An Illustrated 'Red Hackles' Korean War & Mau Mau Rebellion campaign medal group of 3: Private Albert J. K. Watson, 1st Battalion Black Watch

- Korea Medal 1950-1953 (22805044 Pte. A. J. K. Watson. B.W.)
- United Nations Service Medal: With clasp 'Korea'
- Africa General Service Medal. EIIR issue & clasp 'Kenya' (22805044 Pte. A. J. K. Watson. B.W.)

Note: The British Korea Medal with soft soldered repaired suspension (a/f)

The Korea with two official corrections to the Army Number & first forename initial and fairly typical for this particular medal issue, and exactly as issued

Uncommonly for the period, the recipient was not a National Serviceman, but is confirmed as being a 'Regular Army' enlistment

The recipient was a native of Dundee, Scotland, who served in the British Army with his local infantry regiment 'The Black Watch'. A splendid captioned photograph of the recipient, in uniform and wearing his 'Tam O' Shanter' with 'Red Hackle' of the Black Watch, taken prior to shipping-out to Korea, was published together with the below following quoted article in 'The Courier and Advertiser' issue of, 20 September 1952:

Quote,

Dundee Man off to Korea

When Pte. Albert J. K. Watson joins the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch, in Korea soon, he will carry memories of a rousing send-off from Dundee.

Last night, at West Station, 19-year-old Albert, who has completed his embarkation leave, spent at this home, 90 Camp Hill Road, Broughty Ferry, was ''seen off'' by about 30 relatives and friends, including a piper and several officers of 1st Dundee Cadet Battalion, in which he was a sergeant.

Albert, who is one of a family of six, is the son of Mr and Mrs Alexander Watson, and signed on as a regular in May.

Previously he worked at Keay's Dairy Farm, Forthill Road, along with his father and other members of the family. Mr Watson sen., has been 30 years with the dairy.

Unquote.

Between June 1952 - July 1953, 1st Battalion Black Watch served in Korea, with 29th Infantry Brigade. During their service in Korea, the regiment were deployed on several tours of the frontline position referred to as 'The Hook', and earned the below following battle honours;

- The Hook 1952
- Korea 1952-53

During the Korean War, 1st Battalion Black Watch suffered the loss of 58 x 'All-Ranks' Killed or Died', with very many more 'Wounded'. The battalion sailed from, Pusan, Korea, on, 13 July 1953, and arrived in their next overseas location, Kenya Colony, on, 1 August 1953, where they replaced the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, in the 39th Infantry Brigade. 1/BW was soon dispersed at various locations around the Rift Valley region; A Coy with battalion HQ at Nyeri; B Coy at Gilgil, with C & D Coy's at Ol Joro Orok near Thompson Falls

Uncommonly for the era, the Black Watch has been blessed with some very useful 'Other Ranks' memoirs published in the past decade, that cover in good detail, the regiments campaign service in Korea and later Kenya. The two memoirs we can recommend for background reading are:

1).'Tougher Than Bullets' (Harold Davis, 2013): This covers the Korean War - the author, who was wounded in Korea, was more famously known as a professional footballer with Rangers Football Club

2). 'Letters From The Forest' (Peter Grant, 2017): This covers the Mau-Mau Rebellion in Kenya Colony

A fine post-war campaign medal group to the 1st Battalion Black Watch

The British Korea Medal with solder repaired suspension (A/F)

Condition: VF

- Korea Medal 1950-1953 (22805044 Pte. A. J. K. Watson. B.W.)
- United Nations Service Medal: With clasp 'Korea'
- Africa General Service Medal. EIIR issue & clasp 'Kenya' (22805044 Pte. A. J. K. Watson. B.W.)

Note: The British Korea Medal with repaired suspension (a/f)

The Korea with two official corrections to the Army Number & first forename initial and fairly typical for this particular medal issue, and exactly as issued

Uncommonly for the period, the recipient was not a National Serviceman, but is confirmed as being a 'Regular Army' enlistment

The recipient was a native of Dundee, Scotland, who served in the British Army with his local infantry regiment 'The Black Watch'. A splendid captioned photograph of the recipient, in uniform and wearing his 'Tam O' Shanter' with 'Red Hackle' of the Black Watch, taken prior to shipping-out to Korea, was published together with the below following quoted article in 'The Courier and Advertiser' issue of, 20 September 1952:

Quote,

Dundee Man off to Korea

When Pte. Albert J. K. Watson joins the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch, in Korea soon, he will carry memories of a rousing send-off from Dundee.

Last night, at West Station, 19-year-old Albert, who has completed his embarkation leave, spent at this home, 90 Camp Hill Road, Broughty Ferry, was ''seen off'' by about 30 relatives and friends, including a piper and several officers of 1st Dundee Cadet Battalion, in which he was a sergeant.

Albert, who is one of a family of six, is the son of Mr and Mrs Alexander Watson, and signed on as a regular in May.

Previously he worked at Keay's Dairy Farm, Forthill Road, along with his father and other members of the family. Mr Watson sen., has been 30 years with the dairy.

Unquote.

Between June 1952 - July 1953, 1st Battalion Black Watch served in Korea, with 29th Infantry Brigade. During their service in Korea, the regiment were deployed on several tours of the frontline position referred to as 'The Hook', and earned the below following battle honours;

- The Hook 1952
- Korea 1952-53

During the Korean War, 1st Battalion Black Watch suffered the loss of 58 x 'All-Ranks' Killed or Died', with very many more 'Wounded'. The battalion sailed from, Pusan, Korea, on, 13 July 1953, and arrived in their next overseas location, Kenya Colony, on, 1 August 1953, where they replaced the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, in the 39th Infantry Brigade. 1/BW was soon dispersed at various locations around the Rift Valley region; A Coy with battalion HQ at Nyeri; B Coy at Gilgil, with C & D Coy's at Ol Joro Orok near Thompson Falls

Uncommonly for the era, the Black Watch has been blessed with some very useful 'Other Ranks' memoirs published in the past decade, that cover in good detail, the regiments campaign service in Korea and later Kenya. The two memoirs we can recommend for background reading are:

1).'Tougher Than Bullets' (Harold Davis, 2013): This covers the Korean War - the author, who was wounded in Korea, was more famously known as a professional footballer with Rangers Football Club

2). 'Letters From The Forest' (Peter Grant, 2017): This covers the Mau-Mau Rebellion in Kenya Colony

A fine post-war campaign medal group to the 1st Battalion Black Watch

The British Korea Medal with soft soldered repaired suspension (A/F), and reverse of ribands with soiled

Condition: VF

Code: 24936