Forward the 42nd!

**DeWayne Ross** · 7th January 11, 06:40 PM

Welcome from NE Oregon USA from a Highland descendent, member of the Clan Ross Assoc., and former soldier of the 187th Infantry, 101st Airborne/Airassault.

**ExDragoon** · 7th January 11, 06:42 PM

Welcome from a former member of the Lord Strathcona's Horse and Royal Canadian Dragoons...Retired to the East Coast of Canuckistan.
Karl

**ThistleDown** · 7th January 11, 07:19 PM

Welcome from south of you much of the time and at this moment from British Columbia.

**BoldHighlander** · 7th January 11, 07:22 PM

...from a former US Army grunt in the far nw corner of Washington state!

**Gunny5711** · 7th January 11, 08:03 PM

from a retired U.S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant.

**LANCER1562** · 7th January 11, 10:18 PM

from a former U.S. Army grunt 2nd Inf. Div. in California, USA.

**Biathlonman** · 10th January 11, 08:40 AM

Some history - worth sharing.

A few years ago, the Black Watch was in Basra, in Iraq - and in a very tough situation, shot at by the locals and by the Labour government at home - which decided to amalgamate all the Highland and Lowland regiments into one "super-regiment" the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

When British Army regiments were numbered - 1st Foot, 2nd Foot and so on, the Black Watch was the 42nd - but hadn't used that number since reforms in late 1800s, when all regiments were renamed.

Back at home, The Black Watch as an independent regiment faced a sort of extinction. On the battlefield, in Basra, in an ambush, one unnamed officer took quick action and ordered his troops forward to attack their ambushers. His order? Something that hadn't been heard on a foreign battlefield for well over a century: Forward the 42nd! It inspired the jocks and they swept away their attackers, so I understand.

**Mike_Oettle** · 10th January 11, 09:04 AM

That gave me a thrill of pride, regardless of my virtually non-existent connection with the 42nd!

**mbhandy** · 10th January 11, 09:08 AM

From the Mts. of Utah

MrBill

**Bigkahuna** · 12th January 11, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Biathlonman

Some history - worth sharing.

A few years ago, the Black Watch was in Basra, in Iraq - and in a very tough situation, shot at by the locals and by the Labour government at home - which decided to amalgamate all the Highland and Lowland regiments into one "super-regiment" the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

When British Army regiments were numbered - 1st Foot, 2nd Foot and so on, the Black Watch was the 42nd - but hadn't used that number since reforms in late 1800s, when all regiments were renamed.

Back at home, The Black Watch as an independent regiment faced a sort of extinction. On the battlefield, in Basra, in an ambush, one unnamed officer took quick action and ordered his troops forward to attack their ambushers. His order? Something that hadn't been heard on a foreign battlefield for well over a century: Forward the 42nd! It inspired the jocks and they swept away their attackers, so I understand.

That was right after he ordered them to "Fix Bayonets"! If I recall correctly.