John Henry Collier Coode joined The Black Watch from the 73rd Regiment as Lieutenant in 1881. The 73rd Regiment played an important part in the early history of The Black Watch. It was first raised as a 2nd Battalion of the 42nd (The Royal Highland) Regiment in 1779, but became a separate Regiment in 1786. In 1881 it rejoined the 42nd Regiment as the 2nd Battalion to form The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). By 1898 he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 2nd Battalion The Black Watch. He was killed at the Battle of Magersfontein on 11th December 1899. The Black Watch were in the front during this disastrous operation. The Brigade was fired on at close range from a concealed Boer trench, protected by barbed wire. The Battalion suffered heavy casualties, with 93 men killed and 209 wounded.