the Black Watch
(Royal highlanders)

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.

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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. 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.

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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.

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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 Napoleonic Wars and was mentioned in despatches for its service at Quatre Bras and Waterloo (1815).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.

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From then on it was officially known as The Black Watch and was the county regiment of Fifeshire, Forfarshire and Perthshire.

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The regiment then fought in Egypt (1882) and in the Boer War (1899-1902).

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The regiment changed its name over the years as follows:

• 1748 to 1880 - 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot

• 1881 to 1931 - The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). The regiment was created 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.

• 1931 to 2006 - The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)

• 2006 to now - The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS)