Photograph of troops meeting the King

A real long shot here, but I’m wondering if anyone recognises anything in the attached photo?

It was sent to my son by one of his friends whose Grandad is in the photo.

The only information he has about his Grandad is this:

Hugh Bowie
DOB 6th October 1916
Regiment - Black Watch

Any clues at all would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,
Dave

 

The obvious book to check is: The Black Watch: Fighting in the Frontline 1899-2006 by Victoria Schofield.

Google Books search of the book suggests there was a parade by the King George VI and Princess Elizabeth (Odd, as text refers to her being their Colonel in Chief, NT Google) before they left for France and refers to them wearing trousers, not kilts. Alas no date or location - near Dover Castle. There are no clues in: Black Watch - Wikipedia

Note the King had inspected the Black Watch at Aldershot in November 1939, when they were wearing trousers and he was in Army uniform. See: Original Press Photo WW2 King George inspects Black Watch Aldershot Nov 1939 (1) • £8.50

The King inspected a battalion in Italy, see: 6th Bn Black Watch, Italy , July 1944

The distinctive feature is the King is in naval uniform and not knowing protocol, regulations etc would he formally visit an Army unit in RN uniform? Could it be he was in transit, say landing at a port and boarding a train where the Black Watch provided the honour guard?

The second line of soldiers do not appear to have rifles. Wouldn't the entire guard Present Arms, not just the first?

The obvious place to ask is the Black Watch Museum: Black Watch History - theblackwatch.co.uk

 

Thanks so much, I’ll pass this on!

We live in Fife, so the Black Watch Museum at Balhousie Castle in Perth isn’t too far away.

Cheers,
Dave

 

Thank you Owen.

As you say, a bit of a rag tag bunch to be presented to the King. Returning POWs? Dunkirk?

 

Troops generally disliked such ceremonial exercises, which typically involved a good deal of fuss and 'bull' as well as time which could have been better spent on other things. Sometimes the Heads (king, generals, ministers) made a poor impression. One man in 50th Division who saw George VI up close was startled to discover that the monarch "wore as much make-up as Mae West."

 

Owen's remark:

This could be a clue to the timing, as Wiki records:

Could this explain the uniform mix?

There was also a Tyneside Scottish unit that became part of the Black Watch, although only one reference was found, the move being on 1/2/1940. See: 1st Tyneside Scottish (1 TS) - 70 Brigade

 

Thanks again everyone, really interesting!

I’ve passed the information to my son who’ll send it to his mate. Hopefully this will help him to ask some questions of the family and fill in some gaps.

Went on a school trip to France with a young lady who’s great-grandad had been captured at St Valery and spent the war as a POW. He wrote the “St Johnstoun Reel” in honour of his home town of Perth with one of his mates. Maybe not as famous as the “Reel of the 51st Highland Division” but still in the Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary and a very catchy tune.

Totally off-topic, but when I was a little boy in the late 50s my Gran took me into Doncaster to see Michael Miles - of “Take Your Pick” fame - open a new shop. As we say in Fife he was officially “no braw”: balding, big nose, moles and also caked in make-up, which stopped at a tide-mark above his collar. He was late as well! Quite a disappointment to see what someone “off the telly” looked like in real-life!

 

DoubleD,

I have asked a friend from The Black Watch if the photo "rings any bells", a "long shot" I fear.

 

That’s very kind of you. Thanks very much.