The Black Watch in India 1919 to 1926

[kernowbull]

:)Hello ,I'm trying to research my paternal grandfather David Reid Wilson who served as a regular in the Black Watch from Sept 1919 until Jan 1926 in India,then returned to Scotland.He was an assistant instructor signalling  in Poona I think in the 1st Bn although when attested in 04/03/1919 he was in the 3rd bn(or at least the officer who signed the short service record.Does any one have information on the Watch during this time...
Many thanks
Moira(nee Wilson)

[km1971]

Hi Moira

The 3rd Battalion were Militia/Special Reserve, so this is just the battalion of the officer who enlisted him. It was the 1st Battalion in India at the time. In more detail they were at these places:

= Baluchistan (1919)
= Allahabad (1921)
= Quetta (1923)
= Lahore (1925)

It will say in the heading on the first page but did he enlist for 12 years? If so he would have still been a soldier until 1931. He would have spent the balance in the Army Reserve, serving two weeks a year in exchange for half pay.

Ken

[kernowbull]

Hello Ken
I have checked again and you are right ,it was the 1st Battallion,he was posted to India in 07/09/1919 and served there until 03/1926,he came back to the uk and as you say served 12 years the last 5 years in reserve before he was discharged  when he was 45yo.
 

[kernowbull]

Ken do you know much about what the 1st Batallion did in India ...I know he was a assistant instructor  in signalling and when he completed serving in India he was a corporal.
tks
Moira

[bleckie]

Hi kernowbull

Have a look at this web site

http://www.blackwatch.50megs.com/indianhill.html

Yours Aye
BruceL

[km1971]

Hi Moira

I cannot add to the information on Bruce's link. Some British regiments were involved in fighting and received the India General Service Medal (1909 to 1935) but it was not awarded to the BW/Royal Highlanders so you can assume he just undertook normal garrison duties.

Ken

[doddsie4]

   Do you know if David Wilson was a Corporal as early as 1920?        The MACEDONIA, crammed with soldiers from Bombay, arrived at Southampton on 10 April 1920.      A Corporal D Wilson was on board (M/349640).      It says he was with the R.A.S.C.

    There was also two other Wilsons on board:   Pte Wilson (Wilts) 32491
And Spr Wilson  (R.E) 352590.

                                                                          Brian

[kernowbull]

Hello Brian
from his record ,he was appointed L/CPL on 20/12/1920 and then appointed CPL on 28/12/1922 .....both in the 1st Battalion Black Watch .

any info is gratefully recvd

thanks
Moira

[doddsie4]

      It just says:

Corporal D Wilson M/349640 R.A.S.C[Royal Army Service Corps]
He arrived on the MACEDONIA from Bombay on 10th Apr 1920.
Dispersal area 2a.

        It seems like he was already a Corporal before your ancestor was even made a Lance Corporal, so unfortunately it looks like it isn't him.       I am not sure if the R.A.S.C. would involve the Black Watch.       If it did, it might be him.       The ship had lots of soldiers and some families of soldiers as well.

       The ships lists can be pretty vague.       Problem is that they will often give a surname but only the initial of the first name, and sometimes not even that.       I will have another look at the ship's record to see if the Black Watch is mentioned for any of the other soldiers.