Wearing the kilt in Scotland

[Jock Scot]

OK, another one. How about the Black Watch? At one games here in the U.S. someone called me a murderer - does this bring up bad images of post Culloden and/or the Clearances?

This situation is precisely the type of thing that I was alluding to earlier. Visitors from anywhere in the world visiting anyplace in the world are best advised to keep quiet about local history, or in the case above, out of other peoples history. History is the past, its interesting, it has relevence to the present on occasion and it can be devisive and unhelpful. Armies of all decriptions have marched and counter marched their way around this world since Adam was a boy, some had bad reputations, some units within that army may have a bad reputation and some individuals gathered a bad reputation and the British Army is no more perfect than anyone else's, but I have to say that its reputation is considerably better than some that I can think of! On the other hand, those that came up against any army are hardly likely to have fond memories of them whatever the end result may be. To be blunt, armies deal in death, get real. But its what happens when bugles cease to blow that matters and that is where we are now in Scotland.

We do not need outsiders, who may have a historical grudge to bear, making ill-informed and unhelpfull comments as it just shows total ignorance of the present day situation. The past is the past and what was acceptable 600---300---100----20 years ago, is not now and I make no excuses, or apologies for the past deeds of armies, units or individuals of the past.Yes terrible things were done, even by historical standards, but now is now.

The Black Watch are often thought by visitors to have fought at Culloden, they did not. They were fighting in the Low Countries(Holland/Belgium) at the time.

I think the "murderer" comment was probably to do with more recent events in Ireland--probably the period around the time of Irish independence. A civil War in effect and the Black Watch were part of the British Army. They did their job as was seen appropriate at the time as any army does, and yes, maybe with the benefit of hindsight and from the comfort of an arm chair, historians and those involved can dwell on reasons, tactics, effects, results and lessons from that time and within reason, that is no bad thing.

I will just finish this rather long winded explanation with this. Scotland has buried the hatchet very successfully, the Island of Ireland with its more recent troubles are now trying really hard to bury their hatchet too and comments like "murderers" are far from helpful, particularly from those that do not live(I assume) within the countries involved.

So to finally to answer the question, the Black Watch tartan can be worn by anyone with pride in Scotland, although I think many here regard the tartan as a priviledge for those who served in that proud Regiment.