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2nd Battalion, Black Watch
2nd Battalion, The Black Watch were serving in Bareilly, India with the Bareilly Brigade in Meerut Division when war broke out in August 1914. They were mobilized and sailed for France on the 21st of September 1914, landing at Marseilles on the 12th of October, crossing Frnace by train to join the British Expeditionary Force. They saw action in in the Battle of Givenchy. In 1915 the were in action at Neuve Chapelle in March, Festubert in May, and suffered heavy casualties in attacks at Loos in September. On the 26th they were brought up to strength by amalgamating with the 1/4th Black Watch, working at one unit unit November. They moved to Mesopotamia, landing at Basra on the 31st of December 1915, their formation being renamed 21st Brigade, 7th Indian Division. They suffered greatly in the attempted relief of Kut-el-Amara, against the Turks. On the 4th of February 1916, having suffered heavy casualties at Shaikh Sa'ad, they joined with the 1st Seaforth Highlanders to form the Highland Battalion, resuming their own idemtities on the 12th July 1916. In March 1917 they were in action at Bagdad. In January 1918 they moved to Palestine, arriving at Suez on the 13th, taking part in Allenby's successful action at Megiddo in September.
21st Sep 1914 2nd Black Watch leave India 2nd Battalion Black Watch leave their base in Bareilly, India and set sail for France to join the BEF.
12th Oct 1914 2nd Black Watch arrive in France 2nd Battalion Black Watch land at Marseilles having sailed from India, and entrain to join the BEF.
29th of October 1914 Determined German Attack 
6th Feb 1915 Instruction
25th Sep 1915 Diversionary Attack
25th Sep 1915 On the Attack
27th Sep 1915 Buried Alive
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
9th February 1916 Call Ups
9th Jun 1916 Orders
9th June 1916 Orders Received
10th June 1916 Instruction
11th June 1916 Instruction
12th June 1916 Instruction
13th Jun 1916 Orders
13th June 1916 Instruction
14th June 1916 Instruction
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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| Want to know more about 2nd Battalion, Black Watch? There are:5250 items tagged 2nd Battalion, Black Watch available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with2nd Battalion, Black Watch during the Great War 1914-1918. - Bain James. Pte.
- Brown David. Sgt.
- Brownlow William Lionel. 2nd Lt. (d.9th May 1915)
- Cutmore G.. Pte. (d.25th Jul 1917)
- Davidson James. Pte (d.11th November 1918)
- Dowie John McGregor. A/Sgt.
- Eassom Charles Frederick.
- Evans VC, CB, CMG, DSO & Bar, DL Lewis Pugh. Brig. Gen.
- Fairlie Andrew. L/Cpl. (d.13th Jul 1918)
- Finlay VC. David. Sgt. (d.21st Jan 1916)
- Graham William. Pte (d.3rd November 1918)
- Gray Charles. Pte. (d.26th Apr 1917)
- Henderson William Buntin. Pte. (d.15th Apr 1917)
- Henderson William Buntin. Pte. (d.15th April 1917)
- Macgregor Gordon. Sgt. (d.7th Dec 1916)
- Preston John. Pte. (d.12th Oct 1916)
- Rowan-Hamilton MID, MC. Gawain Basil. Brig.
- Smith MM John. Pte.
- Wilson William. Pte (d.9th May 1915)
- Wykes Albert Arthur. L/Cpl (d.18th Jun 1917)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 2nd Battalion, Black Watch from other sources.
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Sgt. David Brown 2nd Btn. Black Watch David Brown attested for The Black Watch at Perth, on 28th of Jan 1902. He would have done his basic training at The Black Watch
Depot, Queen's Barracks, Perth. He was posted to C Company.
At some point he was posted to the 2nd Battalion which had gone to India after the Boer War in 1902. During this period he received the medal for the Delhi Durbar in 1911. This was the Coronation Durbar for King George V.
He was due for transfer to the Army Reserve on 27th of Jan 1914.
The 2nd Battalion returned to France with the Meerut Division, as part of the Bareilly Brigade in October 1914.
David was reported wounded on two occasions, 5th of Nov 1914 and 27th of October 1915. In the latter instance his rank was
that of Acting Sergeant.
At the end of 1915 the Battalion went to Mesopotamia.
He was also reported wounded on 11th of April 1917.
The Battalion left Mesopotamia for Egypt in early 1918 and then went on to Palestine. David received the Star 1914, British War Medal & Allied Victory Medal for service in the First World War.
He re—enlisted at Kantara, on the 12th of December 1918, aged 33 years 246 days.
His wife was Flora Whitton, they married on the 1st of January 1920 and had 3 children.
He was discharged as a Corporal, 4th July 1922. His address is given as 60 Lilybank Road, Dundee.
He re-enlisted 29th May 1923 for 4 years (possibly with the Royal Engineers) and again on 29th May 1927. His final
discharge was at Perth, 20th Dec 1930.
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Sgt. Gordon Macgregor 2nd Battalion Black Watch (d.7th Dec 1916) I came across a box of letters, two years after the death of my father Gordon Macintyre. The box contained letters from my father's uncle, Gordon Mcgregor to his sister Ruth. They were written whilst he was serving in Mesopotamia.
The letters have some reference to my Gran's future husband, but also thank her for clothes and asking for some food to be sent. One letter, was addressed to my uncle and returned to my Gran in its envelope. It had been found in his jacket pocket when he was killed.
From my research I found that he was one of the lucky ones to be identified and buried in Amara Cemetery, Iraq. I continued my research and found that his father, at the time, lived and ran the Windsor House, a pub in Leven.
After the war, my great grandfather and 5 of Gordon's siblings received some money from the Army. I am not sure if this was his wages or compensation for his death.
I wanted to lay a wreath on his grave, but communication with the Commonwealth War Graves has led to the sad fact that all the headstones were taken away in the 1930's, and although all the names were engraved on a large plaque in Amara, there is no photograph of this. If and when it becomes safe to visit the graveyard the CWGC will look to update the graveyard.
When I think of the male members of my family, who would all have been called upon to enlist, My husband, my son, my brothers, nephews and cousins, I cannot imagine losing them. I cannot imagine the daily worry, the fear, the pain and I would feel, if I was alive in that era.
As we approach Armistice day, it has been a sobering thought to be remembered of the loss so many families.
I want to finish this note, by remembering my Great Uncle Gordon. He was born in Shettleston, Lanarkshire in 1894. He had one brother and four sisters. He was close all sisters, especially Ruth.
He enlisted into the 2nd Battalion, Black Watch Regiment as a Private in 12th October 1914 and initially fought in Normandy. At some point he was promoted to a Serjeant and then moved to Mesopotamia where he fought and died of wounds on 7th of December 1916. He was 22 years old and is buried at Amara Cemetery, Iraq.
His father, William, died in 1930. Gordon is remembered on his gravestone. I have recently found this long-forgotten headstone and plan to travel North to clean it up with my cousin.
In 1931, Gordon's sister, Ruth, named her youngest son after him.
Gordon died, as part of a huge sacrifice of that generation. He lived a very short life, but it has been a privilege to get to know him and his story and I wanted to thank him for his role.
We shall remember them.
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L/Cpl. Andrew Fairlie 2nd Btn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) (d.13th Jul 1918) Andrew Fairlie died aged 20 and is buried in the Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt.
He was born on 1st February 1898, the son of Mrs. J. Fairlie of 23 John Street, Ayr.
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Pte. William Buntin Henderson 2nd Btn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) (d.15th April 1917) William Henderson died 15th April 1917, aged 27. He is commemorated on the Alexandria (Chatby) Memorial in Alexandria, Egypt.
William was among reinforcements for Mesopotamia when the troop ship HT Cameronia was torpedoed and sunk 150 miles East of Malta. He was the son of Mr.& Mrs. John Henderson of 7 Forest Park Road, Dundee, Scotland.
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Pte. James Bain 2nd Battalion Black Watch James Bain served with the 2nd Battalion, Black Watch.
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Pte. John Smith MM 2nd Btn. Black Watch John Smith was awarded a Military Medal in Mesopotamia, he was a career soldier not a conscript and survived the war.
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Pte. William Buntin Henderson 2nd Btn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) (d.15th Apr 1917) William Buntin Henderson served with the 2nd Battalion, Black Watch during WW1 and died on the 15th April 1917, aged 27. He is remembered at the Alexandria-Chatby Memorial, Egypt.
He was the son of Mr.& Mrs. John Henderson , 7 Forest Park Road, Dundee, Scotland.
William was among reinforcements for Mesopotamia when the troop ship HT Cameronia was torpedoed and sunk 150 miles east of Malta.
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Sgt. David Finlay VC. 2nd Btn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) (d.21st Jan 1916) Sergeant David Finlay served with the 2nd Battalion the Black Watch during WW1 and died, age 23, on the 21st January 1916. He is remembered on the Basra War Memorial in Iraq.
He was the husband of Mrs. F. Finlay (later Mrs. Wilson), of The Anchorage, St. Abb's, Coldingham, Berwickshire.
An extract from the London Gazette, dated 29th June, 1915, records the following:-
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on 9th May, 1915, near Rue du Bois, when he led a bombing party of twelve men with the greatest gallantry in the attack until ten of them had fallen. Lance-Corporal Finlay then ordered the two survivors to crawl back, and he himself went to the assistance of a wounded man and carried him over a distance of 100 yards of fire-swept ground into cover, quite regardless of his own personal safety.
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Pte. G. Cutmore 2nd Btn. Black Watch (d.25th Jul 1917) Pte. G. Cutmore served with the Black Watch 2nd Battalion. He was executed for desertion on 25th July 1917 and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial in Iraq.
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Brig. Gawain Basil Rowan-Hamilton MID, MC. 2nd Btn. Black Watch Gwaine Rowan-Hamilton was mentioned in despatches and decorated with the award of the Military Cross (M.C.) in 1915. He was decorated with the award of the Companion, Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) in 1917.
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2nd Lt. William Lionel Brownlow Northumberland Fusiliers (d.9th May 1915) I run our local unit of Army Cadets and have a plaque on the wall dedicated to 2nd Lt. William Lionel Brownlow. Our unit has been open many years and I have been there for 22 years on and off. It was only recently, whilst doing a spot of sorting out, that I looked at this plaque in great detail. It has a dedication from King George and I can only assume that the families of the deceased received these in memorium? Or perhaps they were able to purchase them?
I have searched the internet and discovered that 2nd Lt Brownlow was killed on 9 May 1915 whilst attached to 2nd Btn, Black Watch and was buried at St Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg l'Avoué, France. He was 18 years old, the son of Brig. Gen. D'Arcy Charles Brownlow and Mabel Laura Brownlow, of 58, Wilbury Rd., Hove, Sussex. He had been educated at Marlborough College and Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
I would love to know more about this young man, who bravely lay down his life in service of his country.
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L/Cpl Albert Arthur Wykes 2nd Btn. Black Watch (d.18th Jun 1917) Albert Wykes was a 2nd Cousin of my wife. It would appear he served in the Royal Field Artillery No 99081 and also the Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) No s/10238. He is shown as having died from his wounds. Can anybody explain why he would have served in 3 different Regiments? I understand that some men who had been wounded or were unfit for Front Line Duty transferred to the Labour Corps, but I am unable to work out in which order he served in the RFA and the Royal Highlanders and how would a cockney come to be in the Black Watch, any suggestions please.
Editor's Note: As Albert's record on CWGC shows him as being with the Black Watch, and transferred to the 13th Coy Labour Corps, it is reasonably safe to assume that he was with the Artillery as his first unit. It is quite common for men to serve with more than one unit, if injured and taken out of the front line for treatment, their place in the regiment would have to be filled by another man to maintain unit strength. On returning to duty they would be assigned to which ever unit required additional personne, so the regional identity of the regiments soon became muddled. Or a man with specialist skills might be transferred from one unit to another if there was a shortage of skilled men in another unit. The Labour Corps was largely made up of men who were not fully fit for front line fighting, so it is possible that Albert was injured or taken ill whilst with the Black Watch and transferred to the Labour Corps for a period of recovery.
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