Black Watch

[Clan Sutherland]

Let me correct one thing. I'm a direct descendent of the Sutherlands not an ancestor. How do I get those things mixed up ?

[macwilkin]

Here's a few things to start off with:

http://www.btinternet.com/~james.mckay/bwatch42.htm

http://www.army.mod.uk/blackwatch/

http://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/newsite/index.html

http://www.blackwatchcanada.com/en/index.htm
(The Black Watch of Canada)

http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/042Black.htm
(T.F. Mills's page which has many links to other sites)

I would also recommend the following books:

Henderson, Diana. The Scottish Regiments. Collins: 2nd Edition, 1997.

Baynes, John & John Laffin. Soldiers of Scotland. (my edition is from B & N, 1997, but Brasseys first printed it in 1988).

Both have brief histories of the 42nd.

Mainstream Publishing in Scotland has a new history (2006) of the Black Watch by Trevor Royle, but I haven't added it yet to my library. There is also one other regimental history from 2006 showing up on Borders/Amazon.

Cheers,

Todd

[Oldhiker]

found this a while back, not sure how true it is

The Black Watch
In 1725 six Independent Black Watch companies were formed. Three from Clan Campbell, one from Clan Fraser, one from Clan Munro and one from Clan Grant. These companies were known by the name Reicudan Dhu, or Black Watch. Taking advantage of the partisan nature and warrior instincts of the highlanders, these men were authorised to wear the kilt and to bear arms, thus it was not difficult to find recruits. The regiment was then officially known as the 42nd Regiment of Foot.

[macwilkin]

found this a while back, not sure how true it is

The Black Watch
In 1725 six Independent Black Watch companies were formed. Three from Clan Campbell, one from Clan Fraser, one from Clan Munro and one from Clan Grant. These companies were known by the name Reicudan Dhu, or Black Watch. Taking advantage of the partisan nature and warrior instincts of the highlanders, these men were authorised to wear the kilt and to bear arms, thus it was not difficult to find recruits. The regiment was then officially known as the 42nd Regiment of Foot.

The regiment's name in the Gaelic is 'Am Freiceadan Dhu'.

The aforementioned article from the Scottish Military Historical Society is a better summary of the RHR's history, INMHO.

T.