Derek Robertson
@redlichtie.bsky.social
Reside in Arbroath
Iinterested in the Great War, history in general, good music and cats.
My main research project that of the experience of those who were awarded the 1914 & 1914/15 star for initially serving abroad with the Black Watch.
Iinterested in the Great War, history in general, good music and cats.
My main research project that of the experience of those who were awarded the 1914 & 1914/15 star for initially serving abroad with the Black Watch.
Like today, some people during the Great War named their children after important people, places or events.
Thomas Smith, a prewar regular of the Black Watch, had a son born mid April 1915 with the middle name Joffre.
Thomas died at Aubers Ridge three weeks later.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #milhist
Thomas Smith, a prewar regular of the Black Watch, had a son born mid April 1915 with the middle name Joffre.
Thomas died at Aubers Ridge three weeks later.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #milhist
November 15, 2025 at 12:22 PM
The Friockheim men of the 5th Bn Black Watch, in 1912.
Most of these men went to France, with the first Scottish Territorial unit to arrive, on 2/11/1914.
Sgt Victor Glass, 3rd from right, died after being shot while on trench digging duty at night, in December 1914.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #milhist
Most of these men went to France, with the first Scottish Territorial unit to arrive, on 2/11/1914.
Sgt Victor Glass, 3rd from right, died after being shot while on trench digging duty at night, in December 1914.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #milhist
November 13, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The brass band of the 1st Bn Black Watch at the White City, Manchester in 1908.
Many are wearing their Boer War medal(s).
This was originally posted to the USA and recently acquired from Turkey!
It’s a high quality image, so men may be identifiable.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #blackwatch #milhist
Many are wearing their Boer War medal(s).
This was originally posted to the USA and recently acquired from Turkey!
It’s a high quality image, so men may be identifiable.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #blackwatch #milhist
November 8, 2025 at 11:57 AM
The brass band of the 1st Bn Black Watch at the White City, Manchester in 1908.
Many are wearing their Boer War medal(s).
This was originally posted to the USA and recently acquired from Turkey!
It’s a high quality image, so men may be identifiable.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #blackwatch #milhist
Many are wearing their Boer War medal(s).
This was originally posted to the USA and recently acquired from Turkey!
It’s a high quality image, so men may be identifiable.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #blackwatch #milhist
I think a good time was had by all at the WFA Scotland Conference, hosted by @wfatayside.bsky.social yesterday in Dundee.
Five excellent speakers.
Nick Hewitt’s talk on the Grand Fleet, post Jutland, was a highlight.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #milhist #WFA #westernfrontassociation
Five excellent speakers.
Nick Hewitt’s talk on the Grand Fleet, post Jutland, was a highlight.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #milhist #WFA #westernfrontassociation
September 21, 2025 at 11:41 AM
I think a good time was had by all at the WFA Scotland Conference, hosted by @wfatayside.bsky.social yesterday in Dundee.
Five excellent speakers.
Nick Hewitt’s talk on the Grand Fleet, post Jutland, was a highlight.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #milhist #WFA #westernfrontassociation
Five excellent speakers.
Nick Hewitt’s talk on the Grand Fleet, post Jutland, was a highlight.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #milhist #WFA #westernfrontassociation
Hon Lt & Quartermaster William Fowler of the 1st Black Watch during the Great War.
He features on several postcards in varying uniforms between the Boer War and Great War.
He’s one of the few to serve continuously from start to end of the Great War in the battalion.
#ww1 #fww #milhist #greatwar
He features on several postcards in varying uniforms between the Boer War and Great War.
He’s one of the few to serve continuously from start to end of the Great War in the battalion.
#ww1 #fww #milhist #greatwar
September 19, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Yet another oddly high price for a military postcard.
This time £88.08. The Scots Greys on horseback during the Liverpool railway strike of 1911.
What was the appeal? Rail strikes or Liverpool history?
Four bidders chased each other up.
#milhist #scotsgreys #Liverpool #railway #strike
This time £88.08. The Scots Greys on horseback during the Liverpool railway strike of 1911.
What was the appeal? Rail strikes or Liverpool history?
Four bidders chased each other up.
#milhist #scotsgreys #Liverpool #railway #strike
September 15, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Yet another oddly high price for a military postcard.
This time £88.08. The Scots Greys on horseback during the Liverpool railway strike of 1911.
What was the appeal? Rail strikes or Liverpool history?
Four bidders chased each other up.
#milhist #scotsgreys #Liverpool #railway #strike
This time £88.08. The Scots Greys on horseback during the Liverpool railway strike of 1911.
What was the appeal? Rail strikes or Liverpool history?
Four bidders chased each other up.
#milhist #scotsgreys #Liverpool #railway #strike
A colourised German postcard of British POW’s during the Great War.
They all appear to be carrying empty metal containers, so possibly off for water, while under guard.
Unposted but dates from 1914/15, as the men all have soft headwear and the kilted soldiers are in spats.
#fww #ww1 #milhist
They all appear to be carrying empty metal containers, so possibly off for water, while under guard.
Unposted but dates from 1914/15, as the men all have soft headwear and the kilted soldiers are in spats.
#fww #ww1 #milhist
September 1, 2025 at 11:10 AM
A kilted regiment arriving in France in 1914.
It may be the Black Watch. (The image quality isn’t good enough for me to make a definite identification of the cap badge).
If anyone can identify the French town or city, that would help narrow down the regiment.
Unposted.
#ww1 #fww #milhist
It may be the Black Watch. (The image quality isn’t good enough for me to make a definite identification of the cap badge).
If anyone can identify the French town or city, that would help narrow down the regiment.
Unposted.
#ww1 #fww #milhist
August 29, 2025 at 12:24 PM
A postcard of officers of the 4th (City of Dundee) Territorial Battalion, The Black Watch.
Taken in 1913 during the annual camp at Barry, near Carnoustie.
Sitting at centre is Lt.Col Harry Walker, who two years later in February 1915, led the Btn to France.
#ww1 #fww #milhist #blackwatch
Taken in 1913 during the annual camp at Barry, near Carnoustie.
Sitting at centre is Lt.Col Harry Walker, who two years later in February 1915, led the Btn to France.
#ww1 #fww #milhist #blackwatch
July 12, 2025 at 4:23 PM
A postcard of officers of the 4th (City of Dundee) Territorial Battalion, The Black Watch.
Taken in 1913 during the annual camp at Barry, near Carnoustie.
Sitting at centre is Lt.Col Harry Walker, who two years later in February 1915, led the Btn to France.
#ww1 #fww #milhist #blackwatch
Taken in 1913 during the annual camp at Barry, near Carnoustie.
Sitting at centre is Lt.Col Harry Walker, who two years later in February 1915, led the Btn to France.
#ww1 #fww #milhist #blackwatch
A lovely summers evening walk out to Arbirlot and it’s waterfall.
The graveyard beside it has two war graves from the Second World War, both young women of the A.T.S.
Catherine Martin, died aged 21 and Margaret Gordon, died aged 19.
#sww #milhist #arbirlot #angus #scotland #waterfall #war #ww2
The graveyard beside it has two war graves from the Second World War, both young women of the A.T.S.
Catherine Martin, died aged 21 and Margaret Gordon, died aged 19.
#sww #milhist #arbirlot #angus #scotland #waterfall #war #ww2
June 26, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Local history is the best history, especially local military history.
Places so familiar to yourself with new information and context.
I knew a reasonable amount about my local former wartime airfields, now I know more!
#airfields #milhist #ww1 #ww2 #royalflyingcorps #royalairforce #angus
Places so familiar to yourself with new information and context.
I knew a reasonable amount about my local former wartime airfields, now I know more!
#airfields #milhist #ww1 #ww2 #royalflyingcorps #royalairforce #angus
June 16, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Local history is the best history, especially local military history.
Places so familiar to yourself with new information and context.
I knew a reasonable amount about my local former wartime airfields, now I know more!
#airfields #milhist #ww1 #ww2 #royalflyingcorps #royalairforce #angus
Places so familiar to yourself with new information and context.
I knew a reasonable amount about my local former wartime airfields, now I know more!
#airfields #milhist #ww1 #ww2 #royalflyingcorps #royalairforce #angus
The photo portraits of four very youthful midshipmen, all killed at sea in 1914, serving in the Royal Navy.
Fronde and Matthews have their ages listed on CWGC as 16, the others have no age listed.
(From the War Illustrated magazine)
#boysoldiers #royalnavy #ww1 #fww #milhist #1914
Fronde and Matthews have their ages listed on CWGC as 16, the others have no age listed.
(From the War Illustrated magazine)
#boysoldiers #royalnavy #ww1 #fww #milhist #1914
May 31, 2025 at 11:06 AM
The photo portraits of four very youthful midshipmen, all killed at sea in 1914, serving in the Royal Navy.
Fronde and Matthews have their ages listed on CWGC as 16, the others have no age listed.
(From the War Illustrated magazine)
#boysoldiers #royalnavy #ww1 #fww #milhist #1914
Fronde and Matthews have their ages listed on CWGC as 16, the others have no age listed.
(From the War Illustrated magazine)
#boysoldiers #royalnavy #ww1 #fww #milhist #1914
A crystal clear postcard of British POW’s in Doberitz in 1914/15.
Unposted, no steel helmets and wearing of the glengarry dates it.
A propaganda image of the men being fed, with a mixture of regiments, some wounded.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #prisoner #pow #milhist #postcard #scottish #highlander #kilt
Unposted, no steel helmets and wearing of the glengarry dates it.
A propaganda image of the men being fed, with a mixture of regiments, some wounded.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #prisoner #pow #milhist #postcard #scottish #highlander #kilt
May 18, 2025 at 10:47 AM
The 9th of May marked the 110th anniversary of the disastrous battle of Abers Ridge.
The darkest day of the war for my home town.
17 young men killed that day alone. The most of any one day of the war.
Postcard shows British prisoners of Aubers.
#ww1 #fww #1915 #greatwar #aubersridge
The darkest day of the war for my home town.
17 young men killed that day alone. The most of any one day of the war.
Postcard shows British prisoners of Aubers.
#ww1 #fww #1915 #greatwar #aubersridge
May 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
The 9th of May marked the 110th anniversary of the disastrous battle of Abers Ridge.
The darkest day of the war for my home town.
17 young men killed that day alone. The most of any one day of the war.
Postcard shows British prisoners of Aubers.
#ww1 #fww #1915 #greatwar #aubersridge
The darkest day of the war for my home town.
17 young men killed that day alone. The most of any one day of the war.
Postcard shows British prisoners of Aubers.
#ww1 #fww #1915 #greatwar #aubersridge
A Second World War aircraft hanger I pass on my commute into work.
Now used as a barn by the farmer.
RNAS Peewit near Easthaven on the coast of Angus, was used to train navy pilots to land and take off from aircraft carriers from 1943-46
#ww2 #sww #hanger #milhist #royalnavy #angus #scotland
Now used as a barn by the farmer.
RNAS Peewit near Easthaven on the coast of Angus, was used to train navy pilots to land and take off from aircraft carriers from 1943-46
#ww2 #sww #hanger #milhist #royalnavy #angus #scotland
March 12, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Australian soldiers being marched away as prisoners of war by Germans during the First World War.
The postcard states this is in the Somme area.
The tin hats suggest a date of 1916 or later.
Postcard from my collection.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #pow #prisoners #postcard #milhist #australians
The postcard states this is in the Somme area.
The tin hats suggest a date of 1916 or later.
Postcard from my collection.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #pow #prisoners #postcard #milhist #australians
March 6, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Australian soldiers being marched away as prisoners of war by Germans during the First World War.
The postcard states this is in the Somme area.
The tin hats suggest a date of 1916 or later.
Postcard from my collection.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #pow #prisoners #postcard #milhist #australians
The postcard states this is in the Somme area.
The tin hats suggest a date of 1916 or later.
Postcard from my collection.
#ww1 #fww #greatwar #pow #prisoners #postcard #milhist #australians
A strong chin on this cavalryman from the Scots Grey’s.
First world war era photograph taken by a Brighton photographer.
Looks a bit like the guy that played Tommy Lascelles in “The Crown” tv series.
#fww #ww1 #greatwar #scotsgreys #dragoons #milhist #photograph
First world war era photograph taken by a Brighton photographer.
Looks a bit like the guy that played Tommy Lascelles in “The Crown” tv series.
#fww #ww1 #greatwar #scotsgreys #dragoons #milhist #photograph
February 19, 2025 at 10:27 PM
A strong chin on this cavalryman from the Scots Grey’s.
First world war era photograph taken by a Brighton photographer.
Looks a bit like the guy that played Tommy Lascelles in “The Crown” tv series.
#fww #ww1 #greatwar #scotsgreys #dragoons #milhist #photograph
First world war era photograph taken by a Brighton photographer.
Looks a bit like the guy that played Tommy Lascelles in “The Crown” tv series.
#fww #ww1 #greatwar #scotsgreys #dragoons #milhist #photograph
Going to a 60th birthday lunch next week for a relative of my wife.
Turns out his father served in the Royal Engineers 1915-18 and was awarded the Military Medal in 1918.
There can’t be too many children of Great War veterans younger than him.
#greatwar #ww1 #fww #milhist #royalengineers
Turns out his father served in the Royal Engineers 1915-18 and was awarded the Military Medal in 1918.
There can’t be too many children of Great War veterans younger than him.
#greatwar #ww1 #fww #milhist #royalengineers
February 10, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Going to a 60th birthday lunch next week for a relative of my wife.
Turns out his father served in the Royal Engineers 1915-18 and was awarded the Military Medal in 1918.
There can’t be too many children of Great War veterans younger than him.
#greatwar #ww1 #fww #milhist #royalengineers
Turns out his father served in the Royal Engineers 1915-18 and was awarded the Military Medal in 1918.
There can’t be too many children of Great War veterans younger than him.
#greatwar #ww1 #fww #milhist #royalengineers
