4th (City of Dundee) Battalion, The Black Watch

The 4th (City of Dundee) Battalion The Black Watch was a Territorial Force later Territorial Army infantry battalion of the British Army. The battalion, as the name suggests, was not only based but also recruited mostly from the City of Dundee. The battalion was later amalgamated, but reformed for service in World War II. After the end of the war, the battalion was again amalgamated.

Early History
The 4th battalion trace their history back to the 1st (City of Dundee) Forfarshire Rifle Volunteer Corps raised in 1859. By 1880, following the Cardwell Reforms, the corps were renamed as the 1st (Dundee) Forfarshire Rifle Volunteer Corps. By 1881, as a result of the Childers Reforms, the corps were attached to the Black Watch and retitled in 1887 as the 1st (Dundee) Volunteer Battalion The Black Watch and in 1889 the 1st (City of Dundee) Volunteer Battalion. In 1900, two new companies were formed with one being cyclists.

In 1908, the Territorial Force was formed brining the volunteers into order and the battalion was renamed as the 4th Battalion The Black Watch. By 1909, the battalion gained the (City of Dundee) title back. Just before mobilisation for World War I, the battalion was attached to The Black Watch Infantry Brigade and based at Dundee Drill Hall. Upon mobilisation for World War I, the battalion was duplicated to form the 2/4th Battalion. Also, in 1915 the 4th (City of Dundee) Reserve Battalion was formed.

1/4th Battalion
During the war, the 1/4th Battalion saw only some service. First, upon mobilisation the battalion was still attached to The Black Watch Infantry Brigade and unallocated to a division. Under this formation, the battalion took part in many skirmishes including the Battle of Neuve Chapelle and the Battle of Festubert.

By Late February 1915, the battalion joined the Bareilly Brigade part of the Meerut Division in Le Havre. By Later September is amalgamated with the 2nd battalion but was reformed just a week later. The brigade then swapped between separate brigades; By the time of the end of the war, the battalion was based in Huissignies in south Belgium.
 * November 1915 139th (Sherwood Foresters) Brigade in 46th (North Midland) Division
 * November 1915 44th Brigade in 15th (Scottish) Division
 * January 1916 154th (3rd Highland) Brigade in 51st (Highland) Division
 * February 1916 118th Brigade in 39th Division
 * March 1916 amalgamated with 5th Battalion to form 4/5th Battalion
 * 1916 - Battle of Ancre (1st), Battle of Thiepval Ridge, Battle of Ancre Heights (2nd), and Battle of Ancre (3rd)
 * 1917 - Third Battle of Ypres
 * separated and reformed May 1918 in 46th Brigade in 15th (Scottish) Division
 * June 1918 44th Brigade in 15th (Scottish) Division

2/4th Battalion
Formed in Dundee in September 1914 as a second line battalion. Moved from Broughty Ferry on Tay Defences. In January 1915 moved to Hawick and attached to the 2nd Seaforth and Cameron Highlanders Brigade in the 2nd Highland Division. In mid-1915, the battalion moved to Bridge of Eam and in October moved to Auchterarder. In November absorbed the 2/5th Battalion and moved to Norwich in May 1916. Soon after moved to Kelling Heath and disbanded in December 1917.

3/4th Battalion
Formed in March 1915 at Dundee Drill Hall. Moved to Bridge of Earn and later 1915 in Ripon. By 1916 renamed to 4th Reserve Battalion and absorbed all other battalions in September 1916. Finally moved to Edinburgh in May 1918.

Postwar
Following the end of the war, the battalion was demobilised and reconstituted in the new Territorial Army in 1920 based in Dundee. The next year, due to cuts in the army the Geddes Axe reduced many units. The battalion as a result was amalgamated with the 5th (Angus and Dundee) Battalion to form the new 4th/5th (Dundee and Angus) Battalion The Black Watch.

World War II
Just before the start of World War II around the time of the Munich Crisis, the Territorial Army was expanded. As a result of this, the 4th/5th (Dundee and Angus) Battalion was separated to form independent 4th and 5th Battalions. Upon formation, the 4th battalion was based in Dundee. During the war the battalion saw limited service, but did serve.

In January 1940 the battalion moved to France under the 51st (Highland) Division and by may was on the left flank of the 1st battalion when the Germans assaulted the Maginot Line. After this false attack, the battalion moved to the area around the mouth of the River Somme and Dieppe by the village of Valines. A few days later it was part of Ark Force. A few days later, the battalion was ordered the destroy their equipment and move as fast as they could for Cherbourg. By the time they had moved there, the Armistice was Signed and the battalion was evacuated to Southampton. By July, the battalion moved to Gibraltar where it remained until January 1943 when it moved back to the United Kingdom. After moved back, the battalion remained until the end of the war, seeing no more service.

After demobilising, the battalion was disbanded and concurrently reformed in the Territorial Army where it was amalgamated the next year with the 5th battalion, thus forming the 4th/5th (Dundee and Angus) Battalion again. This battalion was later disbanded in 1967 with A and B Companies both being based in the old drill hall where the former battalion was stationed.