ronmarsden Posted 6 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 6 July , 2008 Territorials but no Battalion identity,could be just pre-war. Ron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 7 July , 2008 Share Posted 7 July , 2008 Ron, I don't think it is the 1st line of the 4th or the 5th due to the leather equipment (1914 Pattern Equipment). Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmarsden Posted 7 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 7 July , 2008 This one has written on the reverse Pte W Don 3463 C Coy 5th BW 39 JBD a PO Sec 17 BEF France. Ron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmarsden Posted 8 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 8 July , 2008 On the steps of Arras Cathederal 1918,group of snipers with telescopic sights. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 8 July , 2008 Share Posted 8 July , 2008 Ron, William Don will be at the 39 Division Infantry Base Depot. He looks like he has come from the 3rd line (leather equipment). He will be going to the 4/5th Black Watch. Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted 8 July , 2008 Share Posted 8 July , 2008 Any one care to explain why the men in posts 19 <{POST_SNAPBACK}> & 25 <{POST_SNAPBACK}> are wearing "English" style jackets, well not scotts style anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 9 July , 2008 Share Posted 9 July , 2008 Ron, The snipers at Arras is a great picture! It looks like some of them have insignia on the right upper arm (e.g. above the Sergeant's stripes). Would it be possible to do a close up of this? Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmarsden Posted 9 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 9 July , 2008 Tom Unfortunatly I do not have the original of this postcard,it sold on ebay for 75 pounds earlier this year. If I try to zoom in on my copy it becomes to pixilated. I think it might be thistle sign below. Ron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 11 July , 2008 Share Posted 11 July , 2008 Ron, I think you are right, it is quite likely that the chaps in the photo are from the 9th Black Watch. Shame that the photo has gone, but at least you got a decent price for it. Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmarsden Posted 11 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 11 July , 2008 Belfast 1916,note the regimental badge drawn out on the ground. Ron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.A.Savery Posted 11 July , 2008 Share Posted 11 July , 2008 Ron, I’ve been following this thread with great interest Thanks for showing these fascinating photos. Tom, I pricked my ears up when you mentioned the 9th Black Watch - Which photo were you referring to actually? I keep expecting to see my grandfather here somewhere. Cheers, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmarsden Posted 11 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 11 July , 2008 Hi Tom, The 9th Black Watch was the snipers photo. Ron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.A.Savery Posted 12 July , 2008 Share Posted 12 July , 2008 Hi Ron, Thanks for that. Referring to post 79 then, how did you deduce that they are 9th Black Watch? Also, is this a platoon section and if so, would that have been the normal amount of snipers for a section at that time? I’m assuming that there were just three in this group. Cheers, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmarsden Posted 12 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 12 July , 2008 Hi Tony, I can only assume from the photo three men show just the edge of an armbadge,the thistle badge was worn by the 9th RH. Wether the other men have badges is not clear,are the rear men snipers also? with only the photo to go on its just your best guess. Primarily I am a badge collector of the Black Watch & 42nd Foot these photos I am posting come from my collection of postcards. With regard to platoon strenghts and composition I will have to leave that to the other experts on this forum. To give you a flavour of my collection have posted my BW officers badges 1881-2000. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.A.Savery Posted 12 July , 2008 Share Posted 12 July , 2008 Thanks anyway Ron. That's certainly an impressive collection, and it sends shivers up my spine thinking about some of the stories that could be behind them - If only they could talk! Cheers, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 13 July , 2008 Share Posted 13 July , 2008 Tony, Good to see you back, sorry I could not answer earlier but I had an important meeting to attend in Dundee (see Tay Valley on Forum Meetings). Anyway, I'm back now. To answer your earlier question. As you are probably aware all of the Scottish Divisions on the Western Front, at this period, were involved in the Battle of Arras (Apr-May 1917). The divisions and their Black Watch battalions are as follows: 9th (Scottish) Division - 8th Bn The Black Watch [battle Insignia = An arc at the top of the sleeve] 15th (Scottish) Division - 9th Bn The Black Watch [battle Insignia = A large head of a thistle, no leaves] 51st (Highland) Division - 6th Bn The Black Watch [battle Insignia = 1 dark blue line] - 7th Bn The Black Watch [battle Insignia = 2 dark blue lines] I would say that it looks like the thistle that Ron has posted, if you have a look at the right arm of the man who is in the second row (from the front) and is second in (from the left). Hope this helps Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmarsden Posted 13 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 13 July , 2008 This one, unknown funeral and unknown date but I suspect it is post war. Ron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 13 July , 2008 Share Posted 13 July , 2008 Ron, I reckon post-war too. Incidentally, an impressive badge collection. There must be a fair few bob invested in it. Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.A.Savery Posted 13 July , 2008 Share Posted 13 July , 2008 Tom, Thanks for answering my questions – that’s information that I had difficulty finding. It helps me to know what to look for anyway. Cheers, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Watch Posted 13 July , 2008 Share Posted 13 July , 2008 Fantastic collection indeed. Great to see. Ive been asking around the local Carnoustie guys to see if they could identify the picture you posted which was taken by the photographer from Dundee Street, Ive had a couple of guesses so far, but I'll keep trying to get a definite answer. Neil Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmarsden Posted 14 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 14 July , 2008 Thanks for the comments regarding the badges,have been collecting BW for 30 years with 700 items to date. Here is another press photo I can just make out the RH shoulder title on the man in the foreground. Ron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.A.Savery Posted 15 July , 2008 Share Posted 15 July , 2008 Ron This one is magnificent and shows what these lads had to do so much of the time. I know that my grandfather spent at least as much time with a shovel in his hand as a rifle. I’ve never actually seen a trench, so would I be right in saying that they are building a parapet? And there seem to be telegraph poles over the top, which surely would not have been placed in a battlefield, so were they possibly training on home soil? I can’t make out the shoulder title, and I’d love to know who they are – any chance of blowing it up? Tom, Looking forward to your comments on this one. Cheers, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 16 July , 2008 Share Posted 16 July , 2008 Ron, I think your last photo was taken well back as there are no weapons to hand and some Jocks are right on the sky-line. Looks like an injured man is being escorted down the steps, also can the sign be made out?. Great collection! Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmarsden Posted 16 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 16 July , 2008 They seem to be reinforcing the embankment of what I think is a railway line. Its not posible to blow up the sign sorry. Here is a smart group taken I think about 1912 on the back of the card is written T4 RH Woodland Camp Kilmarnock. Ron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 17 July , 2008 Share Posted 17 July , 2008 Ron, Reference post 96, the picture is the 12th (Labour) Bn, The Black Watch, near Fricourt. Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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