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- 10.00am - 5.30pm
- FREE
- Chelsea, London
A Black Watch Warrior armoured vehicle, Iraq, 2004
Origins
In the aftermath of the First Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, Independent Companies of militia were raised from loyalist Highland clans for policing and peacekeeping duties. These companies were commonly known in Gaelic as ‘Am Freiceadan Dubh’, or ‘The Black Watch’, due to their unpopular nature and their dark green government-issue tartan - the regiment wore kilts as part of its everyday uniform until 1940.
In 1739, King George II ordered that four more of these companies be raised and that all the companies be merged into a single line infantry regiment.
Cap badge of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), c1902
Corporal McPherson, 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment, 1743
Early battles
The regiment impressed the Duke of Cumberland with its Highland style of fighting at Fontenoy in 1745 and later that year it was sent back to guard southern England against invasion, with one company being sent north to fight the Jacobites at Culloden. In 1747 it was given a numerical ranking as the 43rd Foot, rising to the 42nd two years later when the previous 42nd was disbanded.
The 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment fought in the French and Indian Wars in North America before defeating George Washington at the Battle of Long Island in 1776 during the American War of Independence (1775-83). It served in both Egypt and Spain during the wars against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France, and was mentioned in despatches for its service at Quatre Bras and Waterloo (1815).
Soldiers of the 42nd (The Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot, 1856
The Black Watch at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir, 1882
Victorian era
The 19th century saw it fighting in the Crimea (1854-56) and the Indian Mutiny (1857-59), whilst in 1881 the 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment was merged into it. From then on it was officially known as The Black Watch and was the county regiment of Fifeshire, Forfarshire and Perthshire. The regiment then fought in Egypt (1882) and in the Boer War (1899-1902).
World Wars
During the First World War (1914-18) the regiment raised 25 battalions for service in France and Flanders, Palestine and Mesopotamia. By the time of the Armistice in November 1918 over 8,000 members of the regiment had lost their lives.
Battalions of the regiment served in most major theatres of the 1939-45 war, including North Africa, Italy, North West Europe and Burma.
A soldier of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in France, 1914
2nd Battalion The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) on the coast near Arsuf, Palestine, 1918
Quiz
What nickname did German soldiers give to The Black Watch during the First World War?
Select the correct answer
Devils in skirts
Black Jocks
Ladies from hell
Did you know...
According to legend, the Germans on the Western Front gave them this name because they wore kilts and were such ferocious fighters.
Post-war
Major post-war engagements included Korea (1950-53) and Kenya (1952-60). The regiment also regularly served in Northern Ireland (1969-2007) and was the final garrison unit in Hong Kong prior to its handover to China in 1997.
Legacy
The Black Watch was amalgamated into The Royal Regiment of Scotland in 2006. Announced in 2004, while the unit was on active service in Iraq (2003-2011), this caused much controversy. The Black Watch became the new regiment's 3rd Battalion.
Regimental museums
The National Army Museum works with a network of Regimental and Corps Museums across the UK to help preserve and share the history and traditions of the Army and its soldiers.
Discover more about The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) by visiting The Black Watch Museum in Perth.
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