The following are recommended books about the Black Watch, the Highland Regiments, and the British Army during the 1939-45 War.
- The Black
Watch, by Eric and Andro Linklater, Barrie & Jenkins Ltd. 24 Highbury Crescent, London
(ISBN 0 214 20083 3): Started by a Great War veteran of The Regiment and finished by his son, the
book offers a quick overview of the 250 year history of The Watch.
- The Black Watch and
the King's Enemies, by Bernard Fergusson, Collins, St James Place. London.: Written by
another veteran of The Black Watch, this book covers all battalions of The Regiment during the
1939-45 War. There is also a section covering the Commonwealth Regiments who are allied to The
Black Watch.
- A History of the
6th Battalion, The Black Watch, 1939-45, by B.J.G.Madden, D Leslie, Perth.: A
neat little book covering the Perthshire Battalion of The Watch, with several maps showing the
attack plans of many of the battles fought. Don't forget to check out the exercise plans used to
train the Battalion to find out what happens to the Fair Maid of Perth!
- Off the
Record, by David Rose, Spellmount Ltd, Staplehurst, Kent (ISBN 1 873376 76 6): This book
contains the author's recollections of his time with the 2nd and 1st
Battalions from 1932 to after the Mau Mau Rebellion in 1954.
- Churchill's
Sacrifice of the Highland Division, France 1940, by Saul David, Brassey's, London, (ISBN
1 85753 039 X): An account of the Battle of France as told from the perspective of the Highland
Division, which was captured by Rommel after the "Miracle of Dunkirk".
- The History of the
51st Highland Division, by J.B. Salmond, Pentland Press Ltd,
Edinburgh-Cambridge-Durham (ISBN 1 85821 245 6): The definitive history of the proud HD, which was
the home of the 1st, 5th, and 7th Battalions of The Watch for
most of the 1939-45 War.
- Scotland's
War, by Seona Robertson and Les Wilson, Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh and London (ISBN 1
85158 700 4): The companion to Scottish Television's documentary series about the effects of World
War II on Scots of all walks of life; soldiers, merchant seaman, women factory workers... even
children evacuated from Glasgow.
- The British Army in
WWII, (a reprint of a US Tech Manual from WWII) Greenhill Books, London (ISBN 1 85367 048
0): This book was written in an attempt to translate British military terms and procedures for the
American troops... and it still works today. A great time capsule of the King's Forces from 1942.
- The General Danced
at Dawn, McAuslan in the Rough, and The Sheikh and the Dustbin contain a series of short stories
about a "fictional" Highland Regiment (whose initials are 2nd Bn. Gordon Highlanders)
during the period just after the 1939-45 War. Writen by George MacDonald Fraser of "Flashman"
fame, they are highly recommended to give the reader an idea of what it is like to serve in a
Highland Regiment.
