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5th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
The 5th Battalion, Black Watch was part of the 51st Highland Division, captured at St Valery, June 1940. It was reconstituted in Britain around the 9th Scottish Division. The remnants of the 1st Battalion were rebuilt and joined the 5th and 7th Battalions, going to Egypt in June 1942. The Battle of Alamein, 23rd October 1942 engaged all three Black Watch battalions. The 5th Battalion was withdrawn from the front in November and was part of the forces pursuing the retreating Axis forces past Benghazi and Tobruk. Battles took place at Mareth, Wadi Zigzaou, Wadi Akarit, ending with Sfax, 9th April 1943.
The 5th Battalion saw no more action in North Africa, moving to Algeria and training in amphibious landings for the invasion of Sicily, 10th July. From July until October 1943 the 5th battled and skirmished its way across Sicily and Italy. It was then sent back to Britain for training for the invasion of France. On 6th June 1944, it landed on Juno Beach, moving across northern France and Holland to the lower Rhine. It followed the 1st and 7th Battalions shortly after they had led the attack into Germany itself through the Reichswald on 8th February 1945. It crossed the Rhine on 22nd March under severe shelling, engaged in house-to-house fighting in Rees, and further actions until VE-Day.
15th of August 1942 Settling in
1st of June 1942 Royal visit
4th Jun 1942 Training
16th of June 1942 Embarkation
17th of June 1942 Sailing
18th of June 1942 Arrival on Clyde
21st of June 1942 Sailing
22nd of June 1942 Training
4th of July 1942 In Port
8th of July 1942 At Sea
18th of July 1942 Arrival
21st of July 1942 On the Move
6th of August 1942 Arrival
8th of August 1942 On the Move
13th of August 1942 Disembarkation
14th of August 1942 Settling in
16th of August 1942 Training
17th of August 1942 Training
18th of August 1942 Training
19th of August 1942 Training
20th of August 1942 Training
21st of August 1942 Training
22nd of August 1942 Visit by Churchill
23rd of August 1942 Training
24th of August 1942 Training
25th of August 1942 Move
26th of August 1942 Move
27th of August 1942 Settling in
27th of August 1942 Field Return of Other Ranks
28th of August 1942 Move
29th of August 1942 Training
30th of August 1942 Training
30th of August 1942 Field Return of Officers
31st of August 1942 Training
13th of October 1942 Move
21st of October 1942 Operation Order No.1 
22nd of October 1942 Schedule of Tasks for Evening
23rd Oct 1942 In Action
24th Oct 1942 In Action
28th Oct 1942 Barrage
4th Nov 1942 In Action
4th Nov 1942 Out of Action
23rd of November 1942 Administrative Situation Report up to 23 Nov 42
15th of December 1942 Rest
17th Jan 1943 On the Move
5th Feb 1943 Inspection
18th Feb 1943 Arrival
24th Feb 1943 Advance
26th Feb 1943 Patrols
6th Mar 1943 In Action
16th Mar 1943 In Action
17th Mar 1943 Patrols
18th Mar 1943 Patrols
20th Mar 1943 Shelling
24th Mar 1943 Advance
25th Mar 1943 Moves
29th Mar 1943 Advance
3rd Apr 1943 Reliefs
6th Apr 1943 Attack Made
6th Apr 1943 In Action
7th Apr 1943 Prisoners
9th Apr 1943 On the Move
13th Apr 1943 Rumours
19th Apr 1943 In Action
5th May 1943 In Action
9th Jul 1943 In Action
29th Jul 1943 In Action
17th Jan 1944 Exercise
18th Jan 1944 Exercise
19th Jan 1944 Exercise
6th Jun 1944 Wet Landing
7th Jun 1944 On the Move
7th Jun 1944 In Action
7th Jun 1944 Misunderstanding
8th Jun 1944
8th Jun 1944 Under Fire
8th Jun 1944 Shelling
8th Jun 1944 Radar Station
9th Jun 1944 Recce
9th Jun 1944 Reliefs
10th Jun 1944 Attacks
10th Jun 1944 Recce
10th Jun 1944 Attacks
10th Jun 1944 In Action
11th Jun 1944 Attack Fails
11th Jun 1944 In Action
11th Jun 1944 Attack Made
11th June 1944 In Action
12th Jun 1944 In Action
12th Jun 1944 Under Fire
12th Jun 1944 In Support
12th Jun 1944 Attack
13th Jun 1944 Relief Complete
14th Jun 1944 Reinforcements
15th Jun 1944 Reinforcements
11th Jul 1944 In Action
18th July 1944 In Action
7th Aug 1944 In Action
26th August 1944 Drafts
27th August 1944 Transport
23rd Oct 1944 Attack Made
29th Oct 1944 Attack
If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.
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Those known to have served with 5th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Allan Donald J.. Pte.
- Blacker Leslie. Cpl. (d.18th Mar 1943)
- Blackmore Frank. Pte. (d.7th April 1943 )
- Brydon George Young. Pte.
- Brydon George Young. Pte.
- Colville David. Pte. (d.26th Jul 1943)
- Davidson David.
- Davies Evan. (d.11th July 1944)
- Duncan Samuel Campbell. Pte. (d.28th October 1942)
- Healey Dennis. Pte. (d.24th October 1942)
- Hutchison Andrew Dalgetty. Pte.
- Lindsley Herbert. Pte.
- Lynch James Patrick .
- McKenzie Donald. Pte.
- McMurdo James. Pte. (d.12th June 1944)
- Melvin Martin. Pte. (d.7th April 1943)
- New William Henry . Pte. (d.19th July 1943)
- Powrie Ernest Peter. Pte. (d.26th March 1945)
- Reilly John J.. L/Cpl. (d.21st February 1944)
- Shann Cliff. Lt.
- Stockton Thomas. Pte.
- Thompson Andrew Mitchell. Pte.
- Todd Ian Menzies. Lt.
- Watson James. Pte. (d.9th Apr 1945)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
Records of 5th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) from other sources.
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Want to know more about 5th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)? There are:1420 items tagged 5th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Pte. Donald J. Allan 5th Btn. Black Watch Rather than be called up Donald Allan volunteered so that he had his choice of regiment. He made it through the war almost unscathed but sadly passed away in 1974 before I could get to hear of more of his experiences but I do know that at one time he was a company runner and had a very lucky escape crossing the Rhine.
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Pte. Thomas Stockton 5th Btn. Black Watch Thomas Stockton served with the 5th Btn. Black Watch.
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Pte. Martin Melvin 5th Btn. Black Watch (d.7th April 1943) Martin Melvin served with 5th Btn. Black Watch and was attached to the Highland Light Infantry.
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Pte. Donald McKenzie 5th Battalion Black Watch Donald McKenzie served with 5th Battalion, Black Watch.
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Pte. George Young Brydon 5th Battalion Black Watch  It has been more than 70 years since George Brydon left the safety of Newhaven behind and headed across the Channel to join the Allied Forces fighting in France. But despite the years which have elapsed since the Second World War, it was only a matter of months ago that the 90-year olds family discovered the true extent of his bravery.
Now the war veteran, who lives in Dunbar with his wife Elma, 88, is to be recognised at the highest level in the form of the Legion of Honour Medal, the highest of all French orders. It is thanks to Angus Brydon, one of George's four children, that the truth of his heroics finally emerged after he took it upon himself to delve into the history books. While he and his siblings did hear the odd story as children, the 58-year-old said they had never been able to piece it all together properly until now. He said: "It's been quite amazing putting the stories he used to tell us when we were kids together. It's been good research as I've always been interested in that but it's also been good for his history [as] he doesn't remember that much. He has flashes of memory. So it's been fantastic to collate them together."
George joined the army aged just 18 and was drafted into the 5th Battalion of the Black Watch. Just a few days later he was on his way to Normandy, with his first assignment being to search out German snipers in the town of Caen. Following a defeat of the Germans at Falaise, the battalion then pushed forward to liberate Barneville sur Seine. The Germans had already departed from the town so the Allies moved on to free the small French hamlet of Mauny following reports the Chateau was occupied by the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjudend.
However, things didn't go smoothly, with heavy shelling from the Germans seeing six members of the Black Watch losing their lives. George survived but suffered serious injuries and was evacuated back to the UK at the beginning of September. He was hospitalised for nearly a year and underwent several gruelling operations as a result. In the years that followed George resettled in Edinburgh, working for many years at the Granton depot of ink manufacturers A B Fleming.
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Pte. George Young Brydon 5th Btn. Black Watch My dad George Brydon, my hero, who will be 91 this December, is due to be awarded France's highest honour, the Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur next month for his part in the liberation of France during 1944-45 when he was just 18 years old.
He was a soldier in the 5th Battalion, Black Watch and fought through Normandy against the feared Waffen SS, until he was severely wounded by mortar shrapnel trying to reach the River Seine at Mauny, before the Germans could blow the bridges and stop the Allied advance through Northwestern Europe.
He is now one of only three soldiers left in the 5th Battalion The Black Watch, who fought during WWII.
We are who we are today because of their courage and sacrifice.
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Evan Davies 5th Btn. Blackwatch (d.11th July 1944) My wife's uncle Evan Davies served with 5th Btn. Blackwatch. We are looking for information.
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Pte. Andrew Mitchell Thompson 5th Batallion Black Watch My Dad, Andy Thompson, served from 1939 until being injured shortly after D Day. He never spoke much about his service. I would love to hear from anyone who might have information about him.
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Pte. Andrew Dalgetty Hutchison 4/5th Btn. Black Watch Because my father died in 1956 when I was only six, I never really knew him. With the advent of broadband and the help of army records I have been able to piece together his war experiences. If anyone out there knew him or about him I would love to hear from you.
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Lt. Cliff Shann 5th Btn. Black Watch Photograph taken in April 1944, of the 5th Battalion, The Black Watch. My grandfather Lt. Cliff Shann is on the picture.
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