Editing Black Watch

{{short description|Infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Redirect|Royal Highland Regiment|the related earlier unit by this designation|42nd Regiment of Foot}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland
| image                         = Black Watch cap badge and tartan, slim.png
| image_size                    = 
| caption                       = Cap badge of the Black Watch
| start_date                    = 1 July 1881 – present
| dates                         = 
| country                       = [[United Kingdom]]
| branch                        = [[British Army]]
| type                          = Line infantry
| command_structure             = [[11 Brigade (United Kingdom)|11th Brigade]]
| role                          = Recce-strike
| size                          = [[Battalion]]
| garrison                      = RHQ – [[Balhousie Castle]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.everycastle.com/Balhousie-Castle.html|title=Balhousie Castle - Castles, Palaces and Fortresses|accessdate=24 February 2021|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614070147/http://www.everycastle.com/Balhousie-Castle.html|url-status=live}}</ref><br/>Battalion – [[Fort George, Highland|Fort George]], [[Inverness]]
| nickname                      = 
| motto                         = ''[[Nemo me impune lacessit]]'' (Latin) "No One Provokes Me with Impunity"
| colors                        = 
| march                         = {{Bulleted list|''Quick'': "All the Blue Bonnets Are O'er the Border"| ''Slow'': "[[The Garb of Old Gaul]]"|''Pipes & Drums Quick'': "[[Hielan' Laddie]]"| ''Pipes & Drums Slow'': "My Home"|''Pipes & Drums Slow'': "Highland Cradle Song"}}
| mascot                        = 
| battle_honours                = see below
| notable_commanders            = 
| identification_symbol         = [[File:Royal Regiment of Scotland TRF.png|70px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = Tactical Recognition Flash
| identification_symbol_2       = 
| identification_symbol_2_label = Tartan
| identification_symbol_3       = Red
| identification_symbol_3_label = Hackle
| current_commander             = Lt Col Robert Smith
| ceremonial_chief              = [[Charles III|The King]]
| ceremonial_chief_label        = Royal Colonel
| colonel_of_the_regiment       = 
| anniversaries                 = Red Hackle Day (5 January)
}}
[[File:Glasgow Green, c.1758 (Black Watch) detail 1.JPG|thumb|Detail from a painting showing 42nd Regiment of Foot (Black Watch) recruits being reviewed on Glasgow Green, c. 1758]]
[[File:Black Watch at Fontenoy, 1745.jpg|thumb|42nd Regiment of Foot at Fontenoy, 1745]]
[[File:A sentry at ease.jpg|thumb|''A Sentry at Ease'', Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 1892]]
[[File:Andrew-gilbert-wauchope.jpg|thumb|Major General [[Andrew Wauchope]] c.1899]]
[[File:Black Watch at Magersfontein.jpg|thumb|The Black Watch in the [[Battle of Magersfontein]], [[Second Boer War]], 1899]]
[[File:Black Watch firing rifle grenade in 1917.jpg|thumb|Black Watch firing rifle grenade in 1917]]

The '''Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland''' ('''3 SCOTS''') is an [[infantry]] [[battalion]] of the [[Royal Regiment of Scotland]]. The [[regiment]] was created as part of the [[Childers Reforms]] in 1881, when the [[42nd Regiment of Foot|42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot (The Black Watch)]] was amalgamated with the [[73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot]]. It was known as The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) from 1881 to 1931 and The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) from 1931 to 2006. Part of the [[Scottish Division]] for administrative purposes from 1967, it was the senior [[Highland Brigade (United Kingdom)|Highland regiment]]. It has been part of the [[Scottish, Welsh and Irish Division]] for administrative purposes since 2017.

== Origin of the name ==
{{See also|Independent Highland Companies}}
The source of the regiment's name is uncertain. In 1725, following the [[Jacobite rising of 1715|Jacobite rebellion of 1715]], General [[George Wade]] was authorised by [[George I of Great Britain|George I]] to form six "watch" companies to patrol the Highlands of [[Scotland]], three from [[Clan Campbell]], one from [[Clan Fraser of Lovat]], 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." [[Francis Hindes Groome]] states in his ''Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland'' (1901) that the watch was "embodied in a field [in [[Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross|Aberfeldy]]] in 1739".<ref name=og24>[https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=ZrGM8n_uNOcC ''Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Graphic and Accurate Description of Every Place in Scotland''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915014320/https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=ZrGM8n_uNOcC&pcampaignid=books_web_aboutlink |date=15 September 2021}}, Frances Hindes Groome (1901), p. 24</ref> The force was known in [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]] as ''Am Freiceadan Dubh,'' "the dark" or "black watch".<ref>Simpson, p. 114–115</ref>

This epithet may have come from the uniform plaids of dark [[tartan]] with which the companies were provided. Other theories have been put forward; for instance, that the name referred to the "black hearts" of the pro-government militia who had sided with the "enemies of true Highland spirit",<ref>Parker, p. 13–14</ref> or that it came from their original duty in policing the Highlands, namely preventing "blackmail" (Highlanders demanding extortion payments to spare cattle herds).<ref>Trevor-Roper, p. 205</ref>

== History ==
The regiment was created as part of the [[Childers Reforms]] in 1881, when the [[42nd Regiment of Foot|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 became the 1st Battalion, and the 73rd became the 2nd Battalion.<ref name=empire>{{cite web |url= http://theblackwatch.co.uk/history-and-research/black-watch-history/empire/ |title=Empire: 1815–1915 |work=TheBlackWatch.co.uk |access-date=8 May 2016 |archive-date=17 May 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160517162117/http://theblackwatch.co.uk/history-and-research/black-watch-history/empire/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The 1st Battalion saw action at the [[Battle of Tel el-Kebir]] in September 1882 during the [[Anglo-Egyptian War]]. It was in combat again during the [[Mahdist War]], at the [[First and Second Battles of El Teb]] in February 1884, the [[Battle of Tamai]] in March 1884 and at the [[Battle of Kirbekan]] in February 1885.<ref name=empire/>{{dead link|date=March 2020}} They were stationed in India from 1896, but were sent to South Africa for service during the [[Second Boer War]]. After the war ended in June 1902 with the [[Peace of Vereeniging]], 630 officers and men left [[Cape Town]] on the SS ''Michigan'' in late September 1902, arriving at Southampton in late October, when they were posted to Edinburgh.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Army in South Africa - Troops returning Home |date=2 October 1902 |page=4 |issue=36888}}</ref>

The 2nd Battalion was posted to South Africa in October 1899, following the outbreak of the Second Boer War. The battalion suffered heavy losses at the [[Battle of Magersfontein]] in December 1899.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/imperial-units/534-black-watch|title=Black Watch|work=AngloBoerWar.com|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=3 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603144030/http://www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/imperial-units/534-black-watch|url-status=live}}</ref> After the end of the war, about 730 officers and men left Point Natal for [[British Raj|British India]] on SS ''Ionian'' in October 1902, where after arrival in Bombay it was stationed in [[Sialkot]] in [[Umballa]] in [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]].<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Army in South Africa - Troops returning Home |date=8 October 1902 |page=8 |issue=36893}}</ref>

In 1908, the Volunteers and Militia were reorganised nationally, with the former becoming the [[Territorial Force]] and the latter the [[Special Reserve (militia)|Special Reserve]];<ref>{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1908/mar/31/territorial-and-reserve-forces-act-1907|title=Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907|work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]|date=31 March 1908|access-date=20 June 2017|archive-date=12 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812022930/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1908/mar/31/territorial-and-reserve-forces-act-1907|url-status=live}}</ref> the regiment now had one Reserve and five Territorial battalions.<ref>These were the 3rd Battalion (Special Reserve), with the 4th (City of Dundee) Battalion at Parker Street in [[Dundee]] (since demolished), the 5th (Angus and Dundee) Battalion at [[Bank Street drill hall, Brechin|Bank Street]] in [[Brechin]], the 6th (Perthshire) Battalion at Tay Street in [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]] (since demolished), the 7th (Fife) Battalion at Market Street / City Road in [[St Andrews]] (since demolished) and the 8th (Cyclist) Battalion at [[Perth Road drill hall, Birnam|Perth Road]] in [[Birnam, Perth and Kinross|Birnam]] (all Territorial Force)</ref><ref name=regiments/>

=== First World War ===
{{see also|List of battalions of the Black Watch#First World War}}

==== Regular Army ====
The 1st Battalion landed at [[Le Havre]] as part of the [[1st Armoured Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|1st Brigade]] in the [[History of the British 1st Division during the World Wars|1st Division]] in August 1914 for service on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]].<ref name=trail>{{cite web|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/blackwatch.htm|title=The Black Watch|publisher=The Long, Long Trail|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=26 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426233957/http://www.1914-1918.net/blackwatch.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It saw action during the [[Great Retreat|Retreat from Mons]] in August 1914, the [[First Battle of the Marne]] in September 1914 and the [[First Battle of the Aisne]] later in September 1914; it also took part in the advance to the [[Hindenburg Line]] in September 1918.<ref name=bwww1>{{cite web|url=http://theblackwatch.co.uk/history-and-research/black-watch-history/first-world-war/|title=First World War|work=TheBlackWatch.co.uk|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702020855/http://theblackwatch.co.uk/history-and-research/black-watch-history/first-world-war|archive-date=2 July 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The 2nd Battalion landed at [[Marseille]] as part of the Bareilly Brigade in the [[7th (Meerut) Division]] in October 1914 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> It took part in the [[Winter operations 1914–1915|defence of Givenchy]] in December 1915<ref name=bwww1/> and then moved to [[Mesopotamia]] later that month and saw action during the [[siege of Kut]] in Spring 1916, the [[Fall of Baghdad (1917)|fall of Baghdad]] in March 1917 and the [[Battle of Istabulat]] in April 1917.<ref name=bwww1/> It transferred to [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] in January 1918 and took part in the [[Battle of Megiddo (1918)|Battle of Megiddo]] in September 1918.<ref name=bwww1/>

==== Territorial Force ====
The 1/4th (City of Dundee) Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the Bareilly Brigade in the 7th (Meerut) Division March 1915 for service on the Western Front and, following heavy losses at the [[Battle of Neuve Chapelle]] in March 1915 and the [[Battle of Festubert]] in May 1915,<ref name=bwww1/> amalgamated with 2nd Battalion in September 1915.<ref name=trail/> The 1/5th (Angus and Dundee) Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the [[24th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|24th Brigade]] in the [[8th Division (United Kingdom) in the First World War|8th Division]] for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> It also saw action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915 and the Battle of Festubert in May 1915.<ref name=bwww1/> The 1/6th (Perthshire) Battalion and the 1/7th (Fife) Battalion landed at [[Boulogne-sur-Mer]] as part of the [[153rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|153rd Brigade]] in the [[51st (Highland) Division]] in May 1915 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> They saw action at the [[Battle of the Ancre Heights]] in October 1916.<ref name=bwww1/>

====New Army====
=====8th (Service) Battalion=====
The 8th (Service) Battalion was raised in Perth by [[John Forbes-Sempill, 18th Lord Sempill|Lord Sempill of Fintray]] who had previously served with the Black Watch in the [[Mahdist War|Sudan]]. Recruiting commenced on 21 August 1914 and the ranks were filled by 3 September 1914. The 8th was the senior battalion in the [[26th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|26th Infantry Brigade]], which in turn was the leading brigade of the [[9th (Scottish) Division]], the first division of [[Kitchener's Army|Lord Kitchener's New Army]]. As such, the 8th (Service) Battalion can claim to be the vanguard of the "First Hundred Thousand" men in Kitchener's K1 Army. The battalion officially formed at Albuera Barracks in August 1914 before moving to [[Aldershot Garrison|Maida Barracks]] in September 1914. A core cadre of experienced regular and ex-regular officers, warrant officers and non-commissioned officers formed the backbone of the new unit. The enlisted men came mainly from the cities, farms and [[Fife Coalfield|collieries]] of [[Fife]] and [[Angus, Scotland|Forfarshire]]. 16 January 1915 saw the [[26th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|26th Infantry Brigade]] move from Aldershot to Hampshire with the 8th Battalion billeted at Alton. On 22 January 1915 [[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener|Lord Kitchener]] inspected the battalion, along with the rest of the [[9th (Scottish) Division]] during downpour of rain on Laffan's Plain (now [[Farnborough Airport]]). The battalion marched to [[Bordon Camp|Oxney Farm Camp]] near Bordon on 21 March 1915 to undertake a final musketry course where the 8th Battalion Machine Gun Section obtained the highest score in the brigade. In early May 1915, the battalion received the long-awaited orders to proceed overseas to France.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914–1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=3–5 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

The machine-gun section and battalion transport led the way, sailing to [[Le Havre]] via Southampton on 9 May with the bulk of the battalion following on 10 May sailing to [[Boulogne]] via [[Folkestone]]. The whole battalion then travelled on by train to [[Arques, Pas-de-Calais|Arques]] near [[Saint-Omer]] arriving in the early hours of 11 May, from here they heard the distant rumble of the guns at [[Second Battle of Ypres|Ypres]] for the first time. The battalion entered the trenches for the first time on 4 July 1915, relieving the 5th (Service) Battalion of the [[Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders]] in the front line East of [[Festubert]], they were relieved in turn on 7 July 1915 by 10th (Service) Battalion of the [[Highland Light Infantry]]. In this short four day introduction to trench warfare, the battalion lost three men killed and seven wounded.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=5–7 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

On 25 September 1915, the battalion took a leading role in the opening actions of the [[Battle of Loos]]. During three hard days of fighting at Loos, the battalion lost 19 officers and 492 other ranks either killed or wounded. This included the Commanding Officer Lt Col [[John Forbes-Sempill, 18th Lord Sempill|Lord Sempill]], the Second in Command Major J. G. Collins, three of the four Company Commanders and the [[Regimental sergeant major|Regimental Sergeant Major]] W. H. Black. Another notable casualty at Loos was Captain The Hon. [[Fergus Bowes-Lyon]], the elder brother of [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon]] who would later marry the future King [[George VI]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=9–15 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

The 8th (Service) Battalion spent the rest of the war in the trenches of the Western Front and took part in a number of key battles.

*1916 – [[Battle of Bazentin Ridge]]
*1917 – [[Battle of Arras (1917)|First battle of the Scarpe]], [[Battle of Arras (1917)|Third Battle of the Scarpe]], [[Battle of Passchendale|First Battle of Passchendale]]
*1918 – [[Operation Michael|First Battle of Bapaume]], [[Battle of the Lys (1918)|Battle of Messines]], [[Battle of the Lys (1918)|First Battle of Kemmel Ridge]], [[Battle of the Lys (1918)|Second Battle of Kemmel Ridge]], [[Fifth Battle of Ypres]], [[Battle of Courtrai (1918)|Battle of Courtrai]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914–1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=103 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

Following the armistice, demobilization began on 27 December 1918 and men were released in batches during the following months. In mid-August 1919 the remnants of the battalion returned to England, sailing from Calais to Folkestone before marching to Shorncliffe where trains were boarded to [[Brocton, Staffordshire|Brocton Camp]]. Demobilization continued and on 15 November 1919, the battalion was reduced to Cadre strength. Following the dispersal of the remaining officers and other ranks, the Commanding Officer, Adjutant and Quartermaster returned to the [[Queen's Barracks|Black Watch Depot]] in Perth where the battalion was officially disbanded in mid-December 1919.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=70–73 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> During active service between 1915 and 1918 the 8th (Service) Battalion lost a total of 169 officers (69 killed/93 wounded/8 missing) and 3,597 other ranks (1,123 killed/1,673 wounded/510 missing).<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=84 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> The bravery of the 8th is reflected in the number of gallantry decorations awarded, this includes 7 [[Distinguished Service Order]]s, 32 [[Military Cross]]es, 38 [[Distinguished Conduct Medal]]s, 6 [[Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)|Meritorious Service Medals]] and 137 [[Military Medal]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914–1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=99–101 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

=====9th (Service) Battalion=====
The 9th (Service) Battalion was raised from an initial draft of 200 men sent from [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]] to join the 8th (Service) Battalion at [[Aldershot Garrison|Aldershot]] on 6 September 1914. As the 8th Battalion was already fully manned, permission was granted to form a second unit from the drafts reaching the 8th Battalion between 6 September and 9 September, forming part of Kitchener's K2 Army. This became the 9th (Service) Battalion under the command of Major T.O. Lloyd, an ex-regular Black Watch officer who had retired from 1st Battalion in 1909.<ref name=wau>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=107–113 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

The new battalion lacked experienced officers and [[John Forbes-Sempill, 18th Lord Sempill|Lord Sempill]], the Commanding Officer of 8th Battalion, consented to transfer one of his three regular officers to 9th Battalion to act as Adjutant. At company level, almost all of the officers were newly commissioned Second Lieutenants with no prior military experience. The same was true of the non-commissioned officers, with the exception of the RSM, two former Colour Sergeants and a few old and bold ex soldiers, all NCO's were new to the army and promoted to acting rank on the recommendation of their company commander.<ref name=wau/>

September to November was spent training at Albuhera Barracks in Aldershot, where on 26 September the battalion paraded for the first time as a complete unit in front of the King, Queen and Lord Kitchener as part of the [[44th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|44th Brigade]] in the [[15th (Scottish) Infantry Division|15th (Scottish) Division]]. On this first formal parade, all of the division wore civilian clothes as uniforms had yet to be issued; it was not until the middle of October that the men were all dressed alike. and kilts did not arrive until 20 January 1915. by which time the battalion had taken up billets in the village of [[Liss, Hampshire|Liss]] in Hampshire. On 23 February 1915, the battalion moved to [[Chiseldon Camp]] in Wiltshire and commenced musketry training on 1 March; at this point only 25 service rifles were available. 12 May 1915 saw the battalion move with the rest of the [[44th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|44th Brigade]] to Parkhouse Camp in the [[Salisbury Plain Training Area]] to conduct brigade manoeuvres. The King inspected the 15th Division a second time on 21 June 1915 and was greatly impressed at the progress made in such a short space of time.<ref name=wau/>

On 4 July 1915, the battalion received embarkation orders for France. The machine gun and transport sections led the way and departed Parkhouse Camp on 7 July sailing on the {{SS|Mount Temple}} that night from [[Southampton]] to Le Havre. The bulk of the battalion left Parkhouse early on 8 July, sailing on the SS ''Invicta'' from [[Folkestone]] and arriving in [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]] that same evening.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=114 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> The 9th (Service) Battalion first entered the trenches on 2 August 1915 when it relieved 23rd/24th Battalions of the [[London Regiment (1908-1938)|London Regiment]] in a section of the line East of Maroc and opposite the famous 'Double Crassier'.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=117 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> The battalion was in turn relieved on 9 August 1915 by 10th Battalion [[Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)|Scottish Rifles]]. To their credit, the battalion suffered no casualties during this first introduction to trench warfare.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=118 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> On 25 September 1915. the battalion went in to action at the [[Battle of Loos]] where it suffered severe losses in two days of hard fighting. Of the 940 officers and men who went into action on 25 September, only 98 returned to their billets when the battalion was relieved by [[21st Division (United Kingdom)|21st Division]] on 26 September. The battalion lost a total of 701 men at Loos: 11 officers killed and 10 wounded with 360 other ranks killed or missing and 320 wounded.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=127 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

The 9th (Service) Battalion spent the rest of the war in the trenches of the Western Front and took part in a number of key battles.

*1916 – [[Battle of Delville Wood]], [[Battle of Flers-Courcelette]]
*1917 – [[Battle of Arras (1917)|First battle of the Scarpe]], [[Battle of Arras (1917)|Second Battle of the Scarpe]], [[Battle of Pilckem Ridge]], [[Battle of the Menin Road Ridge]]
*1918 – [[Operation Michael|First Battle of Bapaume]], [[Operation Michael|First Battle of Arras]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=201 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

On 11 May 1918, the original 9th (Service) Battalion left the line for the final time and was merged with the 4/5th Territorial Battalion. This amalgamation was part of measures taken to address the drain on manpower across the British Army.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Two: Territorial Force |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=97 |isbn=978-1-84734-572-1}}</ref> Whilst the bulk of the 9th went to the 4/5th a small training cadre of 10 officers and 51 other ranks remained and were initially employed training newly arrived American troops. Later that month the cadre returned to Aldershot where they spent two months raising and training a new unit which became 2/9th (Service) Battalion assigned to the [[47th Brigade (United Kingdom)|47th Brigade]], [[16th (Irish) Division]]. The 2/9th left [[Aldershot Garrison|Aldershot]] on 30 July 1918 sailing from Folkestone to Boulogne and reaching billets at Hodecq the following day. The next eighteen days were spent training before 2/9th entered the battle area at [[Noeux-les-Mines]] on 19 August 1918 where it relieved the 1st Battalion. On 21 August the battalion proceeded by rail to Sailly-Labourse where it supported the [[Leicester Town Rifles|14th Leicesters]] and [[welch Regiment|18th Welch]] holding the line in the Hohenzollern Sector. On 2 September 1918, the battalion was involved in a costly trench raid losing 31 men. The battalion advanced with the 16th Division until 20 October 1918 when it was assigned the task of repairing roads around Escoeuilles where it was when the armistice was declared on 11 November 1918. Following the armistice, the battalion started the process of demobilization and found itself at [[Fretin]] by 27 November 1918 where it remained until Spring 1919 when it was reduced to cadre strength and moved to Pont-a-Marcq. The cadre returned to Scotland in July 1919 where the 2/9th was finally disbanded.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=174–175 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> During active service between 1915 and 1918 the battalion lost 140 officers (46 killed/88 wounded/6 missing) and 2,899 other ranks (645 killed/2,029 wounded/225 missing).<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=186 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> The bravery of the 9th is reflected in the number of gallantry decorations awarded, including 3 [[Distinguished Service Order]]s, 28 [[Military Cross]]es, 7 [[Distinguished Conduct Medal]]s, 2 [[Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)|Meritorious Service Medals]] and 65 [[Military Medal]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbounre |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=198–199 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

=====10th (Service) Battalion=====
The 10th (Service) Battalion was raised in [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]] at the beginning of September 1914 under Lt Col [[Dick baronets|Sir William Stewart Dick-Cunyngham, 8th Baronet of Lambrughton]]. By 20 September 1914, a core body of 400 men had volunteered and were sent south to train at [[Shrewton]] in the [[Salisbury Plain Training Area]], where the 10th was to form part of the [[77th Brigade (United Kingdom)|77th Infantry Brigade]] alongside the 10th Battalion [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]], 11th Battalion [[Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)|Scottish Rifles]] and 8th Battalion [[Royal Scots Fusiliers]] as part of [[Kitchener's Army|Kitchener's K3 Army]]. Officers were gradually appointed to the battalion; some had previous Regular or [[Territorial Force|Territorial]] military experience but the majority had none. November saw the battalion move to Bristol where the men practised trench digging in Ashton Park. The men were comfortably quartered in several public buildings: A and C companies occupied [[Bristol Beacon|Colston Hall]], B the Victoria Gallery and D the Coliseum (a large ice skating rink); the officers were billeted at the Colston Hotel. In the New Year, makeshift uniforms were finally replaced by the coveted kilt and sporran. March 1915 saw the [[77th Brigade (United Kingdom)|77th Infantry Brigade]] move to [[Sutton Veny]] to engage in brigade and divisional manoeuvres with the [[26th Division (United Kingdom)|26th Division]]. Training was completed by the end of July 1915 and during August three days 'farewell' leave was granted to officers and men. On 10 September 1915 embarkation orders were received and on 17 September an advance party of 5 officers and 109 other ranks left for France, arriving at [[Longueau]] on 20 September before marching 20 miles to [[Bougainville, Somme|Bougainville]] to arrange billets for the battalion. The bulk of the battalion soon followed, leaving [[Folkestone]] at 6pm on 20 September aboard the SS ''La Marguerite'' and arriving at [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]] around midnight. The rest of the night was spent under canvas at Ostrahove Camp, and next morning the battalion boarded trains to [[Sallux]] before marching the final fifteen miles to rendezvous with the advance party at Bougainville.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbourne |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=205–208 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

[[File:10th Battalion The Black Watch.jpg|thumb|10th (Service) Battalion, Black Watch entrenching in the hills between the villages of Aivatli and Laina above the port of [[Salonika]], Greece, December 1915]]

On 23 September 1915, the battalion received orders to march to [[Salouël]] which was reached at midnight after seven hour's march in torrential rain. The following morning the [[77th Brigade (United Kingdom)|77th Infantry Brigade]] marched on to [[Villers-Bretonneux]] and were inspected on the road by the [[XII Corps (United Kingdom)|XII Corps]] Commander Lt-Gen [[Henry Fuller Maitland Wilson|Sir Henry Fuller Maitland Wilson]] who congratulated the 10th battalion on its march discipline and fine appearance. The battalion spent five days training at [[Villers-Bretonneux]] where the men could hear the distant rumbling of the artillery supporting the [[Battle of Loos]], for which 10th Battalion was held in reserve. On 29 September 1915, the battalion left for [[Proyart]] and the companies entered the front line trenches for the first time for forty-eight hours of instruction with the resident units. A and D companies joined 2nd Battalion [[Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry]] in the line at [[Fontaine-lès-Cappy]], with B and C companies rotating in on 2 October with the [[Royal Irish Fusiliers]].<ref name =wau1>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbourne |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=208–212 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

The battalion took responsibility for its first stretch of the line on 14 October when it relieved the [[King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry]] around Bray, with battalion HQ located in the town of [[Carnoy]]. On 5 November the battalion received orders to prepare for immediate deployment to [[Thessaloniki|Salonika]] to participate in operations on the [[Macedonian front]]. On 10 November the battalion marched to [[Longueau]] from where they boarded trains to [[Marseille]] which they reached soon after midday on 12 November. The battalion marched straight to the quay to begin boarding [[HMS Magnificent (1894)|HMS ''Magnificent'']] alongside two companies from the 11th Battalion [[Worcestershire Regiment]] and two companies from the 12th Battalion [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]]. The course followed was north of [[Corsica]], passing [[Elba]], south through the [[Straits of Messina]], along the coast of [[Sicily]] and on to [[Alexandria]], which was reached on 18 November 1915. At Alexandria, the men disembarked and spent the night at Maritza Camp before re-embarking on HMS ''Magnificent'' and sailing for Salonika, which was reached on 24 November.<ref name =wau1/>

The 10th Battalion spent the rest of 1915 and early 1916 constructing and manning part of the 'Birdcage Defensive Line' in the hills surrounding Salonika; the stretch of line allocated to the 10th ran between the villages of Aivatli and Laina. June 1916 saw the battalion move 'up country', spending time in division reserve and manning trenches in the Vladaja Line. On 8 May 1917, the 10th Battalion took part in the [[Battle of Doiran (1917)|Battle of Doiran]]. Out of 600 men engaged in this action, the 10th lost 5 officers killed and 6 wounded, with 63 other ranks killed and 309 wounded.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbourne |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=238 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> Due to losses incurred as a result of the [[German spring offensive]] it was decided that one battalion in each brigade would be withdrawn from Greece and transferred to the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]. On 14 June 1918, the 10th Battalion received orders to move to France, with the men embarking on the French transport ''Odessa'' at [[Itea, Phocis|Itea]] on 6 July, bound for [[Taranto]]. From Italy, the battalion travelled by train to [[Abancourt, Oise|Abancourt]], finally reaching the rest camp on 14 July, and were attached to [[197th (Lancashire Fusiliers) Brigade|197th Infantry Brigade]] in the [[66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division|66th Division]]. On 20 September, the battalion was informed that they were to be disbanded, with orders received on 29 September to send one complete company to each of the 1st, 6th and 14th Black Watch Battalions to replace losses. On 15 October, the disbandment of the 10th (Service) Battalion was reported as complete to 197th Infantry Brigade.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbourne |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |pages=250–255 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> During active service between 1915 and 1918 the 10th (Service) Battalion lost a total of 18 officers (8 killed/10 wounded) and 435 other ranks (122 killed/311 wounded/2 missing).<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbourne |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=261 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref> The bravery of the 10th is reflected in the number of gallantry decorations awarded, including 2 [[Distinguished Service Order]]s, 6 [[Military Cross]]es, 3 [[Distinguished Conduct Medal]]s, 3 [[Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)|Meritorious Service Medals]] and 10 [[Military Medal]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wauchope |first=Arthur Grenfell |author-link=Arthur Grenfell Wauchope |date=1925 |title=A History of The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in The Great War, 1914-1918, Volume Three: New Army |location=Eastbourne |publisher=Antony Rowe Ltd |page=265 |isbn=978-1-84734-573-8}}</ref>

=== Second World War ===
{{see also|List of battalions of the Black Watch#Second World War}}

==== Regular Army ====
[[File:The British Army in the United Kingdom 1939-45 H2917.jpg|thumb|Men of the 6th Battalion, Black Watch, stage a [[bayonet]] charge over trenches during a [[Military exercise|training exercise]] on the [[Isle of Wight]], 10 August 1940]]
[[File:The British Army in Sicily 1943 NA5504.jpg|thumb|Two soldiers from the Black Watch pass by a burning German anti-aircraft half-track, [[Sicily]], 5 August 1943]]
[[File:A sniper from "C" Company, 5th Battalion, The Black Watch in position in a ruined building in Gennep, Holland, 14 February 1945. B14626.jpg|thumb|A sniper from "C" Company, 5th Battalion, The Black Watch in position in a ruined building in [[Gennep]], the Netherlands, 14 February 1945]]

The 1st Battalion landed in France in September 1939 as part of the [[12th Armoured Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|12th Brigade]] in the [[4th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|4th Infantry Division]] for service with the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF). The battalion later transferred to the [[153rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|153rd Brigade]] of the [[51st (Highland) Division]] and was captured at [[St Valery-en-Caux]] during the [[Battle of France]]. It was reformed from reserve units of the [[9th (Highland) Infantry Division]] in August 1940 and moved to North Africa in August 1942 where it fought at the [[Second Battle of El Alamein]] in October 1942 and then continued to fight in the [[Tunisian Campaign]] before it took part in the [[Allied invasion of Sicily]] in July 1943. It also took part in the [[Normandy landings]] in June 1944, the [[Battle for Caen]] later that month and the [[Falaise Pocket|Battle of the Falaise Pocket]] in August 1944. It later saw action at the [[Battle of the Bulge]] in January 1945, [[Operation Veritable|Battle of the Reichswald]] in February 1945 and the [[Operation Plunder|crossing of the Rhine]] in March 1945.<ref name=bwww2>{{cite web|url=http://theblackwatch.co.uk/history-and-research/black-watch-history/second-world-war/|title=Second World War|work=TheBlackWatch.co.uk|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=3 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603104631/http://theblackwatch.co.uk/history-and-research/black-watch-history/second-world-war/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2nd Battalion was serving in [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] from where it was sent to East Africa in August 1940 and saw action during the [[Italian conquest of British Somaliland]]. It was sent to [[Crete]], as part of the [[14th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|14th Brigade]] in the [[8th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|8th Division]], and took part in the [[Battle of Heraklion]] in May 1941. It moved to North Africa in October 1941 and took part in the [[Siege of Tobruk|break out from Tobruk]] in November 1941.<ref name=bwww2/>

==== Territorial Army ====
The 4th Battalion landed in France in January 1940 as part of the 153rd Brigade in the 51st (Highland) Division for service with the BEF and then took part in the [[Dunkirk evacuation]] in June 1940. From July 1940 to April 1943 the battalion was stationed in Gibraltar.<ref name=bwww2/> The battalion remained in the United Kingdom for the rest of the war.<ref name=bwww2/>

The 5th Battalion landed in North Africa as part of the 153rd Brigade in the 51st (Highland) Division and fought at the [[Second Battle of El Alamein]] in October 1942. It also took part in the Normandy landings, while attached to the [[3rd Parachute Brigade (United Kingdom)|3rd Parachute Brigade]], in June 1944 and saw action at the Battle for Caen followed by the [[Battle of Bréville]] later that month. It saw combat again at the Battle of the Falaise Pocket in August 1944 and the [[Battle of the Bulge]] in January 1945.<ref name=bwww2/>

The 6th Battalion landed in France in January 1940 as part of the [[154th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|154th Brigade]] in the 51st (Highland) Division for service with the BEF. The battalion exchanged places with the 1st Battalion and became part of the 12th Brigade of the 4th Division and then took part in the Dunkirk evacuation in June 1940. It moved to North Africa in the spring of 1943 for service in the final stages of the Tunisian Campaign and then on to the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Front]] in February 1944 where it took part in the [[Battle of Monte Cassino]] in the spring of 1944.<ref name=bwww2/> The battalion later fought on the [[Gothic Line]] before being sent to [[Greece]] in late 1944, where it remained for the rest of the war.<ref name=bwww2/>

The 7th Battalion landed in North Africa as part of the 154th Brigade in the 51st (Highland) Division and fought at the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942. It also took part in the Normandy landings in June 1944, the Battle for Caen later that month and the Battle of the Falaise Pocket in August 1944. It later saw action at the Battle of the Bulge in January 1945. The 7th Battalion was also one of the first battalions to cross the river Rhine during [[Operation Plunder]] on the 23 March 1945.<ref name=bwww2/>

=== Postwar ===
The 2nd Battalion was deployed to India in 1945 and arrived at Cherat Cantonment, thirty-four miles from [[Peshawar]], on 15 August 1947, when India and Pakistan became independent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.khyberlodge.co.uk/about-khyber/peshawar-remembered |title=Peshawar Remembered |publisher=Khyberlodge.co.uk |date=2004-04-30 |access-date=2018-05-15 |archive-date=16 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516014635/http://www.khyberlodge.co.uk/about-khyber/peshawar-remembered |url-status=live}}</ref> In February 1946, the Black Watch was deployed to suppress the [[Royal Indian Navy mutiny]] at [[Karachi]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=West|first=Nigel|title=Historical Dictionary of Naval Intelligence|date=2010|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-7377-3|pages=125|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Sarkar|first1=Sumit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JdQ-AQAAIAAJ|title=Towards Freedom: Documents on the Movement for Independence in India, 1946|last2=Bhattacharya|first2=Sabyasachi|date=2007|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|isbn=978-0-19-569245-7|pages=79–80|language=en|author-link=Sumit Sarkar|access-date=3 May 2021|archive-date=2 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002143039/https://books.google.com/books?id=JdQ-AQAAIAAJ|url-status=live}} [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.461686/ Alt URL]</ref> On 26 February 1948 the battalion became the last British Army unit to leave Pakistan, boarding a transport ship at [[Karachi]], after a formal parade through the streets with the salute taken by the Prime Minister [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah|Jinnah]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFx5mGMwdEk | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426223312/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFx5mGMwdEk&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2020-04-26 | url-status=dead|title=Last British troops leave Pakistan (1947) |publisher=YouTube |date=1947-08-15 |access-date=2018-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/history-and-research/black-watch-history/post-war/ |title=Post War &#124; 1945-2006 |work=TheBlackWatch.co.uk |date=1952-11-19 |access-date=2018-05-15 |archive-date=16 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516014717/https://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/history-and-research/black-watch-history/post-war/ |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=xhXnU9ovxDsC&q=blackwatch+leave+pakistan+1948&pg=PT44|title=The Black Watch: A Concise History |first=Trevor |last=Royle |publisher=Mainstream |year=2006 |isbn=978-1845960896 |access-date=14 October 2020 |archive-date=12 December 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211212221833/https://books.google.com/books?id=xhXnU9ovxDsC&q=blackwatch+leave+pakistan+1948&pg=PT44 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The regiment won honours after the [[Second Battle of the Hook]] in November 1952 during the [[Korean War]].<ref name=inde>{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/black-watch-colours-are-consigned-to-history-7878754.html |title=Black Watch Colours are consigned to history |date=23 June 2012 |work=The Independent |access-date=8 May 2016 |archive-date=4 June 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160604080459/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/black-watch-colours-are-consigned-to-history-7878754.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The regiment helped to suppress the [[Mau Mau Uprising]] in [[Kenya]] in 1953 and to suppress the actions of [[EOKA]] during [[Cyprus Emergency|intercommunal violence]] in [[Cyprus]] in the late 1950s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theblackwatch.co.uk/history-and-research/black-watch-history/post-war/|title=1945-2006|work=TheBlackWatch.co.uk|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=17 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517160804/http://theblackwatch.co.uk/history-and-research/black-watch-history/post-war/|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[state funeral of John F. Kennedy]] in November 1963, nine [[List of bagpipers|bagpipers]] from the regimental band which had been on tour in the USA were invited to participate in the funeral procession. Between the [[White House]] and the [[Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle (Washington, D.C.)|Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle]] they performed ''The Brown Haired Maiden'', ''The Badge of Scotland'', ''The 51st Highland Division'', and ''The Barren Rocks of Aden.''<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Research-Aids/Ready-Reference/JFK-Fast-Facts/Funeral-Music.aspx |title=Funeral Music |work=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum |access-date=1 August 2013 |archive-date=27 June 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180627091219/https://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Research-Aids/Ready-Reference/JFK-Fast-Facts/Funeral-Music.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref> The Black Watch had won such renown that in December 1964 during an Anglo-American summit, President [[Lyndon Johnson]] asked the British Prime Minister [[Harold Wilson]] to send the Black Watch to [[Vietnam]], a request that was refused.<ref>Prenderghast, Gerald ''Britain and the Wars in Vietnam: The Supply of Troops, Arms and Intelligence, 1945-1975'' Jefferson: McFarland, 2015, p. 109</ref>

The Black Watch served in [[Northern Ireland]] during [[the Troubles]] as part of [[Operation Banner]]. The regiment was frequently a major target of the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] (PIRA) and the [[Irish National Liberation Army]] (INLA). A lance corporal serving with the regiment was shot by a sniper in East [[Belfast]] in November 1971 and a young private serving with the regiment was killed while on foot patrol in [[Dungannon]], [[County Tyrone]], by a remote control device in July 1978.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.palacebarracksmemorialgarden.co.uk/archive/black_watch.htm|title=Black Watch|publisher=Palace Barracks Memorial Garden|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=5 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605082700/http://www.palacebarracksmemorialgarden.co.uk/archive/black_watch.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Hong Kong handover ceremony ====

The Black Watch was the last British military unit to leave Hong Kong in 1997, and it played a prominent role in the [[Hong Kong handover ceremony|handover ceremony]].<ref name=inde/>

== Modern day ==
[[File:Soldiers from 3 Scots Deploy from a Chinook Helicopter in Afghanistan MOD 45151987.jpg|thumb|right|Soldiers from 3 Scots (The Black Watch) deploy from a [[Chinook helicopter]] at the start of an anti-narcotics operation in [[Sangin]], Afghanistan, in 2009.]] 
During the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 Iraq War]], the Black Watch fought during [[Operation Telic]] in the initial attack on [[Basra]], and during its deployment, the unit suffered a single fatality.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/fatalities/lance-corporal-barry-stephen|title=Lance Corporal Barry Stephen|publisher=Ministry of Defence|date=24 March 2003|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810165119/https://www.gov.uk/government/fatalities/lance-corporal-barry-stephen|url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, the Black Watch was dispatched to [[Iraq]] again, as part of [[4th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North East|4 (Armoured) Brigade]]. On 12 August, a soldier from the regiment was killed as a result of an [[improvised explosive device]] (IED).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/fatalities/private-marc-ferns|title=Private Marc Ferns|publisher=Ministry of Defence|date=14 August 2004|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810155715/https://www.gov.uk/government/fatalities/private-marc-ferns|url-status=live}}</ref> In October, the Black Watch was at the centre of political controversy after the [[United States Army]] requested British forces to be moved further north, outside of the British-controlled [[Multi-National Division (South-East) (Iraq)|Multi-National Division (South East)]], to replace forces temporarily redeployed for the [[Second Battle of Fallujah]]. Despite objections in [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|Parliament]], the deployment went ahead. Based at Camp Dogwood, located between [[Fallujah]] and [[Karbala]], in an area later dubbed the "[[Triangle of Death (Iraq)|Triangle of Death]]", the Black Watch came under sustained [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–11)|insurgent]] attack from [[Mortar (weapon)|mortars]] and rockets. On 29 October, during the journey to their new base, a Black Watch soldier was killed in a road accident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/fatalities/private-kevin-mchale|title=Private Kevin McHale|publisher=Ministry of Defence|date=1 November 2004|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810154030/https://www.gov.uk/government/fatalities/private-kevin-mchale|url-status=live}}</ref> On 4 November, three soldiers and an interpreter were killed by a car bomb at a [[Security checkpoint|check point]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/fatalities/sergeant-stuart-gray|title=3 British soldiers killed in Iraq|publisher=Ministry of Defence|date=6 November 2004|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810163714/https://www.gov.uk/government/fatalities/sergeant-stuart-gray|url-status=live}}</ref> and on 8 November, another soldier was killed: the high-profile nature of the deployment caused a magnification of these events back home in Britain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/fatalities/private-pita-tukutukuwaqa|title=Private Pita Tukutukuwaqa|publisher=Ministry of Defence|date=10 November 2004|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810145502/https://www.gov.uk/government/fatalities/private-pita-tukutukuwaqa|url-status=live}}</ref>

Under a plan devised by [[Lieutenant general|Lieutenant General]] [[Alistair Irwin]] and approved by [[Mike Jackson (British Army officer)|General Sir Mike Jackson]], on 16 December 2004, it was announced that the Black Watch was to join with five other Scottish regiments – the [[Royal Scots]], the [[King's Own Scottish Borderers]], the [[Royal Highland Fusiliers]], [[The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)|The Highlanders]] and the [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]] – to form the [[Royal Regiment of Scotland]], a single regiment consisting of five regular and two territorial battalions. The measure, which reflected recruiting difficulties and the inefficiencies inherent in maintaining a number of relatively small separate units, took place on 28 March 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/black-watch.html|title=Black Watch|publisher=British Army units 1945 on|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=27 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427134043/http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/black-watch.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Black Watch were retained following intervention from [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/dec/07/military.monarchy|title=Queen steps into Black Watch row|date=7 December 2004|website=The Guardian|access-date=12 July 2021|archive-date=12 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712093310/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/dec/07/military.monarchy|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2007 the battalion moved from [[Palace Barracks]] in [[Belfast]] to [[Fort George, Highland|Fort George]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/royal-regiment-of-scotland.html|title=The Royal Regiment of Scotland|publisher=British Army units 1945 on|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=24 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324171444/http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/royal-regiment-of-scotland.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 24 June 2009, it was reported that elements of the battalion numbering about 350 troops carried out one of the largest [[air assault]] operations of the NATO troops in Afghanistan, named [[Operation Panther's Claw]],<ref name="mod.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/3ScotsLaunchMassiveAirAssault.htm |title=3 SCOTS launch massive air assault, UK MOD |publisher=Mod.uk |access-date=6 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507093120/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/3ScotsLaunchMassiveAirAssault.htm |archive-date=7 May 2010}}</ref> by deploying into and attacking a Taliban stronghold located near Bābājī (باباجی ), north of [[Lashkar Gah]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-23-voa31.cfm |title=NATO Troops Stage Air Assault on Taliban Stronghold in Southern Afghanistan |first=Catherine |last=Maddux |publisher=VOA News |date=23 June 2009 |access-date=8 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625175841/http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-23-voa31.cfm |archive-date=25 June 2009}}</ref> The operation commenced on 19 June just before midnight.<ref name="mod.uk"/> After a number of combat engagements with the insurgents, the soldiers of the battalion secured three main crossing points: the Lui Mandey Wadi crossing, the Nahr-e-Burgha canal and the Shamalan canal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090623/twl-uk-troops-in-huge-air-assault-on-tal-3fd0ae9.html |title=UK Troops In Huge Air Assault On Taliban |publisher=SkyNews |date=2009 |access-date=8 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624151545/http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090623/twl-uk-troops-in-huge-air-assault-on-tal-3fd0ae9.html |archive-date=24 June 2009}}</ref> Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Cartwright, Commanding Officer of The Black Watch battalion, was reported saying that this operation established a firm foothold in what was the last remaining Taliban area controlled in the southern [[Helmand Province]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afghanmania.com/en/board/topic/british-forces-target-taliban-stronghold|title=British Forces Target Taliban Stronghold|publisher=Afghan Mania|date=2010|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=24 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924060751/http://www.afghanmania.com/en/board/topic/british-forces-target-taliban-stronghold|url-status=live}}</ref> The location of the Taliban force in the area had allowed it to conduct attacks on the A01 highway, a major national route connecting [[Kandahar]] and [[Herat]]. During 22 June, troops of the battalion also "found 1.3 tonnes of poppy seed and a number of improvised explosive devices and anti-personnel mines before they could be laid."<ref name="mod.uk"/> Analysis by the United Nations [[Food and Agriculture Organization|Food and Agriculture Organisation]] revealed the haul to be of [[mung bean]]s, not poppy seed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Opium crop haul just a hill of beans, admits MoD |author=Boone, Jon |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jun/30/kabul-opium-haul-british-military |work=[[guardian.co.uk]] |date=30 June 2009 |access-date=4 July 2009 |archive-date=6 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906200411/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jun/30/kabul-opium-haul-british-military |url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the [[Army 2020 Refine]] reorganisation, the battalion was to remain at [[Fort George, Highland|Fort George]] until 2023 where it was to move to another barracks in Scotland. This would later be changed in 2021 with the battalion to relocate to [[Leuchars Station|Leuchars]] in 2029 instead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/scottish-politics/2767464/defence-chiefs-pledge-to-grow-kinloss-barracks-and-leuchars-station/|title=Black Watch set for Leuchars move in 2029|website=thecourier.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2024-11-06}}</ref> Following the reorganisation, the battalion was equipped with the [[Ocelot (vehicle)|Foxhound light mechanised vehicle]]. The battalion was also moved under the command of the [[51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/royal-regiment-of-scotland/|title=Royal Regiment of Scotland|website=www.army.mod.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-10-09|archive-date=7 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107194152/http://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/royal-regiment-of-scotland/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/royal-regiment-of-scotland.html|title=British Army units from 1945 on - Royal Regiment of Scotland|website=british-army-units1945on.co.uk|access-date=2019-10-09|archive-date=24 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324171444/http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/royal-regiment-of-scotland.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the later part of 2023 the battalion was subordinated to [[11th Security Force Assistance Brigade|11th Security Forces Assistance Brigade]] in [[Aldershot Garrison|Aldershot]]. The battalion was reduced to 301 personnel, in line with a Security Forces Assistance Battalion order of battle.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/about-the-army/formations-divisions-brigades/1st-united-kingdom-division/11th-security-force-assistance-brigade/|title= 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=6 November 2024}}</ref>

11th SFA Brigade was redesignated 11th Brigade in 2024, transitioning back to [[Field Army Troops]], with the combat role of tactical recce-strike.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SOLDIER - December 2024 |url=https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=1a92be17-44b0-4dd4-b740-89057cd9a275 |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk |page=15 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Structure ==
The regiment is currently organised into a standard light infantry organisation (included are affiliated units):

* Home Headquarters, at [[Fort George, Highland|Fort George]], [[Inverness]] – subordinate to RHQ, Royal Regiment of Scotland based at [[Edinburgh Castle]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-12-13|title=The Royal Regiment of Scotland [UK]|url=http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/001SCOTS.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213045028/http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/001SCOTS.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-12-13|access-date=2021-05-06}}</ref>
* Active Battalion, at Fort George, Inverness – organised as a Security Force Assistance Battalion
** Battalion Headquarters<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |author=Ali Gibson |date=19 August 2016 |title=3 SCOTS Go On The Road |url=https://www.forces.net/feature/3-scots-go-road |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506205804/https://www.forces.net/feature/3-scots-go-road |archive-date=6 May 2021 |access-date=2021-05-06 |website=Forces Network |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Google Earth |url=https://earth.google.com/web/search/MoD+Caledonia/@57.583876,-4.07073083,6.95492372a,0d,29.86814968y,246.35572356h,85.92897183t,0r/data=CoYBGlwSVgolMHg0ODc2MDU1NTZkMjYxYWNiOjB4ZTM3NTU1YjExMWFlOGRkOCotRm9ydCBHZW9yZ2UKUmVnaW1lbnRhbCBtdXNldW0KJiBhcm15IGJhcnJhY2tzGAEgASImCiQJq1egkXK1REARDv7yKgy1REAZnOdAnHBkUsAhizRx9MhkUsAiGgoWYmRGY0kxVkdxR0w2R1pGU2JsN2FCURAC |access-date=2021-05-06 |website=earth.google.com |archive-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210506194458/https://earth.google.com/web/search/MoD+Caledonia/@57.583876,-4.07073083,6.95492372a,0d,29.86814968y,246.35572356h,85.92897183t,0r/data=CoYBGlwSVgolMHg0ODc2MDU1NTZkMjYxYWNiOjB4ZTM3NTU1YjExMWFlOGRkOCotRm9ydCBHZW9yZ2UKUmVnaW1lbnRhbCBtdXNldW0KJiBhcm15IGJhcnJhY2tzGAEgASImCiQJq1egkXK1REARDv7yKgy1REAZnOdAnHBkUsAhizRx9MhkUsAiGgoWYmRGY0kxVkdxR0w2R1pGU2JsN2FCURAC|url-status=live}}</ref>
** Headquarters Company<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google Earth |url= https://earth.google.com/web/search/MoD+Caledonia/@57.58388584,-4.07213044,7.84880727a,0d,20.14770431y,340.57204626h,85.30438527t,0r/data=CigiJgokCatXoJFytURAEQ7-8ioMtURAGZznQJxwZFLAIYs0cfTIZFLAIhoKFjNGRmY5OFB4UzdoOUppQWJqelJkMWcQAg|access-date=2021-05-06 |website=earth.google.com |archive-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210506194456/https://earth.google.com/web/search/MoD+Caledonia/@57.58388584,-4.07213044,7.84880727a,0d,20.14770431y,340.57204626h,85.30438527t,0r/data=CigiJgokCatXoJFytURAEQ7-8ioMtURAGZznQJxwZFLAIYs0cfTIZFLAIhoKFjNGRmY5OFB4UzdoOUppQWJqelJkMWcQAg|url-status=live}}</ref>
** A (Grenadier) Company, with ANPR (Pipes and Drums)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author=Ali Gibson |date=21 January 2016 |title=3 SCOTS Take On The Foxhound |url=https://www.forces.net/services/army/3-scots-take-foxhound |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506194459/https://www.forces.net/services/army/3-scots-take-foxhound |archive-date=6 May 2021 |access-date=2021-05-06 |website=Forces Network |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Google Earth|url=https://earth.google.com/web/search/MoD+Caledonia/@57.58339198,-4.07149875,6.67211676a,0d,25.20830295y,30.20709317h,87.31890602t,0r/data=CigiJgokCatXoJFytURAEQ7-8ioMtURAGZznQJxwZFLAIYs0cfTIZFLAIhoKFk1iTTg4emtUeHhfeWZIVnk4VUk2ckEQAg|access-date=2021-05-06|website=earth.google.com|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507122157/https://earth.google.com/web/search/MoD+Caledonia/@57.58339198,-4.07149875,6.67211676a,0d,25.20830295y,30.20709317h,87.31890602t,0r/data=CigiJgokCatXoJFytURAEQ7-8ioMtURAGZznQJxwZFLAIYs0cfTIZFLAIhoKFk1iTTg4emtUeHhfeWZIVnk4VUk2ckEQAg|url-status=live}}</ref> B,<ref name=":1"/><ref name=":0"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Google Earth|url=https://earth.google.com/web/search/MoD+Caledonia/@57.58328525,-4.07201467,6.69364977a,0d,20.66887927y,287.07969578h,86.63225981t,0r/data=CigiJgokCatXoJFytURAEQ7-8ioMtURAGZznQJxwZFLAIYs0cfTIZFLAIhoKFlpMbjdySGdNZ3RyNm5uLXplTEdxWFEQAg|access-date=2021-05-06|website=earth.google.com|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506194500/https://earth.google.com/web/search/MoD+Caledonia/@57.58328525,-4.07201467,6.69364977a,0d,20.66887927y,287.07969578h,86.63225981t,0r/data=CigiJgokCatXoJFytURAEQ7-8ioMtURAGZznQJxwZFLAIYs0cfTIZFLAIhoKFlpMbjdySGdNZ3RyNm5uLXplTEdxWFEQAg|url-status=live}}</ref> and D (Light)<ref name=":0"/><ref name=":1"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Google Earth|url=https://earth.google.com/web/search/MoD+Caledonia/@57.58371948,-4.07170038,7.88963927a,0d,21.06818692y,107.2798405h,84.63341963t,0r/data=CigiJgokCatXoJFytURAEQ7-8ioMtURAGZznQJxwZFLAIYs0cfTIZFLAIhoKFlZ5VGZjeHF0Skgyc3NyelZVWGZqclEQAg|access-date=2021-05-06|website=earth.google.com|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507122158/https://earth.google.com/web/search/MoD+Caledonia/@57.58371948,-4.07170038,7.88963927a,0d,21.06818692y,107.2798405h,84.63341963t,0r/data=CigiJgokCatXoJFytURAEQ7-8ioMtURAGZznQJxwZFLAIYs0cfTIZFLAIhoKFlZ5VGZjeHF0Skgyc3NyelZVWGZqclEQAg|url-status=live}}</ref> Companies (Light Infantry)
** C (Fire Support) Company<ref>{{Cite web|title=Google Earth|url=https://earth.google.com/web/search/MoD+Caledonia/@57.58361981,-4.07219574,7.59347459a,0d,16.03939809y,197.04222243h,86.66728923t,0r/data=CigiJgokCatXoJFytURAEQ7-8ioMtURAGZznQJxwZFLAIYs0cfTIZFLAIhoKFjdVRXlOSUNZZjdyTjJmczFoRTV1a0EQAg|access-date=2021-05-06|website=earth.google.com|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506194457/https://earth.google.com/web/search/MoD+Caledonia/@57.58361981,-4.07219574,7.59347459a,0d,16.03939809y,197.04222243h,86.66728923t,0r/data=CigiJgokCatXoJFytURAEQ7-8ioMtURAGZznQJxwZFLAIYs0cfTIZFLAIhoKFjdVRXlOSUNZZjdyTjJmczFoRTV1a0EQAg|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[51st Highland Volunteers]], 7th Battalion [[Royal Regiment of Scotland]] (Army Reserve)
** A (Black Watch) Company, in [[Dundee]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dalkeith Road, Dundee DD4 7DL|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/scotland/dundee-dalkeith-road|access-date=17 April 2021|website=Army Careers|archive-date=19 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619061405/https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/scotland/dundee-dalkeith-road|url-status=live}}</ref>
*** Platoon, at [[Gordon Barracks]], [[Aberdeen]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gordon Barracks, Ellon Road, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen AB23 8DB|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/scotland/aberdeen-ellon-road|access-date=17 April 2021|website=Army Careers|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417161847/https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/scotland/aberdeen-ellon-road|url-status=live}}</ref>
*** [[Lovat Scouts|Lovat Scouts Platoon]], in [[Kirkcaldy]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=48 Hunter Street, Kirkcaldy KY1 1NH|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/scotland/kirkcaldy-48-hunter-street|access-date=17 April 2021|website=Army Careers|archive-date=19 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619062557/https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/scotland/kirkcaldy-48-hunter-street|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The Black Watch Regimental Museum, at Balhousie Castle, Perth

==Regimental museum==
The battalion headquarters and regimental museum are at [[Balhousie Castle]] in [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/castle-and-museum/|title=Castle and museum|publisher=The Black Watch|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=3 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603095824/http://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/castle-and-museum/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Uniform and traditions ==
The Black Watch's primary recruiting areas are in [[Fife]], [[Dundee]], [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]] and [[Perth and Kinross]]. The battalion is permitted to retain its most famous distinction, the red [[hackle]] on the [[Tam o'shanter (hat)|Tam o'Shanter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/collections/tam-oshanter-with-hackle/|title=Tam o'Shanter with hackle|publisher=The Black Watch|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=16 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616001919/https://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/collections/tam-oshanter-with-hackle/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Notable members ==
The following are notable individuals who served with the regiment:
* [[Alfred Anderson (veteran)|Alfred Anderson]], Scotland's last surviving [[World War I]] veteran (d. 2005)
* [[Bernard Fergusson, Baron Ballantrae]], the last British-born [[Governor-General of New Zealand]]
* [[Hugh Rose, 24th of Kilravock]] {{postnominals|country=GBR|CMG|DL|JP}}, Commander of the 1st Battalion.
* [[James C. Gibson]], Scottish-born plantation manager and community leader in [[British Guiana]]. Acting Staff Corporal during World War I.
* [[Jim Baxter]], Scottish footballer
* [[Fergus Bowes-Lyon]], older brother of [[Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon|Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother]]
* [[Duncan Campbell (died 1758)|Duncan Campbell]], Scots nobleman and British Army officer
* [[Iain Cuthbertson]], actor
* [[Harold Davis (footballer)|Harold Davis]], Scottish former professional football player
* [[Henry Robert Ferguson Davie|Henry Davie]], [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] Member of Parliament for [[Haddington (UK Parliament constituency)|Haddington]]
* [[Adam Ferguson]], Scottish philosopher, social scientist and historian
* [[Al Foreman]], British lightweight boxing champion, assigned as a non-combat drummer boy at the end of WWI at age 14, very brief service. Later received Distinguished Flying Cross with Royal Air Force in WWII.
* [[Stewart Granger]], actor
* [[J. B. S. Haldane]], British-born geneticist and evolutionary biologist
* [[Karl Leyser]], German-born medieval historian and Oxford professor
* [[Christopher Logue]], English poet
* [[Fulton Mackay]], Scottish actor
* [[Gillean Maclaine]], the 25th hereditary Chief of [[Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie]]
* [[Lachlan Macquarie]], Governor of [[New South Wales]], Australia from 1810 to 1821
* [[Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet|Robert Munro]], the original Black Watch commander, Colonel Sir Robert Munro
* [[John Murray (theologian)|John Murray]], theologian
* [[Brian Nelson (Northern Irish loyalist)|Brian Nelson]], Northern Irish loyalist
* [[Eric Newby]], English travel author
* [[Simon Ramsay, 16th Earl of Dalhousie|Simon Ramsay]], Conservative politician and colonial governor
* [[Neil Ritchie]], British Army officer during the [[Second World War]]
* [[William Rose (screenwriter)|William Rose]], screenwriter
* [[Bertie Snowball]], golfer
* [[Rory Stewart]], Scottish diplomat, Harvard professor and Conservative MP
* [[Frederick Guthrie Tait|Frederick Tait]], Scottish soldier and amateur golfer
* [[Peter Walls]] Lt General of the Rhodesian Army
* [[Arthur Grenfell Wauchope|Arthur Wauchope]], British soldier and colonial administrator
* [[Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell|Archibald Wavell]], British [[field marshal]] during the Second World War

=== Recipients of the Victoria Cross ===
The following Black Watch servicemen were awarded the [[Victoria Cross]]:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/index/victoria-cross-recipients |title=Victoria Cross Recipients |publisher=The Black Watch |access-date=8 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317024815/http://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/index/victoria-cross-recipients |archive-date=17 March 2013}}</ref>
* [[Francis Farquharson]], Indian Mutiny Lucknow, 9 March 1858
* [[John Simpson (VC)|John Simpson]], Indian Mutiny Fort Ruhya, 15 April 1858
* [[Alexander Thompson (VC)|Alexander Thompson]], Indian Mutiny Fort Ruhya, 15 April 1858
* [[James Davis (VC)|James Davis]], Indian Mutiny Fort Ruhya, 15 April 1858
* [[Edward Spence (VC)|Edward Spence]], Indian Mutiny Fort Ruhya, 15 April 1858
* [[William Gardner (VC)|William Gardner]], Indian Mutiny Bareilly, 5 May 1858
* [[Walter Cook (VC)|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 (VC)|Thomas Edwards]], Egyptian Campaigns Tamaai, 13 March 1884
* [[John Ripley]], First World War Rue du Bois, 9 May 1915
* [[David Finlay (VC)|David Finlay]], First World War Rue du Bois, 9 May 1915
* [[Charles Melvin]], First World War Istabulat, 21 April 1917
* [[Lewis Pugh Evans|Lewis Evans]], First World War Zonnebeke, 4 October 1917
* [[Bill Speakman]], Korean War, 4 November 1951

== Battle honours ==
* The battle honours consist of the combined battle honours of the 42nd Regiment and the 73rd Regiment, together with:<ref name=regiments>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/042Black.htm |title=The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) |publisher=Regiments.org |access-date=15 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051230124806/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/042Black.htm |archive-date=30 December 2005}}</ref>
** Guadaloupe 1759<sup>1</sup>, Martinique 1762<sup>1</sup>, Havannah<sup>1</sup>, North America 1763–64, Mysore<sup>5</sup>, Busaco³, Salamanca<sup>4</sup>, South Africa 1846–47<sup>6</sup>, 1851-2-3<sup>6</sup> Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt 1882 '84, Kirbekan, Nile 1884–85, Paardeberg, [[South Africa 1899–1902]]
** The Great War [25 battalions]: [[Retreat from Mons]], [[Marne 1914]] '18, [[Aisne 1914]], La Bassée 1914, [[Ypres 1914]] '17 '18, Langemarck 1914, Gheluvelt, Nonne Bosschen, Givenchy 1914, Neuve Chapelle, Aubers, Festubert 1915, Loos, [[Somme 1916]] '18, [[Albert 1916]], Bazentin, [[Delville Wood]], Pozières, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Thiepval, Le Transloy, Ancre Heights, Ancre 1916, [[Arras 1917]] '18, [[Vimy 1917]], [[Scarpe 1917]] '18, Arleux, Pilckem, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, [[Cambrai 1917]] '18, St Quentin, [[Bapaume 1918]], Rosières, Lys, Estaires, Messines 1918, Hazebrouck, Kemmel, Béthune, Scherpenberg, Soissonnais-Ourcq, Tardenois, Drocourt-Quéant, [[Hindenburg Line]], Épéhy, St Quentin Canal, Beaurevoir, Courtrai, Selle, Sambre, [[France and Flanders 1914–18]], [[Doiran 1917]], [[Macedonia 1915–18]], Egypt 1916, Gaza, Jerusalem, Tell'Asur, Megiddo, Sharon, Damascus, [[Palestine 1917–18]], [[Tigris 1916]], [[Kut al Amara 1917]], Baghdad, Mesopotamia 1915–17
** The Second World War: [[Defence of Arras]], Ypres-Comines Canal, Dunkirk 1940, Somme 1940, St. Valery-en-Caux, Saar, [[Battle of Breville|Breville]], Odon, Fontenay le Pesnil, Defence of Rauray, Caen, Falaise, Falaise Road, La Vie Crossing, Le Havre, Lower Maas, Venlo Pocket, Ourthe, Rhineland, Reichswald, Goch, Rhine, [[North-West Europe 1940]] '44–45, Barkasan, British Somaliland 1940, [[Tobruk 1941]], Tobruk Sortie, El Alamein, Advance on Tripoli, Medenine, Zemlet el Lebene, Mareth, Akarit, Wadi Akarit East, Djebel Roumana, Medjez Plain, Si Mediene, Tunis, North Africa 1941–43, Landing in Sicily, Vizzini, Sferro, Gerbini, Adrano, Sferro Hills, Sicily 1943, Cassino II, Liri Valley, Advance to Florence, Monte Scalari, Casa Fortis, Rimini Line, Casa Fabbri Ridge, Savio Bridgehead, [[Italy 1944–45]], Athens, Greece 1944–45, Crete, Heraklion, Middle East 1941, Chindits 1944, Burma 1944
** The Hook 1952, Korea 1952–53; Al Basrah, Iraq 2003; Second Battle of Fallujah, Iraq 2004

1. awarded 1909 for services of 42nd Regiment.<br>
2. awarded 1914 for services of 42nd Regiment.<br>
3. awarded 1910 for service of 42nd Regiment.<br>
4. awarded 1951 for service of 42nd Regiment.<br>
5. awarded 1889 for service of 73rd Regiment.<br>
6. awarded 1882 for service of 73rd Regiment.

== Colonels-in-Chief ==
*1912–1936:  [[George V|King George V]]
*1937–2002:  [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|LG|LT|CI|ONZ|GCVO|GBE|CC|GStJ|RRC|CD}}
*2003–present:  [[Charles III|King Charles III]]

== Regimental Colonels ==
Colonels of the regiment were:<ref name= regiments/>
;The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
*1881–1888 (1st Battalion): Gen. Sir [[Duncan Alexander Cameron]] (ex [[42nd Foot]])
*1881–1885 (2nd Battalion): Gen. Sir [[Henry Ferguson Davie|Henry Robert Ferguson-Davie]], Bt. (ex [[73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot|73rd Foot]])
*1888–1907 (1st Battalion): Gen. Sir [[Robert Rollo (British Army Officer)|Robert Rollo]]
*1907–1914: Lt-Gen. Sir [[John Chetham McLeod]]
*1914–1929: Gen. Sir [[John Maxwell (British Army officer)|John Grenfell Maxwell]]
*1929–1940: Gen. Sir [[Archibald Cameron (British Army officer)|Archibald Rice Cameron]]
;The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) (1935)
*1940–1946: Gen. Sir [[Arthur Grenfell Wauchope]]
*1946–1950: F.M. Sir [[Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell]]
*1950–1952: Gen. Sir [[Neil Ritchie|Neil Methuen Ritchie]]
*1952–1960: Maj-Gen. Neil McMicking
*1960–1964: Maj-Gen. Robert [[Keith Arbuthnott, 15th Viscount of Arbuthnott]]
*1964–1969: Brig. Henry Conyers Baker-Baker
*1969–1976: Brig. Rt. Hon. [[Bernard Edward Fergusson, Baron Ballantrae]]
*1976–1981: Brig. John Cassels Montieth
*1981–1992: Maj-Gen. [[Andrew Watson (British Army officer)|Andrew Linton Watson]]
*1992–2003: Brig. Garry Charles Barnett
*2003–2006: Lt-Gen. Sir [[Alistair Irwin|Alistair Stuart Hastings Irwin]]
*''2006: Regiment amalgamated with the [[Royal Scots]], the [[King's Own Scottish Borderers]], the [[Royal Highland Fusiliers]], the [[Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)]] and the [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]] – to form the [[Royal Regiment of Scotland]]''

== Alliances ==
The battalion has the following alliances:<ref name=regiments/>
[[File:Black Watch (Old Campbell) tartan, tileable.png|thumb|200px|The Black Watch [[tartan]].]]
* {{AUS}} – Australia – [[Royal Queensland Regiment|The Royal Queensland Regiment]]
* {{AUS}} – Australia – [[Royal New South Wales Regiment|The Royal New South Wales Regiment]]
* {{CAN}} – Canada – [[The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada]]
* {{CAN}} – Canada – [[42nd Field Artillery Regiment (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish), RCA]]
* {{CAN}} – Canada – [[The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC)]]
* {{RSA}} – South Africa – [[Solomon Mahlangu Regiment]]
* {{SRI}} - Sri Lanka - [[Gemunu Watch]]
* {{navy|United Kingdom}} – {{HMS|Montrose|F236|6}}

Before and after the Second World War, the Australian Militia, later renamed the Citizen Military Forces (CMF), included the [[30th Battalion (Australia)|30th Battalion, New South Wales Scottish Regiment]]. This unit was affiliated with the Black Watch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/unit/U56112/|title=30th Australian Infantry Battalion|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=12 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012132446/https://www.awm.gov.au/unit/U56112/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Canada (from 1862) has its own Black Watch, being raised as the 5th Battalion of the Canadian Militia, being renamed by 1914 as the 5th Regiment (Royal Highlanders of Canada).<ref>Copp, p. 11</ref> It adopted its current title, [[The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada]], prior to the Second World War, and saw action in both world wars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackwatchcanada.com/|title=Black watch Canada|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=11 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511224659/http://www.blackwatchcanada.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

New Zealand raised the [[New Zealand Scottish Regiment]] in 1939, which was allied to the Black Watch and disbanded in 2013.<ref name="Red Hackle">{{cite web|last=Pierce|first=Brett|title=End of an Era - Laying up of the New Zealand Scottish Regiment Colours|page=30|work=The Red Hackle|year=2016|url=https://theblackwatch.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/RHNov2016.pdf|series=162|access-date=25 May 2022|archive-date=1 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601132123/https://theblackwatch.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/RHNov2016.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Anecdotes ==
When wearing the kilt, it is customary for troops to "go regimental" or "military practice", wearing no underwear.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-19041076.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105233326/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-19041076.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 November 2013 |title=When a blue moon has more to do with the wind-chill factor |publisher=The Sunday Herald|date=14 January 2001|access-date=8 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article464594.ece|title=Scots tradition hit by cover-up ruling|work=The Times|date=2 August 2004|access-date=12 May 2008|archive-date=6 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606054932/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article464594.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1997, a Black Watch soldier received wide press exposure because of windy conditions during a military ceremony in Hong Kong.<ref name="autogenerated2"/>

== In popular culture ==
* Anthems associated with the regiment include "Wha Saw the Forty-Second", ("Wha saw the Forty Twa") a reworking of the Jacobite song "Wha Wadna Fecht For [[Charles Edward Stuart|Charlie]]",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiMARCH42;ttMARCH42.html|title=Wha Saw the 42nd|publisher=Digital Tradition Mirror|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=29 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429193200/http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiMARCH42;ttMARCH42.html|url-status=live}}</ref> "[[The Gallant Forty Twa]]", and "Twa Recruiting Sergeants".<ref name=twa>{{cite web |url= http://www.mysongbook.de/msb/songs/t/twarecru.html |title=Twa Recruitin' Sergeants |publisher=Henry's Song Book |access-date=8 May 2016 |archive-date=1 June 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160601064737/http://www.mysongbook.de/msb/songs/t/twarecru.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
* In 2006, the [[National Theatre of Scotland]] premiered a new play, ''[[Black Watch (play)|Black Watch]]'', by [[Gregory Burke]] at the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]]. Compiled from interviews with former soldiers, the play dealt with the history of the regiment and in particular the recent deployment in [[Iraq]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/content/default.asp?page=home_BlackWatchEdinburgh2006 |title=''Black Watch'' – Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2006 |work=National Theatre of Scotland |year=2006 |access-date=1 August 2013 |archive-date=20 September 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120920234502/http://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/content/default.asp?page=home_BlackWatchEdinburgh2006 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* The regiment are lambasted in an [[Irish rebel song]] ''The Black Watch'', recorded by various artists such as the Irish Brigade, the Fighting Men of Crossmaglen, Athenry and Shebeen, for their role in [[the Troubles]]. The lyrics speak of the Black Watch, "strolling down the [[Falls Road, Belfast|Falls Road]] with riot guns and gas, terrorising women as they're coming out of [[Mass in the Catholic Church|Mass]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irish-folk-songs.com/the-black-watch-lyrics-and-chords1.html |title=The Black WATCH |work=Irish Folk Songs |year=2017 |access-date=26 May 2017 |archive-date=19 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619230621/http://www.irish-folk-songs.com/the-black-watch-lyrics-and-chords1.html |url-status=live}}</ref> (The tune is taken from the earlier song "The Gallant Forty-Twa".)<ref name=twa/>
* The tabletop game [[Battletech]] features a fictionalized version of the Black Watch known as the Royal Black Watch Regiment, serving as the bodyguard of the First Lord of the Star League and using the same insignia and motto as their real life counterparts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Royal_Black_Watch_Regiment |title=Royal Black Watch Regiment |work=Battletech Wiki |year=2020 |access-date=29 September 2020 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112003933/https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Royal_Black_Watch_Regiment |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Glasgow Green, c.1758 (Black Watch).JPG|'Glasgow Green, c.1758'. A painting in the regimental museum showing a review of Black Watch recruits, c.1758'.
File:Glasgow Green, c.1758 (Black Watch) detail 2.JPG|Detail from the painting 'Glasgow Green, c.1758'.
File:Glasgow Green, c.1758 (Black Watch) detail 3.JPG|Detail from the painting 'Glasgow Green, c.1758'.
File:Gibraltar from the Straits; and The Black Watch on Parade at Gibraltar 1.png|The Black Watch on Parade at [[Gibraltar]].
File:The British Army in Sicily 1943 NA5504.jpg|Black Watch soldiers pass by a burning German anti-aircraft half-track, Sicily, 5 August 1943.
File:Black Watch Memorial, Aberfeldy.jpg|Black Watch Memorial, Aberfeldy.
File:Black Watch Memorial on the Mound, Edinburgh.jpg|Black Watch South African Wars Memorial, Edinburgh.
File:The Black Watch monument, Edinburgh (June 2024).jpg|Black Watch monument, Edinburgh (June 2024)
File:Black Watch Memorial panel 2.jpg
File:Black Watch Memorial panel.jpg|3 details from the Black Watch Memorial, Edinburgh.
File:Black Watch Memorial panel 3.jpg
File:Black Watch Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 174783.jpg|Black Watch Memorial on Powrie Brae near Dundee 
</gallery>

== See also ==

* [[Armed forces in Scotland]]
* [[Military history of Scotland]]

* [[Lovat Scouts]]
* [[Foreign military units at the state funeral of John F. Kennedy]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book|last=Copp|first=Terry|title=The Brigade: The Fifth Canadian Infantry Brigade in World War II|year= 2007|publisher=Stackpole Books|isbn=978-0-8117-3422-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Parker|first= John|title=Black Watch|publisher=Headline Book Publishing|year= 2008|isbn= 978-0-7553-1348-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Simpson|first=Peter|year=1996|title=The Independent Highland Companies, 1603–1760|publisher=Edinburgh: John Donald|isbn= 0-85976-432-X}}
* {{cite book|last=Trevor-Roper|first=Hugh|title=The Invention of Scotland|publisher=Yale University Press|year=2009|isbn=978-0-300-13686-9|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/inventionofscotl00trev}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|last1=Anton|first1=James|title=Royal Highlander : a soldier of H. M. 42nd (Royal) Highlanders during the Peninsular, South of France and Waterloo Campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars|date=2007|publisher=Leonaur Ltd.|location=[U.K.]|isbn=978-1-84677-223-8}}
* {{cite book |last1=Durie |first1=William |title=The British Garrison Berlin 1945 - 1994: nowhere to go ... a pictorial historiography of the British Military occupation / presence in Berlin |date=2012 |publisher=Vergangenheitsverlag ([[:de:Vergangenheitsverlag|de]]) |location=Berlin |isbn=978-3-86408-068-5 |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/978161722 |language=English |oclc=978161722}}
* {{cite book|first1=Charles|last1=Grant|first2=Michael|last2=Youens|title=The Black Watch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1PBP-ocpbM4C&pg=PP1|date=15 June 1971|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-0-85045-053-8}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}
* {{cite book|first=James |last=Grant|title=The Black Watch or, Forty-Second Highlanders|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=omvMCG7WTIQC&q=Black%20Watch&pg=PP1|publisher=Elibron.com|isbn=978-1-4021-7481-0|date=1999-01-01}}
* {{cite book|last1=Schofield|first1=Victoria|title=The Highland Furies: The Black Watch 1739–1899|publisher=Quercus Publishing|isbn=978-1-84916-918-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ligSjYClRYAC&q=highland+furies|date=26 April 2012}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/black-watch-royal-highlanders The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)] on the [[National Army Museum]] website
* [http://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/ The Black Watch Website]
*Archive [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/A13532431 catalogues for collections] relating to soldiers of the 73rd Regiment and 42nd Regiment (The Black Watch), The Black Watch Castle & Museum, Perth, Scotland.

{{Royal Regiments of Scotland}}
{{British infantry regiments World War I}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Black Watch| ]]
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[[Category:Battalions of the British Army]]
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