No.191 November 2019 THE REDHACKLE Would you like to support our Armed Forces and Emergency Service personnel or have you ever served yourself? Whether you have served in the Armed Forces or Emergency Services, or simply support the work in which they do,you can join many other like-minded individuals! Working at the heart of the local community supporting our veterans from the Armed Forces and Emergency Services, The Royal British Legion Scotland (Legion Scotland) is the largest ex-service membership charity in the country. With 150 Branches and over 60 clubs across Scotland, we work closely with all Scottish Communities supporting them with local issues and providing three key services to members: •Comradeship &Events - Continuing the unique bond of friendship created through service with like-minded people while commemorating those who have served and continued to serve. Educating others to build alasting legacy for future generations •Veteran Community Support Service - Providing individualised support to rebuild self-confidence and independence, helping veterans get the most from life. Ensuring those that have served our nation never suffer isolation or loneliness. •Disablement Pensions - Looking to make aclaim for aWar Disablement Pension or through Armed Forces Compensation Scheme? Looking to appeal your decision? Our Advocacy team may be able to help you! Contact us on: [email protected] or 0131 322 1076 www.legionscotland.org.uk Legion Scotland is atrading name of the Royal British Legion Scotland SCIO,Scottish Charity No.SC003323. No. 191 42nd 73rd November 2019 THE RED HACKLE The Chronicle of The Black Wa tch (Royal Highland Regiment), its successor The Black Wa tch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Affiliated Regiments and The Black Wa tch Association On Saturday 15 June 2019, one hundred year old Mr Geordie Reid and ninety three year old Colonel Ian Critchley,both veterans of the Second World War, laid awreath to honour all those who have served in the Regiment. This took place during the Service to commemorate the formation of The Black Watch Association in 1919. The Association had been in existence since 1874 but was given its current form after the sacrifice of so many men during the Great War. (by kind permission of Perthshire Picture Agency –Graeme Hart). November 2019 THE RED HACKLE 1 OA Scotland can give you the support you need The Officers Association Scotland provides arange of welfare services for former officers, reservists, their widows /widowers and dependants OA Scotland offers: Financial Assistance | Annual Grants | Respite and Breaks | Advice | Mobility Support Other services We also offer arange of employment services aimed at getting those detached from the work place back into work as well as afree recruitment service.Ifyou want to find out more about OA Scotland Welfare Services, please contact us Contact us on 0131 550 1555 email [email protected] or visit www.oascotland.org.uk New Haig House,Logie Green Road, Edinburgh EH7 4HQ Scottish Charity No.SC010665 2 THE RED HACKLE November 2019 Contents The Editorial .............................................................................................................................................. 3 Red hackle Regimental News ............................................................................................................................... 4 The Black Watch Museum and Friends of The Black Watch Castle and Museum .................... 9 Book Reviews ................................................................................................................................... 13 Correspondence ............................................................................................................................... 14 Obituaries ......................................................................................................................................... 16 Articles .............................................................................................................................................. 29 The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland ............................................ 47 51st Highland, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.................................................. 59 The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada .......................................................... 63 Black Watch Battalion Army Cadet Force .................................................................................... 65 Association News ............................................................................................................................. 68 Editorial Ayear has passed since the decision was made to reduce the number of editions of the magazine to one ayear. Some of our older readers will remember the four editions per year (January, April, July and October –in1921 the cost was one shilling per copy, the equivalent of five pence). This was then reduced to three editions ayear in 1965 when The Chronicle of the cost was three shillings and six-pence per copy, the equivalent of seventeen pence. In 1994 the number of editions were again reduced, this time to two editions and each The Black Watch copy cost £3. (Royal Highland Regiment) Since November 2018, Association members have taken part in the 100th anniversary its successor parades marking the end of the Great War; London and Edinburgh both held special The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion events as well as the many towns and villages in the old Black Watch recruiting area. The Royal Regiment of Scotland Peter Jones has recorded the Remembrance events held in Zambia as the war in Africa did not end until two weeks after the Armistice in Europe. The Affiliated Regiments Asuccessful AGMwas held in Balhousie Castle where the Queen Mother Room was and put to good use and avery good lunch was served to the members attending the event. The Black Watch Association This was the first time that we were able to hold the AGMinthe castle and hopefully this will now be aregular fixture. On 15 June 2019, achurch service, which was followed by lunch, commemorated November 2019 the official formation of The Black Watch Association in 1919. This was followed by a No.191 successful and rain free Reunion. As ever, the Branches which are the life blood of the Association are looking forward to their various dinners; Angus will hold their El Alamein Dinner in October and the Perth Branch will look forward to the Croix de Guerre Dinner; the London Branch Published for The Black Watch Dinner follows in November in the build up to Christmas. The Castle and Museum have had asuccessful season. Aspecial exhibition showcased the sporting stars of the Regiment in rugby, football, boxing, golf and shooting as well as Olympic bobsleigh and highlighted the importance of team sport. The museum have continued to improve the cataloguing of the archive which will in the long term improve access to the regimental records and shortly, the Scottish Government sponsored World WarOne exhibition will be set up in Balhousie Castle. By the time this edition goes to print amilitary Book Festival will have taken place. The pace of life for the Black Watch battalion has been very hectic and under –manning exacerbates the issue. Build up training to atest exercise took place and culminated in Exercise WESSEX STORM during September to which the paired Reserve battalion (7 Method Publishing SCOTS) contributed agood number of officers and soldiers. The training validated their 64 Main street, golspie, skills and confirmed their readiness to take over as the UK’s contribution to NATO’s sutherland, scotland KW10 6tg Very High Readiness Joint task Force in January 2020. telephone (01408) 633871 Forthe Reserves (51st Highland, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland) there is aseparate story in that their recruiting has been very buoyant helped by the fact to whom all enquiries regarding that women may now serve in the infantry. advertising should be addressed. One of the effects of moving to an annual magazine is that the obituaries section is larger than in the past and it is very noticeable that the National Service generation are Editorial Matter and Illustrations adeclining population. As editor Iamalways grateful to those who volunteer to record ©Crown Copyright the lives of the officers and soldiers who served in the Regiment and who added to the rich tapestry of regimental life. Design and Typography The opinions expressed in the articles of the magazine arethose of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the ©Method Publishing 2019 policy and views, official or otherwise, of the Regimental Association or the MOD. This publication contains official information. It should be treated with discretion by the recipient. “The RedHackle”ispublished annually.Contributions large and small will always be welcome. They should be sent in electronically as aWorddocument and photographs should be sent as jpegs. All material should be sent to the Editor at [email protected] by 30 September. To subscribe to the magazine please apply for details to the email address above. November 2019 THE RED HACKLE 3 CONGRATULATIONS –HONOURS AND AWARDS THE QUEEN’S NEW YEAR’S HONOURS LIST 2019 To Major NP Colquhoun on the award of the MBE. To Acting Major Trevor Calton on the award of the MBE. To John AJardine (ex WO1 (RSM)) on the award of aBEM for ser- vices to St Andrews University. THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS