World War 1 Highlanders in Color!

[WClarkB]

Terrific pictures; do you know the color process used or were they hand tinted?

[79thReproductions]

I believe he uses a computer program.

[Hothir Ethelnor]

I got inspired by this thread and started on a BW pic I found online.

I used photoshop and this is the result after an hour's work.



I doubt I'll ever refine it, but it was a fun exercise.

[Lachlan09]

Is the WW1 website referred to The Great War Forum ? If so, I'm a member of that forum and it's an excellent site, dedicated mainly to British and Commonwealth.

I've been trying to pinpoint the whereabouts of my Great-Uncle who was with the 8th Btn Black Watch, 9th Scottish Div. who was killed on 3rd May 1917.

[Jock Scot]

Is the WW1 website referred to The Great War Forum ? If so, I'm a member of that forum and it's an excellent site, dedicated mainly to British and Commonwealth.

I've been trying to pinpoint the whereabouts of my Great-Uncle who was with the 8th Btn Black Watch, 9th Scottish Div. who was killed on 3rd May 1917.

Google the "Commonwealth War Graves Commission" they will tell you where your uncle is buried.However, be prepared for the sad news that your uncle may have no known grave, all too many have this label(three in my family). His name will be on a monument somewhere. Was he on the Western Front,or he may have been in Palestine,or Italy? Contact the Black Watch Regimental Museum and no doubt they will be able to tell you, particularly, as you have your uncle's details.

[Lachlan09]

On that Great-War site, I’ve been trying to pinpoint the last whereabouts and moments of my Great-Uncle David Elder Robertson, who was a Lance-Jack with the 8th Black Watch, 9th Scottish Div and who was killed on 3rd May 1917 near Arras.

With the help of Tom Tulloch-Marshall who e-mailed trench maps to me, plus battalion diaries e-mailed by other members plus my own family memorabilia (letters etc) and CWGC, I’ve been able to piece together his last day and likely area where he was killed. The 9th Div was part of an early assault (3.45am) on Greenland Hill and the Chemical Works at Roeux, a fortified position which had already stymied previous British assaults in April with heavy loss. The time of 3.45am was a late change by the top brass, previously it had been 4.45am. As a result, the attack was in pitch black and there was no time to set out guide-markers and tapes. In the event, the assaulting battalions either diverged and left gaps or else crashed into each other in the dark. To add to the mayhem, the Germans were expecting an assault and had already zeroed their artillery and mg’s on the British parapets etc. It was a disaster and no gains were made. Gt Uncle Dave is remembered on the Arras Memorial, having no known grave.

We still have his red hackle at home.

From what I recall, the daily losses at Arras (April-May 1917) were over 4,000 per day, compared to 2,500 per day on the Somme in 1916. A bit of a shame really, as the battle of Arras started off so well in April for the British, Canadians, Aussies and South Africans, pushing the Germans several miles back. But failure of the simultaneous French attacks on the Chemin des Dames which caused French units to mutiny left Britain and Commonwealth having to go it alone. As ever, enterprising plans and early successes got bogged down and turned into attrition.

[Tartan Hiker]

Please forgive the slight detour, but can anyone tell me if the cantles in the first two phots are metal or polished leather? If metal, what type of finish is that?

[Kiltman]

Thanks for the wonderful pictures. There does appear to be some characters there.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Please forgive the slight detour, but can anyone tell me if the cantles in the first two phots are metal or polished leather? If metal, what type of finish is that?

Metal, most likely nickle. The colourization process makes the cantles look duller than they would appear in a modern colour photograph.

[OC Richard]

can anyone tell me if the cantles in the first two phots are metal or polished leather?

If you're referring to the "swinging six" sporrans of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, the cantle had a metal rim and a black leather insert.

The metal is brass for regular battalions. However, territorial battalions usually had "white metal" (nickle or "German silver") hardware. These cantle rims have been colourised as being white metal, which would be correct only if these men were territorials.

I object to some of the colour choices: the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders ORs sporran was black hair, not brown/grey hair. I've seen plenty of vintage A&SH sporrans and they are quite black, or black with the slightest tinge of extremely dark brown, never brown/grey hair. Brown/grey hair sporrans were worn by the pipers of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders but these had three long tassels and a different cantle: different sporrans altogether.

Also the red in the red & white diced hose, and garter flashes, should be a scarlet, not crimson.

As mentioned above the metal rim on the sporran cantles of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders ORs should be brass, not nickel.

These colourised photos might lead astray those who haven't seen the real articles of clothing.