Piper, 1st Battalion, Tyneside Scottish, the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment), 1940.jpg

The Tyneside Scottish was first formed in World War I and provided four battalions to the Northumberland Fusiliers. They were constituted of men of Scottish background living in the Newcastle area. When the Second World War began men of this ilk again formed a battalion for service, at first under the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry but soon with the Black Watch. The Battalion deployed with a late draft to the BEF in France and took part in the Dunkirk evacuation. With the 49th Division it conducted garrison duties on Iceland until 1942, and then in 1944 was involved in the invasion of France. After gaining a battle honour during Operation Market garden the unit was reduced to placed in limbo.

This piper of the Battalion band wears a dress (dark blue) Balmoral with the Black Watch hackle fixed to the left side. His jacket is a modified 1903 item with the skirts cutaway to show the sporran, when worn. Around the waist he carries an old 1908 webbing belt.

The sporran, kilt, hosetops and flashes are all Black Watch items. The parade gaiters have been replaced by short serge puttees.

This uniform is ‘dressier’ than the issued battledress and was worn by band members when deployed to Iceland.