Regimental Nicknames and Traditions of the British Army

THE BLACK WATCH (Royal Highlanders)

Reading edition

The 1st Battalion (42nd Foot) was raised in 1730 from six independent companies of Highlanders for the protection of Edinburgh, as a regiment of the watch. In 1751, it was numbered the 42nd. On becoming amalgamated, the bright colours in the tartans were extracted, leaving only the dark green ground as a tartan, and from this circumstance rose the title "The Black Watch." In 1794, for gallant conduct at the battle of Guildermalsen, in Holland, it won the "red hackle" (or plume) which is worn in the men's feather bonnets.

Known as the "Forty-Twas."

Illustration from Regimental Nicknames and Traditions of the British Army

(Depot, Oxford.)

(Record Office, Warwick.)

"Quebec, 1759," "Martinique, 1762," "Havannah," "Mysore," "Hindoostan," "Martinique, 1794," "Vimiera," "Corunna," "Busaco," "Fuentes d'Onor," "Ciudad Rodrigo," "Badajoz," "Salamanca," "Vittoria," "Pyrenees," "Nivelle," "Nive," "Orthes," "Toulouse," "Peninsula," "Waterloo," "South Africa, 1851-2-3," "Delhi, 1857," "New Zealand," "Relief of Kimberley," "Paardeberg," "South Africa, 1900-02."

Uniform, Scarlet.

Facings, White.

Head-dress, Helmet.

Cap, Green with green band.

Regimental March, "Nachtlager in Granada."

Allied Regiments, 52nd Regiment (Prince Albert Volunteers) of Canada and 6th (Hauraki) Regiment of New Zealand.

The Officers, alone among the infantry, have the privilege of wearing white strip collars with the frock coat.