Calling all Black Watch (RHR) experts - Reinforcements data July-Sept 1944
 

Hello all,

Doing some BW research here.

Going through the Black Watch War Diary, there are mentions of reinforcements July-Sept 1944.

But there is very little in the way of dates or # amounts of new pers.

A large shipment did occur post-25 July/44. The War Diary in LAC is very skimpy compared to some regiments who saved everything, and I believe a fire did occur at one stage.

I can guess-timate from the strength returns and recorded losses, but I would prefer not to do this. I have a rough idea of a total July-September, but this is not good enough for me.

Does anyone out there have data as to numbers or monthly totals of new pers arriving at the regiment for July, August, Sept 1944?

This is for a project on reinforcements.




Arthur Gullachsen
London, ON

There is a slim but good book by Prof Terry Copp on 5 Inf Bde that speaks to your question (and others). < amazon.ca/The-Brigade-Terry-Copp/dp/0811734226 >

Don't forget the regiments were not 100% deployed. The fighting companies were kept topped up with men from the echelons. The army left a lot of administration and logistics to the regiments. Consequently the troops forward knew who was behind them too.

A second consideration has to be the ratio of LOB or Left Out of Battle. Not every single rifleman, section commander or staff officer went in to battle. A fairly significant percentage were kept out of combat intentionally. These were needed as replacements and as a means of cycling tired or slightly over-stressed troops out and back into the companies.

Hello Terry,

Thank you for your response-

What I am after is rfts joing the regiment (new or returning members) --TOS to the regiment. From the 2 CBRG reinforcement battalions and processed in the Bn orderly room.

(Not LOB, echelon pers or attached to Brigade HQ pers)

The missing link here is the Regimental Part I orders for July. They are not in the LAC box.

In these they have the TOS and SOS lists, if they survived the war and LAC archivists.

As I have posted in WW2 Talk, I have a small $$ research budget for this. $$$ (reasonable amount) if anyone has the data.

Arthur in London, ON

PS-I am going to get "The Brigade" this afternoon. Fingers crossed.

Arthur

After reading the book, you'll have more questions. Why not ask Dr Copp himself?

Hello,

A very good suggestion. I will fire him an email.

Arthur