Thread: Black Watch

mollie · 01-01-2006, 07:23 AM

Does anyone anywhere know anything about the role The Black Watch played in WW2............My Dad was one of them and all his details are lost...........I do know some stuff.....................looked at his demob papers for years and then they were gone................maybe i got too nosey.................apparently he volunteered to be called up or was volunteered for the paras,via Black Watch cos he was a para................doing my head in now cos i can't remember what i seen all those years ago???

Gf272 · 01-01-2006, 03:05 PM

Unit name: The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
Force: Army
Designation: Regiment (Army)
Type: Infantry
Entered service: 1739
Battalions: 1st Battalion Infantry
2nd Battalion Infantry
4th Battalion Infantry
5th Battalion Infantry
6th Battalion Infantry
7th Battalion Infantry
8th, 9th and 10th Battalions Infantry
Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit

A brief overview of some of the action the Parachute regiment was engaged in:
"C" Coy., 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment was formed in 1941 primarily from volunteers from the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (79th) and the Black Watch (42nd), and was therefore known as the "Scottish Company."

In 1942 "C" Company was selected for the raid on the German radar station at Bruneval, on the coast of France.

Second Para was sent to North Africa in November, 1942, they dropped at Depienne, Tunisia, the battalion became isolated, unsupported, and short of supplies. With little rest, the 1st Parachute Brigade, including 2nd Para, went into the line and fought as ordinary infantry from February through April:

In July, 1943, the 1st Para Brigade dropped south of Mt. Etna on Sicily to take the Primosole Bridge.

On September 17, 1944, the 1st Para Brigade dropped near Arnhem and was tasked with advancing along three axes into Arnhem and securing the road bridge of the Lower Rhine. It is well known, "A" Company along with "C" Company, 3rd Battalion and the remnants of the recce squadron, a parachute squadron of Royal Engineers, and part of 1st Brigade's HQ staff, took and held the northern approaches to the road bridge for four days against overwhelming odds.

You can get the full battle history and roll of honour from the archives at this addy: http://www.blackwatch.50megs.com/index2.html

mollie · 02-01-2006, 05:05 PM

Thanks Geoff thats great

mollie · 09-01-2006, 02:08 AM

Geoff...If at all possible where can I find my Dads Army Service Records WW2. Is it Glasgow.......I think so somehow Are they regiment retained or public domain. Have tried various Black Watch sites.not sure yet which is the official one and whether they would give me info. I know MOD take their time to inform you of requests and when i tried them i needed service number. How do I know that.........HEEEEEEEEEEEELPPPPPP

Thanks Moll xx

Gf272 · 10-01-2006, 08:19 PM

Individual service records are held as you thought in Glasgow by the MOD and they charge a fee for a search. You really need his regiment and or service number. I asked all my living family members on my dads side to get the information and was lucky to find an aunt who already had a copy of his service record and hospital records of the times he was wounded, including all the decorations he received. It is well worth pursuing Mollie but make sure you have some 'concrete' evidence before you do. Once you find his regiment as it would have been when he served you can get exact information of where they were stationed and fought and in some cases names but the latter is rare.

Sorry m8 I wish it could have been a little more straightforward for you.

mollie · 12-01-2006, 09:50 PM

Hi Geoff,
Thanks for your help. Unfortunately there is no-one left to ask about Dads service history. All i know is he was in The Black Watch and 2 Para I think. He may have joined or been called up after the war started, Story has it though that he lied about his age to join up sooner as a lot of young lads did, As he was born in March 1923 it would only have been a little lie.....................lol
I know he was definately in Norway when it was being liberated and he was also in Malaya / Malaysia ?? a bit later. At one point I believe he was also in Malta.
I'll keep digging Geoff and thanks again mate

mollie · 18-01-2006, 02:00 AM

Hi Geoff.

Yep you were right and thought I found a back door.
Anyway Individual records are not held by the regiment but where we suspected and you knew

Army Personnel Centre
Historic Disclosures
Mailpoint 400
Kentigern House
65 Brown Street
Glasgow G2 8EX

Cheers mate and thanks................I know where to go now

mollie · 28-03-2006, 11:27 PM

However..............any more information will be readily and gladly appreciated
Molls

01-01-2006, 07:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
mollie Ancestry Aid Staff Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 1,683 Total Awards: 2	Black Watch Does anyone anywhere know anything about the role The Black Watch played in WW2............My Dad was one of them and all his details are lost...........I do know some stuff.....................looked at his demob papers for years and then they were gone................maybe i got too nosey.................apparently he volunteered to be called up or was volunteered for the paras,via Black Watch cos he was a para................doing my head in now cos i can't remember what i seen all those years ago??? Last edited by mollie; 01-01-2006 at 07:30 AM.
	Mollie Ancestry Aid Moderator The UK's No 1 For Genealogy & Family History. Top Tip: Use the forum search page to find surnames!!. Dunne,McManus, McCann,O'Dowd, Higgins, Smith, Traynor, O'Byrne, Lamond/t Henry/Nicolson/Bowman/McCafferty/Keelan and more....did I say Smith...oh yes I did...we all have one.........lol

01-01-2006, 03:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gf272 Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cardiff, South Wales Posts: 229	Black Watch Unit name: The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) Force: Army Designation: Regiment (Army) Type: Infantry Entered service: 1739 Battalions: 1st Battalion Infantry 2nd Battalion Infantry 4th Battalion Infantry 5th Battalion Infantry 6th Battalion Infantry 7th Battalion Infantry 8th, 9th and 10th Battalions Infantry Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit A brief overview of some of the action the Parachute regiment was engaged in: "C" Coy., 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment was formed in 1941 primarily from volunteers from the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (79th) and the Black Watch (42nd), and was therefore known as the "Scottish Company." In 1942 "C" Company was selected for the raid on the German radar station at Bruneval, on the coast of France. Second Para was sent to North Africa in November, 1942, they dropped at Depienne, Tunisia, the battalion became isolated, unsupported, and short of supplies. With little rest, the 1st Parachute Brigade, including 2nd Para, went into the line and fought as ordinary infantry from February through April: In July, 1943, the 1st Para Brigade dropped south of Mt. Etna on Sicily to take the Primosole Bridge. On September 17, 1944, the 1st Para Brigade dropped near Arnhem and was tasked with advancing along three axes into Arnhem and securing the road bridge of the Lower Rhine. It is well known, "A" Company along with "C" Company, 3rd Battalion and the remnants of the recce squadron, a parachute squadron of Royal Engineers, and part of 1st Brigade's HQ staff, took and held the northern approaches to the road bridge for four days against overwhelming odds. You can get the full battle history and roll of honour from the archives at this addy: http://www.blackwatch.50megs.com/index2.html Last edited by Gf272; 14-02-2006 at 10:36 PM.
	Geoff -------------------------------------------------- The quiet one, whose hung up his boots

02-01-2006, 05:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
mollie Ancestry Aid Staff Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 1,683 Total Awards: 2	*Thanks Geoff thats great*
	Mollie Ancestry Aid Moderator The UK's No 1 For Genealogy & Family History. Top Tip: Use the forum search page to find surnames!!. Dunne,McManus, McCann,O'Dowd, Higgins, Smith, Traynor, O'Byrne, Lamond/t Henry/Nicolson/Bowman/McCafferty/Keelan and more....did I say Smith...oh yes I did...we all have one.........lol

09-01-2006, 02:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
mollie Ancestry Aid Staff Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 1,683 Total Awards: 2	Geoff...If at all possible where can I find my Dads Army Service Records WW2. Is it Glasgow.......I think so somehow Are they regiment retained or public domain. Have tried various Black Watch sites.not sure yet which is the official one and whether they would give me info. I know MOD take their time to inform you of requests and when i tried them i needed service number. How do I know that.........HEEEEEEEEEEEELPPPPPP *Thanks Moll xx* Last edited by mollie; 18-01-2006 at 02:06 AM.
	Mollie Ancestry Aid Moderator The UK's No 1 For Genealogy & Family History. Top Tip: Use the forum search page to find surnames!!. Dunne,McManus, McCann,O'Dowd, Higgins, Smith, Traynor, O'Byrne, Lamond/t Henry/Nicolson/Bowman/McCafferty/Keelan and more....did I say Smith...oh yes I did...we all have one.........lol

10-01-2006, 08:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gf272 Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cardiff, South Wales Posts: 229	Service Records Individual service records are held as you thought in Glasgow by the MOD and they charge a fee for a search. You really need his regiment and or service number. I asked all my living family members on my dads side to get the information and was lucky to find an aunt who already had a copy of his service record and hospital records of the times he was wounded, including all the decorations he received. It is well worth pursuing Mollie but make sure you have some 'concrete' evidence before you do. Once you find his regiment as it would have been when he served you can get exact information of where they were stationed and fought and in some cases names but the latter is rare. Sorry m8 I wish it could have been a little more straightforward for you.
	Geoff -------------------------------------------------- The quiet one, whose hung up his boots

12-01-2006, 09:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
mollie Ancestry Aid Staff Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 1,683 Total Awards: 2	*Hi Geoff,* Thanks for your help. Unfortunately there is no-one left to ask about Dads service history. All i know is he was in The Black Watch and 2 Para I think. He may have joined or been called up after the war started, Story has it though that he lied about his age to join up sooner as a lot of young lads did, As he was born in March 1923 it would only have been a little lie.....................lol *I know he was definately in Norway when it was being liberated and he was also in Malaya / Malaysia ?? a bit later. At one point I believe he was also in Malta.* *I'll keep digging Geoff and thanks again mate* Last edited by mollie; 18-01-2006 at 01:47 AM.
	Mollie Ancestry Aid Moderator The UK's No 1 For Genealogy & Family History. Top Tip: Use the forum search page to find surnames!!. Dunne,McManus, McCann,O'Dowd, Higgins, Smith, Traynor, O'Byrne, Lamond/t Henry/Nicolson/Bowman/McCafferty/Keelan and more....did I say Smith...oh yes I did...we all have one.........lol

18-01-2006, 02:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
mollie Ancestry Aid Staff Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 1,683 Total Awards: 2	for Gf *Hi Geoff.* *Yep you were right and thought I found a back door.* *Anyway Individual records are not held by the regiment but where we suspected and you knew* Army Personnel Centre Historic Disclosures Mailpoint 400 Kentigern House 65 Brown Street Glasgow G2 8EX Cheers mate and thanks................I know where to go now Last edited by mollie; 18-01-2006 at 02:05 AM.
	Mollie Ancestry Aid Moderator The UK's No 1 For Genealogy & Family History. Top Tip: Use the forum search page to find surnames!!. Dunne,McManus, McCann,O'Dowd, Higgins, Smith, Traynor, O'Byrne, Lamond/t Henry/Nicolson/Bowman/McCafferty/Keelan and more....did I say Smith...oh yes I did...we all have one.........lol

28-03-2006, 11:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
mollie Ancestry Aid Staff Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 1,683 Total Awards: 2	*However..............any more information will be readily and gladly appreciated* *Molls*
	Mollie Ancestry Aid Moderator The UK's No 1 For Genealogy & Family History. Top Tip: Use the forum search page to find surnames!!. Dunne,McManus, McCann,O'Dowd, Higgins, Smith, Traynor, O'Byrne, Lamond/t Henry/Nicolson/Bowman/McCafferty/Keelan and more....did I say Smith...oh yes I did...we all have one.........lol