on his wedding certificate he notes that he is a Private in the 6th Perthshire Battalion, The Black Watch.
Donald William McMillan Black Watch
My grandfather, Donald McMillan fought in the second Boar War and the First World War. We think he was in the Black Watch, but unfortunately, my mother's house was burgled sometime ago and his medals were stolen. I am trying to find out more about my grandfather and get replica medals for my brother.
Recomended Reading.
Available at discounted prices.
A.G. Wauchope
More information on:
History of the Black Watch in the Great War
John Ewing
The division’s record is graphically described in this history - what Field Marshal Lord Plumer in his foreword referred to as “a record of wonderful development of fighting efficiency.” There are useful appendices giving the Order of Battle, command and staff lists with the various changes; a table showing periods spent in the line, with locations; a table of battle casualties and the VC citations. The maps are good with adequate detail for actions to be followed.More information on:
History of the 9th (Scottish) Division
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