“The Black Watch”.
“Am Freiceadan Dubh”.
“Nemo Me Impune Lacessit”.
“No-One Provokes Me With Impunity”.
Regimental Cap Badge and Tartan.
Date: 21 June 2023
(based on Original 2 October 2006).
Source: Own work based on original version
Author: SMcCandlish (original by Steifer)
(Wikipedia Commons)
1st Battalion, The Black Watch,
Pipes and Drums.
Watch on YouTube
Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,
unless otherwise stated.
(3 SCOTS) is an Infantry Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Prior to 28 March 2006, The Black Watch was an Infantry Regiment – The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) from 1931 to 2006, and The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) from 1881 to 1931. Part of the Scottish Division, it was the Senior Regiment of Highlanders.
The source of The Regiment’s name is uncertain. In 1725, following the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, General George Wade was authorised by King George II to form six “Watch” Companies to patrol the Highlands of Scotland, three from Clan Campbell, one from Clan Fraser, one from Clan Munro and one from Clan Grant.
These were to be “employed in disarming The Highlanders, preventing depredations, bringing criminals to justice, and hindering rebels and attainted persons from inhabiting that part of the Kingdom.” The Force was known in Gaelic as “Am Freiceadan Dubh”, “The Dark Watch” or “The Black Watch”.
The first Battle in which The Black Watch took part was the Battle of Fontenoy, in 1745, where the Regiment distinguished themselves with great bravery.
The Regiment was numbered The 43rd Regiment of Foot, in 1747, changing to The 42nd Regiment of Foot, in 1749.
Prior to 28 March 2006, The Black Watch was an Infantry Regiment – The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) from 1931 to 2006, and The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) from 1881 to 1931. Part of the Scottish Division, it was the Senior Regiment of Highlanders.
The source of The Regiment’s name is uncertain. In 1725, following the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, General George Wade was authorised by King George II to form six “Watch” Companies to patrol the Highlands of Scotland, three from Clan Campbell, one from Clan Fraser, one from Clan Munro and one from Clan Grant.
The Royal Highland Regiment
(The Black Watch), at Fontenoy, 1745.
Signed and dated “W. Skeoch Cumming/1894”.
Source: http://www.army.mod.uk/
Author: William Skeoch Cumming (1864-1929).
(Wikimedia Commons)
“The Ladies From Hell".
Available on YouTube
The first Battle in which The Black Watch took part was the Battle of Fontenoy, in 1745, where the Regiment distinguished themselves with great bravery.
The Regiment was numbered The 43rd Regiment of Foot, in 1747, changing to The 42nd Regiment of Foot, in 1749.
In 1751, The Regiment was titled “42nd (Highland) Regiment” and, in 1758, was permitted the honour to add “Royal” to its title. However, it continued to be known colloquially as “The Black Watch”.
In 1881, when The 42nd Regiment of Foot amalgamated with The 73rd Regiment of Foot, the new Regiment was named “The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)”.
The Regiment adopted the Royal Motto of Scotland’s Stuart Monarchs, “Nemo me impune lacessit” (“No-one provokes me with impunity”).
The Black Watch was formed as part of The Childers Reforms, in 1881, when The 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot (The Black Watch) was amalgamated with The 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot, to form two Battalions of the newly-named Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).
Jimmy Doig, Piper,
The Angus Black Watch Association,
plays The Pipes,
The Old and Saint Andrew’s Church,
Montrose, Scotland,14 September 2008.
Photo: Frank G. Proctor, Glengate.
In 1881, when The 42nd Regiment of Foot amalgamated with The 73rd Regiment of Foot, the new Regiment was named “The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)”.
The Regiment adopted the Royal Motto of Scotland’s Stuart Monarchs, “Nemo me impune lacessit” (“No-one provokes me with impunity”).
The Black Watch was formed as part of The Childers Reforms, in 1881, when The 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot (The Black Watch) was amalgamated with The 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot, to form two Battalions of the newly-named Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).
The 42nd Regiment of Foot became The 1st Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), and The 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot became The 2nd Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).
Recipients of The Victoria Cross.
All of The Black Watch Servicemen, listed below, were awarded The Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious Award for Gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth Forces.
Francis Edward Henry Farquharson, Indian Mutiny, Lucknow, 9 March 1858.
John Simpson, Indian Mutiny, Fort Ruhya, 15 April 1858.
Alexander Thompson, Indian Mutiny, Fort Ruhya, 15 April 1858.
James Davis, Indian Mutiny, Fort Ruhya, 15 April 1858.
Edward Spence, Indian Mutiny, Fort Ruhya, 15 April 1858.
William Gardner, Indian Mutiny, Bareilly, 5 May 1858.
Walter Cook, Indian Mutiny, Sissaya Ghat, 15 January 1859.
Notable Members.
Robert Munro, The Original Black Watch Commander, Colonel Sir Robert Munro.
Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales, Australia, from 1810 to 1821. An inscription on his tomb in Scotland describes him as “The Father of Australia”.
Bernard Fergusson, Baron Ballantrae. Last British-Born Governor-General, New Zealand
Alfred Anderson, Scotland’s last surviving Veteran from World War I (died 2005).
James Anton, Late-Quartermaster-Sergeant of 42nd Royal Highlanders and Author.
Jim Baxter, Scottish Footballer.
Fergus Bowes-Lyon, Older Brother of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
Duncan Campbell, Scots Nobleman and British Army Officer.
Harold Davis, Scottish former Professional Football Player.
Henry Davie, Liberal Member of Parliament for Haddington
Adam Ferguson, Scottish Philosopher, Social Scientist and Historian.
Stewart Granger, Actor.
J. B. S. Haldane, British-born Geneticist and Evolutionary Biologist.
Christopher Logue, English Poet.
Fulton Mackay, Scottish Actor.
Gillean Robert Maclaine, The 25th Hereditary Chief of Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie.
Major Ian Stanhope Murray.
Eric Newby, English Travel Author.
Simon Ramsay, Conservative Politician and Colonial Governor.
Neil Ritchie, British Army Officer World War II.
William Rose, Screenwriter.
Frederick Guthrie Tait, Scottish soldier and amateur golfer.
Rory Stewart, Scottish diplomat, Harvard Professor and Conservative MP.
Arthur Wauchope, British soldier and colonial administrator.
Archibald Wavell, British Field-Marshal during the Second World War.
“The Black Watch” Homecoming Parade,
Dundee, Scotland. 20 April 2012.
Available on YouTube
Recipients of The Victoria Cross.
All of The Black Watch Servicemen, listed below, were awarded The Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious Award for Gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth Forces.
Francis Edward Henry Farquharson, Indian Mutiny, Lucknow, 9 March 1858.
John Simpson, Indian Mutiny, Fort Ruhya, 15 April 1858.
Alexander Thompson, Indian Mutiny, Fort Ruhya, 15 April 1858.
James Davis, Indian Mutiny, Fort Ruhya, 15 April 1858.
Edward Spence, Indian Mutiny, Fort Ruhya, 15 April 1858.
William Gardner, Indian Mutiny, Bareilly, 5 May 1858.
Walter Cook, Indian Mutiny, Sissaya Ghat, 15 January 1859.
Duncan Millar, Indian Mutiny, Sissaya Ghat, 15 January 1859.
Samuel McGaw, Ashanti War, Amoaful, 31 January 1874.
Thomas Edwards, Egyptian Campaigns, Tamaai, 13 March 1884.
John Ripley, First World War, Rue du Bois, 9 May 1915.
David Finlay, First World War, Rue du Bois, 9 May 1915.
Charles Melvin, First World War, Istabulat, 21 April 1917.
Lewis Pugh Evans, First World War, Zonnebeke, 4 October 1917.
Samuel McGaw, Ashanti War, Amoaful, 31 January 1874.
Thomas Edwards, Egyptian Campaigns, Tamaai, 13 March 1884.
John Ripley, First World War, Rue du Bois, 9 May 1915.
David Finlay, First World War, Rue du Bois, 9 May 1915.
Charles Melvin, First World War, Istabulat, 21 April 1917.
Lewis Pugh Evans, First World War, Zonnebeke, 4 October 1917.
An 11-foot high Bronze Statue of a Black Watch Soldier,
by William Birnie Rhind, Commemorates over 200 Members
of The Black Watch Regiment who were killed or wounded in The South African War of 1900-1902.The Black Watch, the oldest Highland Regiment, was formed by General Wade in 1739 to Police The Highlands at a time when many of the
Clans harboured Pro-Jacobite Sympathies. Their name derived from the contrast of their Dark Green Tartan
against the Regular Red Tunics of The British Army. The unveiling ceremony for the Memorial, planned for
25 May 1910, was cancelled, because the Nation was in Mourning for the death of King Edward VII.
Date: 9 September 2011.
Source: Own work.
Author: Kim Traynor
(Wikimedia Commons)
A Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Sentry “At Ease”.
Date: 1892.
Author: Harry Payne (1858–1927).
(Wikimedia Commons)
Notable Members.
Robert Munro, The Original Black Watch Commander, Colonel Sir Robert Munro.
Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales, Australia, from 1810 to 1821. An inscription on his tomb in Scotland describes him as “The Father of Australia”.
Bernard Fergusson, Baron Ballantrae. Last British-Born Governor-General, New Zealand
Alfred Anderson, Scotland’s last surviving Veteran from World War I (died 2005).
James Anton, Late-Quartermaster-Sergeant of 42nd Royal Highlanders and Author.
Jim Baxter, Scottish Footballer.
Jim Baxter. Scottish Footballer.
A former Member of The Black Watch.
Illustration: DAILY RECORD
Duncan Campbell, Scots Nobleman and British Army Officer.
Harold Davis, Scottish former Professional Football Player.
Henry Davie, Liberal Member of Parliament for Haddington
Adam Ferguson, Scottish Philosopher, Social Scientist and Historian.
Stewart Granger, Actor.
J. B. S. Haldane, British-born Geneticist and Evolutionary Biologist.
Christopher Logue, English Poet.
Fulton Mackay, Scottish Actor.
Fulton Mackay.
Played Prison Officer Mackay in the
TV Programme, "Porridge", to great acclaim.
A former Member of The Black Watch.
Illustration: AVELEYMAN.COM
“Porridge”.
A Tribute to Fulton Mackay (Prison Officer Mackay).
Available on YouTube at
“Porridge”.
Starring Fulton Mackay (Prison Officer Mackay).
Available on YouTube at
Major Ian Stanhope Murray.
Eric Newby, English Travel Author.
Simon Ramsay, Conservative Politician and Colonial Governor.
Neil Ritchie, British Army Officer World War II.
William Rose, Screenwriter.
Portrait of The Viceroy of India,
Field-Marshal Sir Archibald Wavell.
1943. A former Member of The Black Watch.
Source: IWMCollections IWM Photo No.: TR 841.
Post-Work: User:W.wolny
(Wikimedia Commons)
Frederick Guthrie Tait, Scottish soldier and amateur golfer.
Rory Stewart, Scottish diplomat, Harvard Professor and Conservative MP.
Arthur Wauchope, British soldier and colonial administrator.
Archibald Wavell, British Field-Marshal during the Second World War.
The Black Watch Pipes and Drums.
Available on YouTube
Piper David Muir, George Glen, Donald McKenzie
and Colour-Sergeant William Gardner,
42nd Royal Highlanders (forebears of The Black Watch)
grouped round a drinks table at Aldershot Garrison, England.
Photo: 1854-1856.
Source: This is photograph Q 71646
from the collections of The Imperial War Museums.
Author: Cundall, Joseph and Howlett, Robert.
(Wikimedia Commons)
