Royal Highlander/Black Watch - John Will

[gordonrgw]

just a punt really,

looking for battalion of my grandfather, John Will ,born 1894, RH service number : 2838 (incorrectly transcribed on ancestry as 2538)

as he was from arbroath, i suspect he would have been in 1/5th (Angus and Dundee) Battalion, his MIC indicates that entry into france 1/7/1915.

the only other thing we know is that my father recalls him saying that his commanding officer was a Guthrie (of Guthrie..).

have checked MICs for guthries and for BW/RH COs with that name, but can't narrow it down.

anyone any ideas?

best wishes.

gordon

[gordonrgw]

Interestingly from Wikipedia;

"Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Guthrie of Guthrie was the last chief of Clan Guthrie to live at Guthrie Castle. Born in 1886 he became a distinguished soldier, commanding the 4th Battalion the Black Watch and was awarded the Military Cross."

However, his MIC shows him as being in Indian Army/Cavalry, no mention of Highlanders/Black Watch.

And I can't find any mention of him in connection with the Black Watch....

Any military experts hazard a guess as to whether i'm barking up the right tree or just barking?

thanks

gordon

[DennyDescendant]

Gordon,

If you still haven't found the info you're after regarding the battalion your grandad was in, I thoroughly recommend the great war website where you will find a wealth of knowledge.
There'a Black Watch specialists there who can tell all sorts of thing by a soldiers number too.

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/

Cheers,
Derek.

[mmm45]

You need to post on Great War Forum for Tom A  McCluskey he has an excellent knowledge of the TF Batts from Black Watch in Angus.

Im sure youd get some help.

There is a book on Lads from Arbroath who served in Great War but i think it maybe a photographic book of casualties only with obituaries.

the officer may be WA Guthrie major within 1/7th BW was awarded MID he lived in Edinburgh according to his MIC.He may have been his Company Commander.
The Medal Rolls at Kew may give a clue...hopefully Tom McCluskey can shed light.

Ady