Colonel J.A. Currie's "The Red Watch"

[Bugbear]

A while back I came across an interesting old book, The Red Watch: With the First Canadian Division in Flanders, by Colonel J.A. Currie (London: Constable and Company, 1916) which is on line over at Project Gutenberg.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/28116...-h/28116-h.htm

I have been giving it a closer look over. There is plenty of discussion of kilts

For example, here is what he says about the Red Watch name and kilts in chapter II.

It was while doing duty in Scotland, shortly after the Jacobite rising, that the 42nd Highlanders came to be called the "Black Watch." The sombre color of their kilts and the work in which they were engaged combined to give them this nickname, which has clung to this famous regiment ever since. The 48th Highlanders of Canada wore a sombre tartan like the "Black Watch," interwoven with a broad red check, and it was whilst doing duty as patrol over a steel plant at Sault Ste. Marie that some striking Scotchmen first called the Canadian Regiment the "Red Watch." The name has been accepted and alternates with the "48th" in describing this corps. The brave Seaforths have a light grey check in their tartans, the gay Gordons a brilliant golden check, but the 48th have this check in red, and when the kilts are properly made the stripe comes on the fold of the tartan and gives a peculiar shimmering effect to the swaying kilts while the men are on the march (18).

Here is what he says just before that, at the end of the first chapter about Canada's relationship to Scotland and the kilt.

Many distinguished highland regiments served in Canada during the nineteenth century. Amongst those that are still held in kindly remembrance are the following: The Highland Light Infantry, the 73rd, 74th, 78th, 79th and 93rd. Many of the officers and men of these regiments bought out in Canada or else settled in the country at the end of their period of service.

Thus it will be seen that the kilted soldiers have played a prominent part in the pioneer life and settlement of Canada, where men of Scottish blood have always found a congenial home. The highest offices in the gift of the people have gone to the men of Scottish origin like Sir John Macdonald, Alexander Mackenzie, George Brown and Sir Oliver Mowat, whose genius for organization and government made possible Confederation. In the financial and industrial life of the country the names of Lord Strathcona, Sir James Drummond and many other Scots will always be cherished.

It matters not whether the Scottish lad comes from the "dim shieling" or the ancestral castle, when he reaches the shores of Canada he finds the Field Marshal's baton in his pocket, and he can be a leader in whatever sphere of life he chooses (16-7).

These are from (EBook #28116), and in the public domain

[Mael Coluim]

Thanks, Ted for sharing this tresure with us. I've bookmarked it for future reading.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Thanks for sharing, Ted. It brings up a good point that one cannot always take tartan information given in texts like this at face value. For example, the author's description of the tartan worn by the Seaforth's as being the same as the Black Watch with a light grey check is misleading. The Seaforth's wore the MacKenzie tartan, which is the same as Black Watch with red and white stripes added. (I could see how the white might be interpreted as "light grey" but that still leaves out the red entirely).

I was unfamiliar with the tartan worn by the 48th Highlanders of Canada, but based on the author's description I would have guessed it to be Murray of Atholl (which is the Black Watch with added red lines), or a similar tartan.

However, according to the regiment's web site, they actually wear the Davidson tartan. The Davidson tartan does have similar colors to the Black Watch, but it is actually a different pattern altogether. I could see how an observer unfamiliar with tartan design could mistake a kilted regiment wearing the Davidson tartan for "Black Watch with a red stripe." But that's not actually what it is.

According to the regimental web site, this tartan was chosen in honor of the regiment's first Commanding Officer, John Irvine Davidson. The regimental badge also incorporates a falcon's head taken from his crest.

[Jock Scot]

I see Lord Strathcona mentioned and I don't know if many of you are aware that he had a large house and grounds in Glencoe over looking Loch Leven. I am not sure of the exact details, but after his death the house and grounds were given to the locality to use as they thought best. It was turned into a hospital, and latterly a hospital for the local aged and infirm. Some five years ago it closed as a hospital and for the last few was in danger of being demolished whilst various political manoeuvrings took place. I am glad to say that we hear that a hotel chain has bought it and plan to keep it and develop it.

Jock managed to find a hole in the fence and only managed to get one picture of the back of the house before a kind security man suggested that I should go elsewhere!

Lord Strathcona's house at Glencoe.

[Father Bill]

*snip*

Jock managed to find a hole in the fence and only managed to get one picture of the back of the house before a kind security man suggested that I should go elsewhere!

Jock - I never expected to find an instance of YOU breaking the rules!

Well done, and thanks from all of us for sharing!

[Jock Scot]

Jock - I never expected to find an instance of YOU breaking the rules!

Well done, and thanks from all of us for sharing!

Oh you know what they say about rules! They are for the guidance of the wise and the adherence of idiots!

[macwilkin]

Donald Smith, Lord Strathcona was responsible for the raising of a cavalry regiment, a la Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders, for the Boer War. Lord Strathcona's Horse is still on active service with Canadian Forces today as an armored regiment. At one time, the regiment had a pipe band, but it is currently is suspended animation:

http://www.strathconas.ca/pipes-drums

T.

[creagdhubh]

Donald Smith, Lord Strathcona was responsible for the raising of a cavalry regiment, a la Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders, for the Boer War. Lord Strathcona's Horse is still on active service with Canadian Forces today as an armored regiment. At one time, the regiment had a pipe band, but it is currently is suspended animation:

http://www.strathconas.ca/pipes-drums

T.

Very interesting, Todd. Jock, I would move into the house, remodel and refurbish it, and live out my years there, for certain! Needs a bit of attention, but it is a wonderful looking house! Glad to hear it has been saved.

Cheers,

[Bugbear]

Thanks for the additional information, Matt., cajunscot, and Jock.

[KenB]

I am fascinated with the history of the Scots in Canada. Thanks for posting the information.