Pipers of The Black Watch 1939-1946

Hi,

I am writing a book on the Pipers of The Black Watch from 1725 till 2006
I have completed research up till 1919 at the moment.
unfortunately I have found that WW2 is very hard to research now especially with virtually no one left to speak to.
I have been lucky over the last 20 years to speak to a lot of former soldiers and gained a lot of info from them
However with 4 Bns being in the BEF 1940, 1 in Greece, Crete, Tobruk..., 4 being disbanded overseas, it is nigh on impossible to find any info in the public domain.

If anyone is related to, knows of... or has info on Pipers, Pipe music, Photographs, Bagpipes... please contact me on;

theduthies@hotmail.com

Regards
Alistair Duthie
Pipe Major
late The Black Watch

 

A cursory search of IWM website for BW Pipe Band + WW2 =
Search our collection | Imperial War Museums


includes
Private Papers of J R Grieve
Category: Private papers
Related period: Second World War (content)
Creator: Grieve, John Raeburn

"Word-processed memoir (46pp, written c. 1996) covering...Black Watch (1932), posting to 2nd Battalion Black Watch, moving to Maryill Barracks, Glasgow (September 1933), being a member of the Regimental Pipe Band, taking part in several engagements as part of the dancing team and moving round the country, posting to Dover Castle, working as a batman, preparing to leave the Army and learning a trade, posting to Chiseldon, Wiltshire (1939), not leaving the Army due to the outbreak of war and posting to Dover Castle with 1st Battalion Black Watch, crossing to France (c. September 1939), moving to Drocourt, Pas-de-Calais, preparing defences, accidental deaths and fights, moving to the front line near the Maginot line with 154th Brigade (51st (Highland) Infantry Division), playing the pipes at gravesides following skirmishes, leave, moving to St Valery (June 1940), being captured by the Germans..."

 

Link to another thread, Pipe Major
2216492 Robert ROY, DCM, 2 Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)

 

Thanks dbf

I knew Jock Grieve a great wee man, he gave me some gear before he died, He never said he had done any recordings for the IWM?
I helped PM Roy's daughter writing her book on Rab, Its a must read, a heluva man!!!!
I will go through all of these as there may be something there I have missed

Thanks
Pipey

 

Ah, it might be the same memoir held in their archives.

It's worthwhile re-checking/searching IWM online collections as they update periodically. I've been researching the Micks since before I joined the forum and there's a lot more now than was previously available, even a year or two ago. (Pity my father is no longer around to ask if he recognised any of the faces.)
General search terms can be better - in order to home in on particular collections within results, eg Division rather than Regt., etc.

Best of luck with your research

 

My Grandad was a piper in the Black Watch in WW2. I think he started action with the 154th division, 7th Battalion in Normandy from what I gather, he mentioned the Battle of the Bulge but didn't mention crossing the Rhine. James Cameron Yardley on the far right in the picture below. He was only about 18 at the time and passed in 2009. Won many piping competitions and was a world champion in the 60s.

Also wondering if my Great Grandad was a piper during WW1. Have you come across any Yardleys in your pre 1919 research?

 

That doesn't really make sense.

More correct to say,

7th Battalion The Black Watch, 154th Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division.

Superb photo though.
Thanks for posting it.

 

Yeah that was his entire placement.

 

The opening post author, Alistair Duthie has not logged in since 2020. In an online search he is still active, but no book has been published. Here is his bio: A Piping Journey from the Farms of New Zealand to the Battlegrounds of The Black Watch - theblackwatch.co.uk

 

Looks like he wrote a chapter of a book mostly focused on WW1. New Black Watch book highlights role of pipers in regiment – pipes|drums

 

Light Infantry Companies of the then two regiments of the 42nd were instrumental in Bouquet's victory at Bushy Run (1763, Pontiac's Rebellion). No Battle Honour but it was important in that it secured Fort Pitt (Pittsburg today) and the pathway to the Ohio Valley. Bouquet's 1764 Punitive Expedition resulted in the return of many hostages to the settlers.

 

Dear JC Yardley,
I met your father a number of years ago in scotland and when the Pipes and Drums out in California
I would really like if you could contact me to discuss your fathers life and see what I might have...
The email is also there for anyone else who wants to contact me direct
Regards

Pipey

 

Hi Guys,
An update on the book!?
Its going to be about 2 years before I get it to the publishers as the WW2 documents are being slowly released, so I'm wanting to try and hold off to make sure I can get as much detail as possible and try not miss any one
my next problem is all the National Servicemen from 1945-1956
from 1946 till 1948 there were 40 pipers went through the 1st Battalion alone and unfortunately there is nothing going to be released in the near future... nightmare!!!

Pipey

 

Perhaps it's best if you didn't put your email address on an open forum. There is an edit button on the post you have made.

You can send him a private message (start a conversation) by clicking on his avatar and finding it there.