Quote Originally Posted by Bog Trotter View Post
To answer Swampthing, the answer is no. Although the Black Watch is the official tartan of the regiment, you do not have to be in the British army to wear the government sett tartan. Some out there might argue with me on this but, the BWT is also identified as a universal tartan. Many pipe banks wear the BWT, and others wear it because they have no clan tartan or connection. (Mileage may vary)
Remember though, that the term "universal" in this instance refers to something else, namely the effort by the British Government to see all of the Scottish Regiments adopt a "universal" tartan. When Lowland Regiments were issued the Government Sett during the late 1800s, for example, many an old Lowland soldier referred to the tartan as the "MacChilders tartan", in reference to Secretary of State for War H.C.E. Childers, who authorised the issuing of tartan to said Lowlanders.

So whilst the tartan is a de facto universal tartan today, originally, the term referred to military-issue.

Source: http://www.scottishmilitaryarticles....le_tartans.htm
(from the old Scottish Military Historical Society, now defunct.)

Regards,

Tpdd