Black Watch

Black Watch (Gaelic Freiceadan Dubh), the first of the Highland regiments, had its origin in a commission granted to John, second Earl of Athole, in 1668, 'to raise and keep such a number of men as he shall think fitt' to be a constant guard for securing peace in the Highlands. The term black arose from the dark colour of their tartan uniform, which distinguished them from the regular troops, called the Saighdean Dearg, or 'red soldiers.' From 1704 till the Union, there were three companies in existence directly dealt with by the Treasury in regard to pay and clothing, and wholly armed with firearms. In 1729 the companies were six in number—three comprising 100 men each, commanded by captains, and three of 70 men each, commanded by captain-lieutenants. The body was raised chiefly from the Whig or loyal clans—Campbells, Grants, Munros, &c. The duties of the Black Watch were to enforce the disarming act, to prevent political meetings of a seditious kind, and to check depredation. After being of considerable use for these local purposes, the whole of the companies were formed into the 42d Regiment, under the command of the Earl of Crawford, in 1739; and in 1743 the regiment joined the troops in Flanders, and first went into action at Fontenoy, since when it has been one of the most distinguished corps in the British army. As it was embodied under a Lowlander, it was necessary to adopt an arbitrary pattern of tartan, which has ever since been known as the 42d or Black Watch tartan. In 1872 the officers of the corps erected a monument in Dunkeld Cathedral in memory of those who had fallen in battle from the creation of the regiment till the close of the Indian Mutiny in 1859; and a memorial cairn, raised by public subscription, was unveiled, 13th November 1887, in the field near Aberfeldy, where the regiment first assembled in 1739. When in 1881 the numerical designations of the British foot regiments were dropped, the former 42d and 73d Regiments were made respectively first and second battalions of the 'Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).' For the costume of the Highland regiments, see HIGHLANDS; also Ross's Old Scottish Regimental Colours (1885).