Editing Black Watch (section)

=== First World War ===
{{see also|List of battalions of the Black Watch#First World War}}

==== Regular Army ====
The 1st Battalion landed at [[Le Havre]] as part of the [[1st Armoured Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|1st Brigade]] in the [[History of the British 1st Division during the World Wars|1st Division]] in August 1914 for service on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]].<ref name=trail>{{cite web|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/blackwatch.htm|title=The Black Watch|publisher=The Long, Long Trail|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=26 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426233957/http://www.1914-1918.net/blackwatch.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It saw action during the [[Great Retreat|Retreat from Mons]] in August 1914, the [[First Battle of the Marne]] in September 1914 and the [[First Battle of the Aisne]] later in September 1914; it also took part in the advance to the [[Hindenburg Line]] in September 1918.<ref name=bwww1>{{cite web|url=http://theblackwatch.co.uk/history-and-research/black-watch-history/first-world-war/|title=First World War|work=TheBlackWatch.co.uk|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702020855/http://theblackwatch.co.uk/history-and-research/black-watch-history/first-world-war|archive-date=2 July 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The 2nd Battalion landed at [[Marseille]] as part of the Bareilly Brigade in the [[7th (Meerut) Division]] in October 1914 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> It took part in the [[Winter operations 1914–1915|defence of Givenchy]] in December 1915<ref name=bwww1/> and then moved to [[Mesopotamia]] later that month and saw action during the [[siege of Kut]] in Spring 1916, the [[Fall of Baghdad (1917)|fall of Baghdad]] in March 1917 and the [[Battle of Istabulat]] in April 1917.<ref name=bwww1/> It transferred to [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] in January 1918 and took part in the [[Battle of Megiddo (1918)|Battle of Megiddo]] in September 1918.<ref name=bwww1/>

==== Territorial Force ====
The 1/4th (City of Dundee) Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the Bareilly Brigade in the 7th (Meerut) Division March 1915 for service on the Western Front and, following heavy losses at the [[Battle of Neuve Chapelle]] in March 1915 and the [[Battle of Festubert]] in May 1915,<ref name=bwww1/> amalgamated with 2nd Battalion in September 1915.<ref name=trail/> The 1/5th (Angus and Dundee) Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the [[24th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|24th Brigade]] in the [[8th Division (United Kingdom) in the First World War|8th Division]] for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> It also saw action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915 and the Battle of Festubert in May 1915.<ref name=bwww1/> The 1/6th (Perthshire) Battalion and the 1/7th (Fife) Battalion landed at [[Boulogne-sur-Mer]] as part of the [[153rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|153rd Brigade]] in the [[51st (Highland) Division]] in May 1915 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> They saw action at the [[Battle of the Ancre Heights]] in October 1916.<ref name=bwww1/>

====New Army====
=====8th (Service) Battalion=====
The 8th (Service) Battalion was raised in Perth by [[John Forbes-Sempill, 18th Lord Sempill|Lord Sempill of Fintray]] who had previously served with the Black Watch in the [[Mahdist War|Sudan]]. Recruiting commenced on 21 August 1914 and the ranks were filled by 3 September 1914. The 8th was the senior battalion in the [[26th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|26th Infantry Brigade]], which in turn was the leading brigade of the [[9th (Scottish) Division]], the first division of [[Kitchener's Army|Lord Kitchener's New Army]]. As such, the 8th (Service) Battalion can claim to be the vanguard of the "First Hundred Thousand" men in Kitchener's K1 Army. The battalion officially formed at Albuera Barracks in August 1914 before moving to [[Aldershot Garrison|Maida Barracks]] in September 1914. A core cadre of experienced regular and ex-regular officers, warrant officers and non-commissioned officers formed the backbone of the new unit. The enlisted men came mainly from the cities, farms and [[Fife Coalfield|collieries]] of [[Fife]] and [[Angus, Scotland|Forfarshire]]. 16 January 1915 saw the [[26th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|26th Infantry Brigade]] move from Aldershot to Hampshire with the 8th Battalion billeted at Alton. On 22 January 1915 [[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener|Lord Kitchener]] inspected the battalion, along with the rest of the [[9th (Scottish) Division]] during downpour of rain on Laffan's Plain (now [[Farnborough Airport]]). The battalion marched to [[Bordon Camp|Oxney Farm Camp]] near Bordon on 21 March 1915 to undertake a final musketry course where the 8th Battalion Machine Gun Section obtained the highest score in the brigade. In early May 1915, the battalion received the long-awaited orders to proceed overseas to France.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914–1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=3–5 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

The machine-gun section and battalion transport led the way, sailing to [[Le Havre]] via Southampton on 9 May with the bulk of the battalion following on 10 May sailing to [[Boulogne]] via [[Folkestone]]. The whole battalion then travelled on by train to [[Arques, Pas-de-Calais|Arques]] near [[Saint-Omer]] arriving in the early hours of 11 May, from here they heard the distant rumble of the guns at [[Second Battle of Ypres|Ypres]] for the first time. The battalion entered the trenches for the first time on 4 July 1915, relieving the 5th (Service) Battalion of the [[Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders]] in the front line East of [[Festubert]], they were relieved in turn on 7 July 1915 by 10th (Service) Battalion of the [[Highland Light Infantry]]. In this short four day introduction to trench warfare, the battalion lost three men killed and seven wounded.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=5–7 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

On 25 September 1915, the battalion took a leading role in the opening actions of the [[Battle of Loos]]. During three hard days of fighting at Loos, the battalion lost 19 officers and 492 other ranks either killed or wounded. This included the Commanding Officer Lt Col [[John Forbes-Sempill, 18th Lord Sempill|Lord Sempill]], the Second in Command Major J. G. Collins, three of the four Company Commanders and the [[Regimental sergeant major|Regimental Sergeant Major]] W. H. Black. Another notable casualty at Loos was Captain The Hon. [[Fergus Bowes-Lyon]], the elder brother of [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon]] who would later marry the future King [[George VI]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=9–15 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

The 8th (Service) Battalion spent the rest of the war in the trenches of the Western Front and took part in a number of key battles.

*1916 – [[Battle of Bazentin Ridge]]
*1917 – [[Battle of Arras (1917)|First battle of the Scarpe]], [[Battle of Arras (1917)|Third Battle of the Scarpe]], [[Battle of Passchendale|First Battle of Passchendale]]
*1918 – [[Operation Michael|First Battle of Bapaume]], [[Battle of the Lys (1918)|Battle of Messines]], [[Battle of the Lys (1918)|First Battle of Kemmel Ridge]], [[Battle of the Lys (1918)|Second Battle of Kemmel Ridge]], [[Fifth Battle of Ypres]], [[Battle of Courtrai (1918)|Battle of Courtrai]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914–1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=103 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

Following the armistice, demobilization began on 27 December 1918 and men were released in batches during the following months. In mid-August 1919 the remnants of the battalion returned to England, sailing from Calais to Folkestone before marching to Shorncliffe where trains were boarded to [[Brocton, Staffordshire|Brocton Camp]]. Demobilization continued and on 15 November 1919, the battalion was reduced to Cadre strength. Following the dispersal of the remaining officers and other ranks, the Commanding Officer, Adjutant and Quartermaster returned to the [[Queen's Barracks|Black Watch Depot]] in Perth where the battalion was officially disbanded in mid-December 1919.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=70–73 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> During active service between 1915 and 1918 the 8th (Service) Battalion lost a total of 169 officers (69 killed/93 wounded/8 missing) and 3,597 other ranks (1,123 killed/1,673 wounded/510 missing).<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=84 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> The bravery of the 8th is reflected in the number of gallantry decorations awarded, this includes 7 [[Distinguished Service Order]]s, 32 [[Military Cross]]es, 38 [[Distinguished Conduct Medal]]s, 6 [[Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)|Meritorious Service Medals]] and 137 [[Military Medal]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914–1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=99–101 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

=====9th (Service) Battalion=====
The 9th (Service) Battalion was raised from an initial draft of 200 men sent from [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]] to join the 8th (Service) Battalion at [[Aldershot Garrison|Aldershot]] on 6 September 1914. As the 8th Battalion was already fully manned, permission was granted to form a second unit from the drafts reaching the 8th Battalion between 6 September and 9 September, forming part of Kitchener's K2 Army. This became the 9th (Service) Battalion under the command of Major T.O. Lloyd, an ex-regular Black Watch officer who had retired from 1st Battalion in 1909.<ref name=wau>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=107–113 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

The new battalion lacked experienced officers and [[John Forbes-Sempill, 18th Lord Sempill|Lord Sempill]], the Commanding Officer of 8th Battalion, consented to transfer one of his three regular officers to 9th Battalion to act as Adjutant. At company level, almost all of the officers were newly commissioned Second Lieutenants with no prior military experience. The same was true of the non-commissioned officers, with the exception of the RSM, two former Colour Sergeants and a few old and bold ex soldiers, all NCO's were new to the army and promoted to acting rank on the recommendation of their company commander.<ref name=wau/>

September to November was spent training at Albuhera Barracks in Aldershot, where on 26 September the battalion paraded for the first time as a complete unit in front of the King, Queen and Lord Kitchener as part of the [[44th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|44th Brigade]] in the [[15th (Scottish) Infantry Division|15th (Scottish) Division]]. On this first formal parade, all of the division wore civilian clothes as uniforms had yet to be issued; it was not until the middle of October that the men were all dressed alike. and kilts did not arrive until 20 January 1915. by which time the battalion had taken up billets in the village of [[Liss, Hampshire|Liss]] in Hampshire. On 23 February 1915, the battalion moved to [[Chiseldon Camp]] in Wiltshire and commenced musketry training on 1 March; at this point only 25 service rifles were available. 12 May 1915 saw the battalion move with the rest of the [[44th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|44th Brigade]] to Parkhouse Camp in the [[Salisbury Plain Training Area]] to conduct brigade manoeuvres. The King inspected the 15th Division a second time on 21 June 1915 and was greatly impressed at the progress made in such a short space of time.<ref name=wau/>

On 4 July 1915, the battalion received embarkation orders for France. The machine gun and transport sections led the way and departed Parkhouse Camp on 7 July sailing on the {{SS|Mount Temple}} that night from [[Southampton]] to Le Havre. The bulk of the battalion left Parkhouse early on 8 July, sailing on the SS ''Invicta'' from [[Folkestone]] and arriving in [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]] that same evening.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=114 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> The 9th (Service) Battalion first entered the trenches on 2 August 1915 when it relieved 23rd/24th Battalions of the [[London Regiment (1908-1938)|London Regiment]] in a section of the line East of Maroc and opposite the famous 'Double Crassier'.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=117 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> The battalion was in turn relieved on 9 August 1915 by 10th Battalion [[Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)|Scottish Rifles]]. To their credit, the battalion suffered no casualties during this first introduction to trench warfare.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=118 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> On 25 September 1915. the battalion went in to action at the [[Battle of Loos]] where it suffered severe losses in two days of hard fighting. Of the 940 officers and men who went into action on 25 September, only 98 returned to their billets when the battalion was relieved by [[21st Division (United Kingdom)|21st Division]] on 26 September. The battalion lost a total of 701 men at Loos: 11 officers killed and 10 wounded with 360 other ranks killed or missing and 320 wounded.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=127 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

The 9th (Service) Battalion spent the rest of the war in the trenches of the Western Front and took part in a number of key battles.

*1916 – [[Battle of Delville Wood]], [[Battle of Flers-Courcelette]]
*1917 – [[Battle of Arras (1917)|First battle of the Scarpe]], [[Battle of Arras (1917)|Second Battle of the Scarpe]], [[Battle of Pilckem Ridge]], [[Battle of the Menin Road Ridge]]
*1918 – [[Operation Michael|First Battle of Bapaume]], [[Operation Michael|First Battle of Arras]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=201 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

On 11 May 1918, the original 9th (Service) Battalion left the line for the final time and was merged with the 4/5th Territorial Battalion. This amalgamation was part of measures taken to address the drain on manpower across the British Army.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Two: Territorial Force |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=97 |isbn=978-1-84734-572-1}}</ref> Whilst the bulk of the 9th went to the 4/5th a small training cadre of 10 officers and 51 other ranks remained and were initially employed training newly arrived American troops. Later that month the cadre returned to Aldershot where they spent two months raising and training a new unit which became 2/9th (Service) Battalion assigned to the [[47th Brigade (United Kingdom)|47th Brigade]], [[16th (Irish) Division]]. The 2/9th left [[Aldershot Garrison|Aldershot]] on 30 July 1918 sailing from Folkestone to Boulogne and reaching billets at Hodecq the following day. The next eighteen days were spent training before 2/9th entered the battle area at [[Noeux-les-Mines]] on 19 August 1918 where it relieved the 1st Battalion. On 21 August the battalion proceeded by rail to Sailly-Labourse where it supported the [[Leicester Town Rifles|14th Leicesters]] and [[welch Regiment|18th Welch]] holding the line in the Hohenzollern Sector. On 2 September 1918, the battalion was involved in a costly trench raid losing 31 men. The battalion advanced with the 16th Division until 20 October 1918 when it was assigned the task of repairing roads around Escoeuilles where it was when the armistice was declared on 11 November 1918. Following the armistice, the battalion started the process of demobilization and found itself at [[Fretin]] by 27 November 1918 where it remained until Spring 1919 when it was reduced to cadre strength and moved to Pont-a-Marcq. The cadre returned to Scotland in July 1919 where the 2/9th was finally disbanded.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=174–175 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> During active service between 1915 and 1918 the battalion lost 140 officers (46 killed/88 wounded/6 missing) and 2,899 other ranks (645 killed/2,029 wounded/225 missing).<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=186 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> The bravery of the 9th is reflected in the number of gallantry decorations awarded, including 3 [[Distinguished Service Order]]s, 28 [[Military Cross]]es, 7 [[Distinguished Conduct Medal]]s, 2 [[Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)|Meritorious Service Medals]] and 65 [[Military Medal]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=198–199 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

=====10th (Service) Battalion=====
The 10th (Service) Battalion was raised in [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]] at the beginning of September 1914 under Lt Col [[Dick baronets|Sir William Stewart Dick-Cunyngham, 8th Baronet of Lambrughton]]. By 20 September 1914, a core body of 400 men had volunteered and were sent south to train at [[Shrewton]] in the [[Salisbury Plain Training Area]], where the 10th was to form part of the [[77th Brigade (United Kingdom)|77th Infantry Brigade]] alongside the 10th Battalion [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]], 11th Battalion [[Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)|Scottish Rifles]] and 8th Battalion [[Royal Scots Fusiliers]] as part of [[Kitchener's Army|Kitchener's K3 Army]]. Officers were gradually appointed to the battalion; some had previous Regular or [[Territorial Force|Territorial]] military experience but the majority had none. November saw the battalion move to Bristol where the men practised trench digging in Ashton Park. The men were comfortably quartered in several public buildings: A and C companies occupied [[Bristol Beacon|Colston Hall]], B the Victoria Gallery and D the Coliseum (a large ice skating rink); the officers were billeted at the Colston Hotel. In the New Year, makeshift uniforms were finally replaced by the coveted kilt and sporran. March 1915 saw the [[77th Brigade (United Kingdom)|77th Infantry Brigade]] move to [[Sutton Veny]] to engage in brigade and divisional manoeuvres with the [[26th Division (United Kingdom)|26th Division]]. Training was completed by the end of July 1915 and during August three days 'farewell' leave was granted to officers and men. On 10 September 1915 embarkation orders were received and on 17 September an advance party of 5 officers and 109 other ranks left for France, arriving at [[Longueau]] on 20 September before marching 20 miles to [[Bougainville, Somme|Bougainville]] to arrange billets for the battalion. The bulk of the battalion soon followed, leaving [[Folkestone]] at 6pm on 20 September aboard the SS ''La Marguerite'' and arriving at [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]] around midnight. The rest of the night was spent under canvas at Ostrahove Camp, and next morning the battalion boarded trains to [[Sallux]] before marching the final fifteen miles to rendezvous with the advance party at Bougainville.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbourne |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=205–208 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

[[File:10th Battalion The Black Watch.jpg|thumb|10th (Service) Battalion, Black Watch entrenching in the hills between the villages of Aivatli and Laina above the port of [[Salonika]], Greece, December 1915]]

On 23 September 1915, the battalion received orders to march to [[Salouël]] which was reached at midnight after seven hour's march in torrential rain. The following morning the [[77th Brigade (United Kingdom)|77th Infantry Brigade]] marched on to [[Villers-Bretonneux]] and were inspected on the road by the [[XII Corps (United Kingdom)|XII Corps]] Commander Lt-Gen [[Henry Fuller Maitland Wilson|Sir Henry Fuller Maitland Wilson]] who congratulated the 10th battalion on its march discipline and fine appearance. The battalion spent five days training at [[Villers-Bretonneux]] where the men could hear the distant rumbling of the artillery supporting the [[Battle of Loos]], for which 10th Battalion was held in reserve. On 29 September 1915, the battalion left for [[Proyart]] and the companies entered the front line trenches for the first time for forty-eight hours of instruction with the resident units. A and D companies joined 2nd Battalion [[Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry]] in the line at [[Fontaine-lès-Cappy]], with B and C companies rotating in on 2 October with the [[Royal Irish Fusiliers]].<ref name =wau1>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbourne |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=208–212 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

The battalion took responsibility for its first stretch of the line on 14 October when it relieved the [[King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry]] around Bray, with battalion HQ located in the town of [[Carnoy]]. On 5 November the battalion received orders to prepare for immediate deployment to [[Thessaloniki|Salonika]] to participate in operations on the [[Macedonian front]]. On 10 November the battalion marched to [[Longueau]] from where they boarded trains to [[Marseille]] which they reached soon after midday on 12 November. The battalion marched straight to the quay to begin boarding [[HMS Magnificent (1894)|HMS ''Magnificent'']] alongside two companies from the 11th Battalion [[Worcestershire Regiment]] and two companies from the 12th Battalion [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]]. The course followed was north of [[Corsica]], passing [[Elba]], south through the [[Straits of Messina]], along the coast of [[Sicily]] and on to [[Alexandria]], which was reached on 18 November 1915. At Alexandria, the men disembarked and spent the night at Maritza Camp before re-embarking on HMS ''Magnificent'' and sailing for Salonika, which was reached on 24 November.<ref name =wau1/>

The 10th Battalion spent the rest of 1915 and early 1916 constructing and manning part of the 'Birdcage Defensive Line' in the hills surrounding Salonika; the stretch of line allocated to the 10th ran between the villages of Aivatli and Laina. June 1916 saw the battalion move 'up country', spending time in division reserve and manning trenches in the Vladaja Line. On 8 May 1917, the 10th Battalion took part in the [[Battle of Doiran (1917)|Battle of Doiran]]. Out of 600 men engaged in this action, the 10th lost 5 officers killed and 6 wounded, with 63 other ranks killed and 309 wounded.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbourne |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=238 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> Due to losses incurred as a result of the [[German spring offensive]] it was decided that one battalion in each brigade would be withdrawn from Greece and transferred to the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]. On 14 June 1918, the 10th Battalion received orders to move to France, with the men embarking on the French transport ''Odessa'' at [[Itea, Phocis|Itea]] on 6 July, bound for [[Taranto]]. From Italy, the battalion travelled by train to [[Abancourt, Oise|Abancourt]], finally reaching the rest camp on 14 July, and were attached to [[197th (Lancashire Fusiliers) Brigade|197th Infantry Brigade]] in the [[66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division|66th Division]]. On 20 September, the battalion was informed that they were to be disbanded, with orders received on 29 September to send one complete company to each of the 1st, 6th and 14th Black Watch Battalions to replace losses. On 15 October, the disbandment of the 10th (Service) Battalion was reported as complete to 197th Infantry Brigade.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbourne |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=250–255 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> During active service between 1915 and 1918 the 10th (Service) Battalion lost a total of 18 officers (8 killed/10 wounded) and 435 other ranks (122 killed/311 wounded/2 missing).<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbourne |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=261 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> The bravery of the 10th is reflected in the number of gallantry decorations awarded, including 2 [[Distinguished Service Order]]s, 6 [[Military Cross]]es, 3 [[Distinguished Conduct Medal]]s, 3 [[Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)|Meritorious Service Medals]] and 10 [[Military Medal]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbourne |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=265 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>