Punjab also WW1

[mirrin]

My ancestor James Melrose  was a Private serving in the (599) 2nd Battalion, The Black Watch(Royal Highlanders.  He was killed  in action on the 9th May 1915 at the Battle of Aubers Ridge and his name is recorded on Le Touret Memorial.

In 1911 (age 22) Military census he is shown as serving at Sialkot in the Punjab.  I would like to find out some of the history of why  the Black Watch were posted there or any additional information to his time in WW1. 

A rootschat member very kindly gave me the following information -in 1914 the 2nd Battalion Black Watch were in Bareilly, India part of the Bareilly Brigrade in Meerut division.  They moved to France 21.9.1914, landed at Marseilles on 12.10.14.  On 26.9.1914 almalgmated after heavy casualities with the 1st and 4th Battalions.

I welcome any information, many thanks.

[km1971]

Sialkot was one of many garrison towns in British India. If you go through the census you will see that wives and children were also there. There was fighting in the North West Frontier area until the 1930s. Some might say it is still going on. His record should say if he was awarded the India General Service medal, but I not not believe the Black Watch were involved.

You probably have this link - http://www.1914-1918.net/blackwatch.htm You need to follow his division using the links top right. This gives the battles they took part in. The National Archives are slowly putting the war diaries online. 'Other Ranks' are rarely mentioned but you can tell from the number of other 'OR' deaths if it was part of a battle. I suspect it was if his name is on a memorial rather than him having a grave.

A new post in the WW1 section may get a response from someone who can tell you about the availability of BW war diaries.

What is (599) ?

Ken

[bleckie]

Hi

You may find something here

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/s/res?_q=Black+Watch+Royal+Highlanders+diary

Yours Aye
BruceL

[mirrin]

I did look through the census a bit and saw that families were also recorded. I found it very interesting and would like to find out more of their lives in India during that time.

 599 seems to be his Service number as far as i can gather.

Thank you both for all the information.

[crimea1854]

There is a J Melrose 2nd Batt Black Watch on the medal roll for the Delhi Durbar. The Regt number on this roll is 509, but my guess is that this is a clerical error.

Martin

[mirrin]

Hi Martin   I have been doing some checking and have just found a mention of  the Delhi Durbar, as yet I do not know anything about it other than  Sergeant Major Alexander Millar  DCM, 2nd Battalion took part in 1911.  I did not know that  James Melrose was awarded a medal, was there any other information?  Would all the soldiers taking part in the action be given a medal.  i am not familar with army history etc but am interested in finding out more.

thanks a lot

Mirrin 

[crimea1854]

Mirrin

The Durbar was not really an action, rather a spectacle. A medal was awarded, but only to those who attended, although there was no additional information on the roll.

It would be interesting to view the photograph album held by the National Army Museum (item 112)
http://www.nam.ac.uk/inventory/objects/results.php?shortDescription=&event=&campaign=&associatedName=&unit=black%20watch&place=&production=&keyword=&page=2

Martin

[mirrin]

Martin

  I have just had a look as suggested.  From what I can gather  I cannot access the photographs on line so I shall email the army museum.

Thanks a lot

Mirrin

[mirrin]

Just to say I have come across lots of postcards on ebay of the Dehli Durbar and it looks quite a spectacle.