1st Bn The Black Watch, 1939-40: Appeal for photos/names

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Alistair Duthie, Jul 31, 2020.

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  1. Alistair Duthie

    Alistair Duthie Member

    Hi
    I am trying to locate photographs of the 1st Battalion taken in Aldershot in late 1939 just prior to embarkation for France.

    I have located the Sgts Mess and D (Light) Company and there is a copy of the officers Mess at our Regimental Museum but so far A (Grenadier), B, C, HQ Companys, Pipes and Drums, Military Band, MT Section have not been found.
    As the Battalion was captured at St Valery with exception of 1 Officer and 18 Other Ranks I have made it a bit of a mission to try and record the names of all the men who went to France.

    Can any one help please?!!!

    Regards
    Alistair Duthie
    late The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
     
    Alistair Duthie, Jul 31, 2020
    #1
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  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    dbf, Jul 31, 2020
    #2
  3. Alistair Duthie

    Alistair Duthie Member

    Hi dbf,
    Weve got those ones in the regimental museum the ones I'm after were formal ones taken later in the day they are all wearing Steel Helmets with their Red Hackles in them

    This was the famous Parade where The King said to The Queen "This is your regiment you should inspect them". due to her personal attachment to us.

    It was also where we were told by the King that Kilts were not to be worn again and he wanted us to wear a tartan patch in the shape of the Badge instead !!!!!
    Turned out an officer in Ordinance somewhere had created a memo about kilts that got passed around and became gospel, as so often can happen and had never been an order at all!!!!!

    Alistair
     
    Alistair Duthie, Jul 31, 2020
    #3
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Thought you might - the sort of thing that goes straight into Regimental archive, esp as they were taken by one of the officers. Better off checking though.

    Have edited thread title slightly, might help. Who knows what's lurking in people's attics, etc.
     
    dbf, Jul 31, 2020
    #4
  5. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    As for names - again if you haven't already accessed National Archives - many of us have used Missing Personnel files held in The National Archives Kew in order to help compile unofficial nominal Rolls as part of our Unit research - esp useful without access to Regtl archives.

    WO 361 Series files would've been compiled by War Office Casualty Branch, liaising with the Regt and the Red Cross. They include names of men who were declared missing in Theatre by their Regiment, in order to reconcile casualty categories, eg KIA, DOW, POW. Often the files will include Coy. Acquittance Rolls, sometimes nominal rolls, war diary extracts, witness statements, appeals sent to POW Camps, reports compiled by Officers, etc. Sometimes they contain little more than updated lists: bit of a lucky dip.


    British Expeditionary Force France: The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment); missing... | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 361/39
    Description: British Expeditionary Force France: The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment); missing men; includes lists of those taken prisoner of war
    Date: 1940 Jan 01 - 1945 Dec 31

    British Expeditionary Force, France: The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment); missing... | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 361/40
    Description: British Expeditionary Force, France: The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment); missing men; includes lists of those taken prisoner of war
    Date: 1940 Jan 01 - 1944 Dec 31
     
    dbf, Jul 31, 2020
    #5
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    As Diane said, if you after lists of names the WO 361 Missing Men files are always a great bet.
     
    Drew5233, Aug 2, 2020
    #6

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