Black Watch Brigade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Watch Brigade |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 1 April 1908–24 April 1915 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Peacetime HQ | Dundee |
| Service | World War I |
The Black Watch Brigade was a special group of soldiers in the British Army. It was formed in 1908. This brigade was part of the Territorial Force. The Territorial Force was a group of part-time soldiers.
The Black Watch Brigade was made up of several battalions. These battalions came from the famous Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) regiment. Its main job was to help protect the coast of Scotland. The brigade was not part of a larger division. It was later split up in 1915 during World War I. Its soldiers went to fight in different units.
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The Black Watch Brigade: A Look Back
The Territorial Force (TF) was created on April 1, 1908. This happened after a new law was passed. The TF brought together different volunteer soldier groups. When it started, the TF had many infantry divisions. It also had mounted brigades.
But three infantry brigades were different. They were not part of any division. The Black Watch Brigade was one of these special brigades. The other two were the Lothian Brigade and the South Wales Brigade.
Where They Were Based
The main office for the Black Watch Brigade was in Dundee. As its name suggests, the brigade was mostly made up of units from the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) regiment.
It included four battalions:
- 4th (City of Dundee) Battalion, based in Dundee
- 5th (Angus and Dundee) Battalion, based in Arbroath
- 6th (Perthshire) Battalion, based in Perth
- 7th (Fife) Battalion, based in St Andrews
Also, the 5th (Renfrewshire) Battalion of Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) was attached. This battalion was based in Greenock. The brigade's main role was to defend the Scottish coast.
The Black Watch Brigade in World War I
When World War I started on August 4, 1914, things changed. The Territorial Force was originally for home defense. Its members were not forced to fight outside the country. However, many soldiers volunteered to serve overseas.
Because of this, TF units were split into two groups:
- 1st Line units: These soldiers were ready to serve overseas.
- 2nd Line units: These soldiers stayed home for defense. They were for those who could not or did not want to serve overseas.
Even though 2nd Line units were for home defense, many of them also went abroad later. A new group, the 2/1st Black Watch Brigade, was formed in January 1915. This was a duplicate of the original brigade.
Their Wartime Stations
When the war began, the brigade's battalions moved to their planned wartime locations:
- The 1/4th Black Watch went to Buddon, near Carnoustie.
- The 1/5th Black Watch went to Broughty Ferry. They helped defend the River Tay.
- The 1/6th Black Watch went to North Queensferry. They helped defend the River Forth.
- The 1/7th Black Watch went to Kinghorn. They also helped defend the Forth.
- The 1/5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders also helped with Scottish Coast Defences.
The Brigade Splits Up
The Black Watch Brigade did not stay together for long. Its battalions were soon sent to other units.
- In October 1914, the 1/5th Black Watch left for the Western Front in France. They joined the 24th Brigade on November 13.
- In February 1915, the 1/4th Black Watch also went to France. They joined the 21st (Bareilly) Brigade on March 4.
- On April 16, 1915, the 1/6th and 1/7th Black Watch left. They joined the 153rd (2nd Highland) Brigade in Bedford.
- Finally, on April 24, 1915, the 1/5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders joined the 157th (Highland Light Infantry) Brigade in Dunfermline.
After all its battalions moved to other units, the Black Watch Brigade stopped existing.
See also
- 2/1st Black Watch Brigade for the duplicate formation
- British infantry brigades of the First World War
