Black Watch memorial in Italy on way
A new memorial to commemorate The Black Watch is to be erected in Italy.
The Black Watch’s 6th Battalion, who were based in Perth, were sent to Florence in northern Italy during the Second World War to take out German forces who were preventing the Allied Forces from advancing through Italy.
This led to a two-day battle at Monte Scalari, 2,000ft above sea level.
The Black Watch were ultimately victorious, a major victory for the Allied Forces, who went on to take the stronghold of Florence.
The memorial in Florence will also remember the Italians who assisted The Black Watch in their military campaign, many of who were executed by the Nazis.
Major Ronnie Proctor MBE, secretary of the Black Watch Association, said: “A memorial to the battle was erected in 1995, but unfortunately the stone they used split due to bad weather.
“The association is replacing that with a new memorial and we hope a ceremony will take place sometime in late June or early July.
“It will commemorate the conflict and the courage of The Black Watch as well as that of several Italian partisans who were executed by the Germans.”
The Florentine statue is one of three commissioned by the Black Watch, who have already erected a stone plinth in Perth to mark the Queen’s Barracks.
A third life-sized bronze statue of a piper is set to be given pride of place at Perth’s Black Watch Castle and Museum.
The Black Watch were sent to the historic city in WW2 to prevent the Germans advancing through Italy