The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

james · Joined: 16 Nov 2010 Posts: 4 Location: manitoba canada

My Father served with the Black Watch in ww1 and he never talked about his service . How would I find out where he saw action . I suppose it was to fresh in his mind to tell my brothers and I ,but Ithink his Grand sons and Great Grand children should know. Ihave some information that I can supply please give some direction , Thank You James
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James Lindsay Munro

David McNay · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 6:27 am Post subject:

Hi James,

Perhaps the best suggestion I can give is to check out a pdf "factsheet" I compiled for the Edinburgh's War website. It gives a number of sources that you can use to try and find out more about a persons First World War service:

http://www.edinburghs-war.ed.ac.uk/resources/documents/PDF_researching_ancestor.pdf

Regards,

David

Roxy · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 5:25 pm Post subject:

James,

Notwithstanding the quality of the individuals on this forum, you could try the Great War Forum - http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?act=idx

You could also try the Black Watch Forum - http://www.blackwatchforums.co.uk/ubbthreads.php/forum_summary.html

Good luck,

Roxy
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Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

Roxy · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 5:31 pm Post subject:

You may be able to access his military records - although many of those were destroyed during the Blitz. His Medal Index Card and/or his records may be available on Ancestry or at the National Archives.

If you post his name and birthdate - PM me if you wish - I'm happy to have a look for you.

Roxy
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Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

Roxy · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 5:45 pm Post subject:

I might have made 2 + 2 = 76; however, if your father was James Lindsay Munro, I may have found something:

WW1 Medal Index Card
Name - James L Munro
Corps - Royal Highlanders
Rank - Private
Regt No - S/25043

There is not much else, but it does indicate that he was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Just noticed that he also got the Silver War Badge.

Roxy
_________________
Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

Roxy · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 5:54 pm Post subject:

David,

Excellent 'factsheet', by the way!

Rxoy
_________________
Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

Janet · Joined: 17 Jan 2009 Posts: 38 Location: Perth

Hi James,

My father also served with the Black Watch in WW1. He spoke about it often and in 1973 we managed to take him to France to visit the cemeteries where some of his friends are buried.

There'a super set of books 'A History of the Black Watch [Royal Highlanders] in the Great War 1914-1918'. It comes in three volumes and gives quite good detail of where the various battalions served throughout the war.

I see that you live in Canada and so don't know how possible it is for you to locate a set. In your local library is it possible to order books through inter-library loans? Perhaps a library somewhere in Canada might have a set? Someone else on the forum may be able to give you better advice on this.

Good luck with your research.

Janet

james · Joined: 16 Nov 2010 Posts: 4 Location: manitoba canada