William Richmond and 10/Black Watch (1)

Happy Burn’s Night to all our Scottish readers – wherever you are in the world – and all those Sassenachs who, like me, enjoy nothing more than tucking into a haggis with ‘neeps and tatties’, washed down with a ‘wee dram’!

This seems an ideal occasion to celebrate one of the Scottish units of the British Salonika Force – 10th (Service) Battalion, Royal Highlanders (Black Watch). Formed in Perth in 1914 the Battalion joined 26th Division (77th Brigade) and soon found itself far from the Highlands: on Salisbury Plain, in Bristol and Sutton Veny in Wiltshire. In September 1915 it sailed for France but, after just two months, it was off to Salonika where it remained until returning to the Western Front in June 1918.

Some while ago, Iain Richmond kindly shared some photos and other bits and pieces relating to his grandfather, William Richmond, who served with 10/Black Watch. If you read NM47, you will have seen several of these photographs (page 28). He are some more photographs, taken before the Battalion embarked on active service.

Members of 10/Black Watch outside Victoria Rooms, Bristol.

A boxing bout in camp.

L/Cpl Richmond and his sister, who is believed to have served in France as a nurse.

Finally, William’s last will and testament, written less than a week before he landed in France – which must have brought the war rather closer!

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My thanks go to Iain for sharing these with the Society. We will be hearing more about William Richmond and 10/Black Watch.

Slàinte Mhath!