Hi all, hope you can help me. I have a distant relation who died of wounds 21/11/1941 and is buried near the Knightsbridge Box near Tobruk. He was Sgt. James McQuarrie 2754329 . I cant find any ref. to the 1st black watch being near there at that time , the 2nd went to crete at the beginning of nov. 41. Has anybody got any ideas how he would be fighting in that area.
He's listed as 2nd Bn on CWGC . CWGC - Casualty Details 2nd Bn was at Tobruk. The Black Watch - The Black Watch through the Second World War May 1941 saw the first ever airborne assault take place when German paratroopers descended on the 2nd Battalion at Heraklion in the north of Crete. The initial offensive was most effectively repulsed but later landings elsewhere forced the withdrawal of the garrison. Five months later the Battalion was moved to the besieged fortress of Tobruk and in November was to suffer very heavy losses in the attempted breakout to link up with the 8th Army. Lots of stuff here about 2nd Bn at Tobruk. THE SECOND BATTALION THE BLACK WATCH AT TOBRUK
Here's all the 2 Black Watch War Diary Ref's at Kew up to his death WO 169/346 2 Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) 1939 Sept.- Dec. WO 169/347 2 Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) 1940 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/1706 2 Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) 1941 Jan- Oct. WO 169/1707 2 Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) 1941 Nov.- Dec.
Thanks alll, lots of interesting stuff here so it will take me awhile to digest it all, It seems I misread a post about the 2nd BW being in Crete at the time and him being in 1st Bn. Ive just found he was also in the Tyneside Scottish, Where they affiliated to the Black Watch or were they a completly different Regiment.
His number is consistant with someone who enlisted into The Black Watch. Black Watch (The Royal Highland Regiment) 2744001 - 2809000 according to this they were affilated to The Black Watch. 1940.02.01 1st Battalion, The Tyneside Scottish, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) Tyneside Scottish - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There was a very strong affiliation to the Tyneside Scots who had first proved their metal in WW1. When the Tyneside Scottish were disbanded in WW2 the majority of their personnel were incorporated into Black Watch battalions. Other associated regiments were: Royal Highland Regiment of Canada The Tranvaal Scottish New South Wales Scottish The New Zealand Scottish Regiment The Southern Rhodesians A very good book for you to read when you are more sure of James's movements is 'The Black Watch and the King's Enemies' , by Bernard Fergusson.
The Scottish National war memorial has his regiment as the Black watch and Tyneside Scottish. I wonder as they were affiliated battalions he was mabye posted to them for a while as an instructor?. When James was young he was neglected after his father was killed on the Sommme 1918 (10th A&SH) and I think he was fostered out but to where I dont know. The Black Watch I presume recruited in the Edinburgh/Perth/ Aberdeen area and the Tyneside in the N/E England. Finding out would give me a clue where to look for him pre army service. I've found a copy on the net of 'The Black Watch and the King's Enemies' as recommended by Bamboo43 so when it comes I'll find out more. One thing about this site/forum is that there are many interesting links dotted about and its very easy to loose track of what I was looking for. Great Site
Hello JMCQ, My Grandfather, Pte Cecil Thomas Smith was killed at Tobruk on 21 November 1941. he was one of the 30 or so Rhodesians who were attached to the 2nd Black Watch. I would also like to know as much as possible about that day and about the Rhodesian contingent in particular.
21 November was a very dark day for 2 Black Watch. The battalion was in the front of the break-out from Tobruk, and due to faulty intelligence and a lack of tank support more or less got ripped to shreds, nevertheless accomplishing its mission. THE SECOND BATTALION THE BLACK WATCH AT TOBRUK Not a good day at the office – 1 RTR and the first day of the Tobruk breakout « The Crusader Project Defending Position 19 « The Crusader Project The Tobruk Breakout from the Other Side of the Hill « The Crusader Project All the best Andreas
Hi, The Black Watch aren't taking any personal enquiries at the moment (I tried recently). Was your relative born in Scotland? You could try tracing him on the National Identity census that was taken in 1939. If he was born in Scotland and died outwith Scotland, you will need to provide a death certificate. It's £15 a search though, £5 charge if nothing found on the register. Forms are easily found on the net and send to Edinburgh Reg. House. Cheers - Maria Had a quick look at Genealogy Scottish family birth records census ancestry Scotland uk - ScotlandsPeople (genealogy daft me) and there's a death entry for a James McQuarrie (Service Returns) age 26. The reference number is GROS Data 151/AF 0028. You will need to purchase credits to look at it. (£7 for 30 credits). Just type his name in the free search using year 1941 in both fields. The attached is an example of what you will find at Scotlandspeople
Hi all, Sorry about not getting back sooner . I did not realise that more post had been added. Andreas, thanks for the links will make interesting reading amberdog45 , Thats him at Scotlandspeople, Got his birth cert and seen the service returns, I know where he was born but after family troubles he disappeared (aged 8)until his death. Thanks for the interest shown. I was in the BW museum at Perth and idly looking around I thought I saw a photo of his burial service, Did not take much interest in it at the time as I did not know of a family relationship. When I realised there may be one I returned to Perth but could not find it again , I may have been mistaken on the first visit. I'll keep hunting though. Thanks all eric
