8 replies to this topic

[Blackblue]

Does anyone know if there is a 1914/1915 Muster Roll or similar listing men in this battalion?

Rgds

Tim D

[dundeesown]

Any particular lad you are looking for Tim ?
Gary.

[Blackblue]

Hi Gary,
May have spoken to you about the lads before.  

My Great Grandmother Agnes Robertson's brother was 2239 Sylvester Robertson. He had brothers named Alexander born 1891, James 1887, Robert 1882 and William 1880. They were from Plans of Thornton, Glamis and I suspect more than just Sylvester may have enlisted in the 1/5th Black Watch. I have some information that Robert emigrated to Canada and died there in 1914, however haven't been able to find any corroboration on Ancestry. 2227 James Robertson from Glamis who was KIA is not my James and not a relative.

My Great Grandfather John Cameron Smart's brother was David Smart born 1887. I have accounted for his other brothers Alexander and George. They were from Templebank, Glamis. S/43010 Alexander Smart from Glamis is not a relative.

Rgds

Tim D

[Blackblue]

Disregard David Smart, he appears to have died aged 14.

Rgds

TIm D

[Cindy at home]

hey Gary
I have come across by fortune a notebook that belongs in my family that has the following note. tell me if you can decipher it.

1/5 BW, 39 Div

I B D

C/o A P O

S 17

BEF (assume this is british exped. force)



trying to work out which of my lot it refers to. One of the thomsons but which? there are mixed reports in my family on my great grandfathers service. i know he wa sin teh MTASC for the 78th Field ambulance and the 1st. But this one is sort of left field. His brothers were in the 4/5th Angus & DUndee. so wondering...was there an Alexander S. Thomson in this division? What are the acronyms for? makes him hard to trace because he was underaged at the time of enlistment so his year of birth is unknown on the records. service 121169



can you assist?

dundeesown, on 21 April 2012 - 10:44 AM, said:

Any particular lad you are looking for Tim ?
Gary.

[Blackblue]

Hi Cindy,
1/5 BW 39 DIV means the 1/5th Battalion of the Black Watch, which were a battalion of the 39th Division. The 1/5th Black Watch were in the Division from February 1916, amalgamating with the 1/4th in March 1916 to form the 4th/5th Battalion and then split to regain its own identity in May 1918.

IBD generally means Infantry Base Depot where soldiers passed through on their way to their units (in this case I assume the 39th Division's).

C/- APO I expect will mean Army Post Office.

S17 is probably the relevant PO or area code.

Rgds

Tim

[Blackblue]

Cindy,
The notebook is likely either Francis' or John's. Both were probably members of the 1/5th.

By the way...Alexander's number was M2/121169...not 121169. RAMC most likely stands for Royal Army Medical Corps.

Do you know John's number or have any further information on him?

Rgds

Tim D

[dundeesown]

Sorry Tim but the 4/5th amalgamated with the 9th ( Service ) Battalion in May 1918,it did not split.
Gary

[Blackblue]

Oops my bad..should have known that from Sylvester!

Any luck with those other Robertson's Gary? James was still around after the war and was groomsman at a number of the family weddings.

Rgds

Tim