2nd (Angus) Volunteer Battalion, Black Watch

Active Service Section - South African War 1900

Rear - Sergeant G. Hewison (Brechin).

Middle (left to right) - Private J. Chalmers (Friockheim), Private J. Robertson (Glamis), Private D. Dorward (Letham - died in hospital at Cape Town), Private D Philip (Glamis), Private G. Bruce (Friockheim), Private D. Oakley (Arbroath), Private Edwards (Forfar), Private A. Johnstone (Forfar), Private G. Forbes (Friockheim), and Private T. Nicol (Montrose).

Front (left to right) - Private A. Sutherland (Montrose), Private J. Lowdon (Kirriemuir), Private A. Davidson (Brechin), Private W. Forbes (Montrose), Private J. Falconer (Montrose), Private W. Scott (Montrose), Private J. Nicoll (Arbroath), Private D. Edward (Glamis), Private P. Spalding (Forfar), and Private W. Lowden (Kirriemuir).

Not Shown - Captain Robert Hoyer Millar VD (Montrose), Private J. L. Davidson (Montrose) and Private A. Parker (Arbroath).



The 5th (Angus & Dundee) Battalion was formed on 1 April 1908 as part of the new Territorial Force. The Battalion was composed of men from the 2nd (Angus) Volunteer Battalion and 3rd (Dundee Highland) Volunteer Battalion, Black Watch, which had been in existence since 1887 when they replaced the old 2nd and 3rd Forfarshire Rifle Volunteer Corps.

The Companies of the Battalion were spread across the county of Forfarshire (now Angus) with Battalion Headquarters being based at Arbroath:

"A" Company - Kirriemuir, Glamis, and Newtyle,
"B" Company - Forfar,
"C" Company - Montrose and Craigo,
"D" Company - Brechin and Edzell,
"E" Company - Arbroath and Friockheim,
"F" Company - Arbroath, Carnoustie, and Monifieth,
"G" Company - Dundee,
"H" Company - Dundee.

At the outbreak of the war, these eight Companies were paired off to make four Companies named No.1, 2, 3, and 4.

In 1914 the Battalion was attached to Black Watch Infantry Brigade, with Headquarters at Dundee, as part of the Scottish Coast Defence Brigade. The Black Watch Infantry Brigade comprised:

4th (City of Dundee) Battalion, Black Watch - at Dundee,
5th (Angus & Dundee) Battalion, Black Watch - at Arbroath,
6th (Perthshire) Battalion, Black Watch - at Perth,
7th (Fife) Battalion, Black Watch - at St. Andrews, with
5th (Renfrewshire) Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) - at Greenock, attached.