268836 Private
4/5th Battalion, (Angus and Dundee) Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 118th Infantry Brigade, 39th Division
Age: 30
Date of Death: 3.5.18
Buried: Voormezeele Enclosure No.1 & No.2 I.M.30
Family history: He was the husband of Katherine (they had only been married a year) lived at 14A Eastgate, Louth, Lincolnshire. His mother resided at 9 Brodie Street, Bainsford. Before joining the army in 1917 he was a patternmaker at the Castlelaurie Foundry. He had two brothers also service private James Dick, Gordon Highlanders and Corporal Thomas Dick. He was also the treasurer of East Stirlingshire Football Club. In the mid-1970's, this was the first football club to be managed by Sir Alex Ferguson in his illustrious managerial career.
4/5th (Angus & Dundee) Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
The Battalion is the descendent of the pre-Territorial 1st and 2nd Volunteer Battalions of the Black Watch. In 1859 the 1st Forfarshire (Dundee) Rifles were formed and in 1881 joined to the Black Watch and given the title of 1st (City of Dundee) volunteer Battalion The Black Watch. The 2nd (Angus) Volunteer Battalion was formed from the independent Volunteer companies raised in Forfarshire in 1859 and organised a year later into two administrative battalions. In 1874 these two battalions were amalgamated, and in 1881 this Battalion became the 2nd Volunteer battalion The Black Watch. In 1908 it formed the 4th (Territorial) Battalion The Black Watch.
The action leading to his death
During the German Spring offensive of 1918, the 39th Division effectively ceased to exist owing to the heavy casualties incurred. On the 30 March the 4/5th Battalion numbered only one officer and 30 other ranks and the divisional strength was reduced to 700 men in all ranks. On 10 April the battalion was at Arques were a composite brigade was formed out of what remained of the battalions that remained of the 39th Division. Number 4 battalion consisted of men belonging to the four units of the 188th Brigade and included 4/5th The Black Watch. On the same day that this composite brigade was formed it entrained at St Omer and the following morning arrived at Voormezeele and proceeded to Reninghelst-Ouderdom area and here it was attached to the 21st Division. The Battalion War Diary is short on information concerning the fighting in which the Battalion took part in during this time and simply mentions being in and out of the line.
Medals Awarded
British Medal, Victory Medal
