The Black Watch

  The Black Watch (Royal Highlander)-Regimental District No.42-are composed of the 42^nd and 73^rd Regiments and date from 1729, when six companies were raised for “local service.”  Originally, doubtless, care was taken to enlist none except those unfriendly to the Jacobite cause; after a time, however, this restriction was drop as regarded the rank and file, though the officers were still chosen from Whig families.  The proposal made in 1743 to send the regiment abroad gave rise to some disturbance, the Highlanders being not unnaturally keenly jealous at anything that looked like sharp practice.  But it is not our purpose to dwell upon theses earlier years of a regiment, whose historians are both numerous and enthusiastic, interesting as such early records undoubtedly are.  The disturbance was terminated, and shortly after the battle of Dettingen had been fought the Black Watch, then consisting of ten companies, joined the allied force in Flanders.  At Fontenoy they fought with such marked heroism as to be saluted by the Duke of Cumberland himself with a loud cheer in acknowledgment of their chivalrous devotion.  Their Colonel, Sir Robert Munro, seemed to bear a charmed life.  Suiting their tactics to the exigencies of their position the Highlanders, after delivering a volley, threw themselves flat on the ground while the return fire passed over them, but Sir Robert’s enormous bulk, which had necessitated his being hauled out of the trenches by his own men, rendered this manoeuvre impossible for himself to practice.  He had perforce to stand there “like an invincible Ajax, and guarding the colours of his regiment faced unmoved the enemy’s fire.”  In 1756 the Black Watch were ordered to America, and at Tisconderoga elicited unstinted praise for their valour.  In that disastrous combat they lost six hundred and fifty killed or wounded.  Others of the regiment served in 1759 at Martinique, and greatly distinguished themselves by the “characteristic impetuosity” with which they fought.  Their next service was in Canada, where they fought under General Amherst, and two years later they took part in the expedition against the Havannah.  Many of the laurels of the Black Watch have been gained in America.  In 1763 and subsequently they fought against the Indians, particularly distinguishing themselves at Bushey Run, and again in 1776 when the War of Independence gave them severe and constant work.  “In every field,” writes a chronicler of the regiment, “the Black Watch maintained their hardly earned reputation,” and numerous are the instances recorded of deeds of individual courage and readiness.  As an example may be quoted the fooling: - “In a skirmish with the Americans in 1776 Major Murray of the 42^nd, being separated from his men was attacked by three of the enemy.  His dirk had slipped behind his back, and, like Colonel Munro before referred to, being very corpulent he could not reach it.  He defended himself as well as he could with his fusil, and, watching his opportunity, seized the sword of one of his assailants and put the three to flight.” This same Major Murray found his Falstaffian dimensions again embarrassing at fort Washington. “The hill on which the fort stood was almost perpendicular, but the Highlanders rushed up the steep ascent like mountain cats.  When halfway up the heights they heard a melancholy voice exclaim, ‘Oh soldiers, will you leave me?’  On looking down they saw Major Murray, their commanding officer, at the foot of the precipice; his extreme obesity prevented him from following them.  They were not deaf to this appeal; it would never do to leave their corpulent commander behind.  A party leaped down at once, seized them in their arms and bore him from ledge to ledge of the rock till they reached the summit, where they drove the enemy before them and made two hundred prisoners.”

           “In a skirmish with the American rebels I 1777 Sergeant Macgregor of the 42^nd was severely wounded and remained insensible on the ground.  Unlike Captain Crawley, who put on his old uniform before Waterloo, the sergeant, who seems to have been something of a dandy, had attired himself in his best as if he had been going to a ball instead of a battle.  He wore a new jacket with silver lace, large silver buckles in his shoes, and a watch of some value.  This display of wealth attracted the notice of an American soldier, who, actuated by no feeling of humanity, but by the sordid desire of stripping the sergeant at leisure, took him on his back and began to carry him, off the field.  It is probable that the American did not handle him very tenderly, and the motion soon restored him to consciousness.  He saw at once the state of matters and proved himself master of the occasion.  With one hand he drew his dirk, and grasping the American’s throat with the other he swore that he would stab him to the heart if he did not retrace his steps and bear him back in safety of the British camp.  The argumentum ad hominem in the shape of a glittering dagger before his eyes was too much for the American.  On the way to the camp Lord Cornwallis, who thanked him for his humanity; met them but he had the candour to admit the truth.  His lordship, which was much amused at the incident, gave the American his liberty, and, on Macgregor retiring from the service, procured for him a situation in the Customs at Leith.” In 1794 they fought in Holland, and in that terrible march through Westphalia rendered great service, especially at gildermalsen, where they scattered a regiment of French Hussars.  A Scotch officer records the fact that though the Highlanders all wore the kilt, and the men on the 42^nd were principally very young soldiers, the loss they experienced from the terrible cold and privations “ was out of all comparison less than that sustained by other corps.”  The following year they again served in the West Indies, and fought with their usual courage at St. Lucia and St. Vincent, and in 1800 joined Sir Ralph Abercrombie, with whom the following year they landed in Egypt.  Here they were brigaded under Sir John Moore, and at the landing at Aboukirvied with the Welsh Fusiliers in their gallant onslaught on the French.  The story of the battle of Alexandria has too often been told, and in the telling the deeds of the black Watch enumerated, to need dwelling on here; it will suffice to say, that they undoubtedly are second to none of all the regiments that bear on their accoutrements the eloquent emblem of the Sphinx.  It was to Major Sterling of the 42^nd that the standard of the “Invincible Legion” was delivered; and it was on the blanket of Donald Roy of the 42^nd, that the loved general was borne away to die.

           In 1808 the Black Watch joined the army in Portugal, and were with Sir John Moore at Corunna, and a tradition, tinged with the weird superstition of the Highlands, tells that there were not wanting those in the ranks of the Black Watch who, even as their gallant commander turned to them with the conflict exhortation-“Highlander, remember Egypt!” saw rising before his manly form the prophetic, shadowy shroud which foretold his coming death.  The 2^nd battalion of the regiment took part in the Walcheren expedition, while the 2nd joined the allied army in Portugal.  At Fuentes d’Onor, under Lord Blantyre, they vigorously repulsed and swept backward in disorder a formidable charge of French cavalry; at Burgos Major Dick, with the men of the Royal Highlanders under his command, were praised in dispatches for their gallantry at the assault.  They fought in the picturesque battles of the Pyrenees and Nivelle, at the Nive and Orthes.  At Toulouse General Pack, who commanded the Brigade, addressed the regiment as follows: “I have just now been with General Clinton, and he has been pleased to grant my request that in the charge which we are about to make upon the enemy’s redoubts, the 42^nd regiment shall have the honour of leading on the attack.  The 42^nd will advance!”  Such a regiment needed no repetition of such an order; they advanced with a magnificent charge, and the redoubt was taken, but so terrible was the fire, that “out of about five hundred men whom the 42^nd brought into action, scarcely ninety reached the fatal redoubt from which the enemy had fled.”  At Quatre Bras they were subjected to a furious charge from the French Lancers, which came upon them before they could form square.  The two flank companies were ridden down, but then the highlanders formed square, and hemming the cavalry within, killed or made them prisoners.  So fierce was this brief conflict that in the space of a few minutes the command of the regiment developed upon the four officers, of whom two were killed and one severely wounded.  At Waterloo t suffices to say that they were in Picton’s division.  The two-day’s fighting cost the Black Watch in killed and wounded three hundred men. 

           Interesting though it would be to dwell on many of the occurrences of the intervening years, we must pass on to 1854, when the 42^nd formed part of the famous Highland Brigade in the Crimean War.  Throughout the fascinating pages of the author of “Eothen” are numerous mentions of this splendid regiment, of which one of the earliest is the passage which tells on how that first trying march will precluded the Alma, when the troops arrived gasping and fainting with heat and thirst and weariness at their resting-place by the Buganak River, the stern discipline of Sir Colin Campbell “would not allow even the rage of thirst to loosen the high discipline of his splendid Highland regiments.  He halted them a little before they reached the stream, and so ordered it that they gained in comfort, and know that they were the gainers.”  The next day was to be known throughout the centuries as the Battles of the alma, and in the sweet, quiet fragrance of the morning air, while, though the enemy was in sight, nature seemed unready for war, and stillness pervaded the warrior-covered slopes, the quiet tones of Sir Colin were heard, remarking, “This will be a good time for the men to get loose half their cartridges.”  Before the day ended many pouches were empty, and their owners refilled them, recalling with pride “the deeds they did that day;” others were well nigh full, but the hands that so gleefully opened them in the morning, lay stiff for ever on the Russian hills.  When the time came for the Highlanders to charge, matters were looking serious.  Thistlewaite and Lindsay of the Scots Guards had saved their colours, though torn and pierced with shot.  The Guards, like wounded demi-gods, were resting, scornfully defiant, despite the terrible gaps in their ranks Twelve battalions were before the Highland Brigade, which numbered three, yet there was no thought of the possibility of failure in Campbell’s mind, as he wound up his short address to his men with the words: “Now, men, the army is watching us.  Make me proud of my Highland Brigade!”  Then the historian of the war tells us: - “Smoothly, easily, and swiftly, the Black Watch seemed to glide up the hill.  A few instants before, and their tartans ranged dark in the valley; now their plumes were on the crest.”  A few deadly volleys, and the Russians fled in sheer confusion, followed by the exulting shout of the triumphant Scots.  Neither Balaclava nor Inkerman are amongst the distinctions borne by the Black Watch, but the Comprehensive “Sevastopol” covers many a deed of heroism done during the long months that elapsed before it fell.  At the storming of the Redan, they were in reserve at the right attack, and, had it been necessary, would have shared with the Guards the renewed attack that was planned for the following morning.

           Again passing over some years, we take up the thread of the record of the 42^nd in 1873, when, under Colonel MacLeod, they served in the Ashantee War.  At the battle of Amoaful in January 1874, the Black Watch were in the leading column under Alison, their own officers present being Majors Macpherson and Scott.  They soon experienced to the severe nature of the combat in which they were engaged. A correspondent wrote at the time that so hot was the fire, had the enemy used bullets instead of slugs, “scarcely a man of the Black Watch would have been left to tell the tale.”  Major Band was severely wounded, Major Macpherson was hit in several places, nine officers and nearly a hundred men were shot.  For some time the firing was heavy and seemingly confused; at last the time came for a charge.  Sir Archibald, at the head of the Black Watch, bade the pipes strike up “The Campbells are coming,” and with a dash and a cheer the regiment charged straight for the foe.  Throughout the fighting that preceded the taking of Coomassie, they were to the fore whenever fighting was to be done.  In the advance on the capital, a well-known “Man of the time”-whose opinion on daring and self possession is to be valued as coming from one who combines both qualities in so rare a manner-said, “their audacious spirit and true military bearing challenged admiration.”  “One man-Thomas Adams-exhibited himself eminently brave among brave men.”  After the town had fallen, the 42^nd remained for a time as rear guard. Their next-and concluding0campaign took place in Egypt, and it may well be imagined that we do not propose to dwell upon what is practically history of today.  They were again under the command of Sir Archibald Alison, and at Tel-el-Kebir gave evidence that they were still the same formidable “Black Watch” as of yore.  We learn from the official dispatches that the Highland Brigade was the first to reach the works, and that the fighting there was no mere child’s play is evidenced by the fact that nine of all ranks were killed and forty-one wounded or missing.  Amongst the former may be reckoned Lieutenant Graham, Sergeant-Major MacNeill, and Lieutenant Allen Park, though the last named did not succumb to his wounds on the spot.  They were engaged at El Teb and Tamai; at the latter place experiencing some very severe fighting, in which they lost, amongst others, Major Walker Aitken and Lieutenant Ronald Frader, and nearly ninety others of all ranks.  Private Edwards earned the Victoria Cross for “conspicuous bravery” in defence of a gun.  Still later on again they won the distinction of Kirbekan on their colours.

           The 2^nd battalion of the Black Watch, the 73^rd Regiment, dates its separate existence from 1786, when the 2^nd battalion of the Black Watch was formed into distinct regiment with the number 73.  It is to the 2^nd battalion that the Black Watch owes “Mangalore” and “Seringapatam.”  The defence of the former-described as one “that has been seldom equalled and never surpassed,” and “as noble an example as any in history”-might of itself be sufficient to entitle the 73^rd to the epithet “distinguished.”  At this time however, they were the 2^nd battalion of the 42^nd.  The Europeans fit for duty were about two hundred and fifty, and there were fifteen hundred natives.  Against this handful Tippoo brought ninety thousand men, exclusive of two corps of European infantry, and one-under Lally-of Europeans and natives.  He had besides eighty pieces of cannon.  Mangalore was invested by this army about the 16^th of May; for nine months Colonel Campbell and the 73^rd, with the Sepoys, kept his huge host at bay; then they capitulated, but not before “the natives became so exhausted that many of them dropped down in the act of shouldering their firelocks, while others became totally blind.”  Food was exhausted; for some time the bill of fare had been dependant on frogs, dogs, crows, and similar delicacies; small wonder that even from the savage Tippoo they were granted “highly honourable terms.”  Of the 250, which the regiment numbered in May, nine officers and seventy rank and file were killed or wounded.  As the 73^rd the regiment fought at Pondicherry, were in Ceylon in 1793 under General accounts of this most important battle the name of Colonels Sherbrooke and Major McDonald, with other officers of the 73^rd, are referred to in most laudatory terms.  After this they were employed under the future Duke of Wellington in completing the subjection of the hostile tribes.  Returning to England in 1806, the following eight years were passed in this country and new south Wales.  A second battalion meanwhile had been formed, and under General Gibbs served in the Stralsund expedition of 1813, and was “the only British regiment present in the victory gained by Count Walmoden over the French in the plain of Gohrde, in Honover, 16^th September, 1813, to which the 73^rd materially contributed.”  After serving under Sir Thomas Graham, the 73^rd (2^nd Battalion) fought at Quatre Bras and Waterloo.

           How well they fought at Waterloo may be gathered from the fact-referred to in our notice of the 30^th Regiment-that the Duke at one time during the day sent to Halkett, in whose brigade they were, to inquire which of his regiments it was that was formed in square so far in advance.  The answer revealed the actual state of the case; the square was formed of the dead warriors of the 30^th and the 73^rd.  “The last named regiment sustained no less than thirteen charges from Cuirassiers, and seven hours of an cannonade, and so greatly were two corps cut up, that at half past seven their colours were sent out of the field and taken to the rear.”  After Waterloo peaceful duties occupied the 73^rd till the Cape War, which commenced in 1846.  They served throughout the campaign, which did not practically terminate till 1853, and to Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre of the regiment was given the command of the right wing in the operations in the Amatolas.  Space will not permit of a detailed account of the doings of the 73^rd during the war, their valuable services in which consummated in the dashing attack on the fastness of the rebel chief Macomo, which, despite its seeming impregnability, was taken by storm by the regiment and their gallant companions.  Their next service was in the operations in Nepaul immediately following the suppression of the Mutiny, in which they earned great credit.  Since then their career has been unimportant, but it is interesting to note that on the resumption of their original position as the 2^nd battalion of the Black Watch, they again adopted the kilt, which since 1809 has been discarded. Extracted from 'Her Majesty’s Army '      

How Corporal Robert Redpath, Of The 1^st Battalion, Royal Highlanders (Black Watch), Won

The D.C.M. At The First Battle Of Ypres

On Wednesday, November 11^th 1914, so soon as day began to break, the German artillery opened a furious bombardment of the British trenches north and south of the Menin-Ypres road. This continued for some hours, and then the 1^st and 4^th Brigades of the Prussian guards-thirteen battalions in all-which had been brought up from the Arras district were launched against our shattered defences, in a last desperate effort to break through and capture Ypres, a task which had proved altogether beyond the capacity of the infantry of the line. Aware that they were fighting under their Emperor’s eye, these splendid troops advanced down the road against Gheluvelt as steadily as though they were on parade, though, as they were on parade, though as they drew nearer, they were met by a withering frontal fire, and since they were moving diagonally across our front, were also taken in flank by artillery, rifles and machine guns. But, though their losses were enormous, they came resolutely on; and such was their determination and the momentum of their mass formation, that, in spite of the stubborn resistance of our troops, they succeeded in breaking the front of the 1^st Division at three points and in carrying our first line of trenches.

The retirement of the 1^st Black Watch, on the right of the 1^st Brigade-it was a brigade now by courtesy only, being reduced to a mere fraction of its normal strength-appears to have come as a surprise to the battalion Headquarters Staff, who suddenly found themselves between their retreating comrades and the enemy. To retire was impossible, for the enemy were close upon them; and the colonel asked corporal Robert Redpath, who, with twenty men, was attached to headquarters, what he thought they ought to do. Redpath replied that their best course was to fire as rapidly as they could, so as to disguise the weakness of their numbers, and, if possible, check the advance of the Germans. It seemed a forlorn hope, but the colonel and adjutant approved of Redpaths advice, and, leaving their dug outs, they all took cover behind some farm buildings and opened fire on the enemy, who had halted some fifty yards distant, as though unable to decide whether to continue their advance or not, some of their snipers, however, crept forward, and Redpath, hoing out into the open, shot two of them dead at almost point blank range. He then made his way along a hedge into the officers dug out, and thence to an artillery observation post, where the colonel had stationed himself. Shortly afterwards, the colonel was wounded in the head by a piece of shell, and Redpath dressed the wound and remained with his commanding officer fr two hours. By this time the Germans al along the line, exposed as they were to a heavy frontal and enfilading fire, had begun to fall back to the trenches they had captured, from most of which they were presently dislodged by a vigorous counter attack.

Corporal –now Sergeant-Redpath, who had already greatly distinguished himself on November 25^th, when he had got together a number of men belonging to various units and brought them into the firing line in the face of very heavy shell fire, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, for the gallantry and ability which he had shown in this and the occasion we have just mentioned. He is twenty-six years of age, and his home is at Edinburgh. Extracted from 'Deeds That thrill The Empire'   

JAMES DAVIS

(Private)

42^nd Regiment (The Black Watch)

             On April 15^th 1858, the Black Watch attacked the fort of Ruhya.  Davis was one of the advanced parties accompanying the officer of Engineers, who was reconnoitring the place in order to ascertain the position of the entrance.  Here Lieutenant Bramley was shot dead.  There being no dhoolies, bearers, or any mode of conveyance, Davis at once, though exposed to a heavy fire, offered to remove the body.  Though close under the walls, in the heat of a midday sun, with no shelter whatever, he took up the body and carried it away for some miles through the jungle.

                  This brave man died in his native city, Edinburgh in 1891.  His Cross and medals, including clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol, have passed into the hands of a private collector in London. 

JOHN SIMPSON  (Quartermaster-Sergeant, afterwards Quartermaster)  42^nd Regiment (The Black Watch)  He died at Perth on October 20^th 1883.

EDWARD SPENCE  (Private)  42^nd Regiment (The Black Watch)

ALEXANDER THOMPSON  (Lance Corporal)  42^nd Regiment (The Black Watch)   

WILLIAM GARDNER  (Colour-Sergeant, afterwards Quartermaster-Sergeant)  42^nd Regiment (The Black Watch)             The battle of Bareilly took place on May 5^th 1858, the Black Watch early in the day being hotly engaged.  During the action Lieut. –Colonel Cameron, the commanding officer, was knocked off his horse and, while lying on the ground stunned, was at once set upon by three ghazees (fanatics) Colour-Sergeant Gardner rushed to his aid, and in a moment bayoneted two of them.  He then attacked the third, which was, however, despatched by a man of the regiment.  (Letter from Captain McPherson to officer commanding the regiment.) Died in November 1897, being the last of the eight men of his gallant regiment gazetted to the Victoria Cross during the Indian Mutiny. 

THOMAS EDWARDS  (Private)  42^nd Royal Highlanders (The Black Watch)              At the battle of Tamaai on March 13^th 1884, Edwards was attached to the Naval Brigade as mule-driver.  The enemy directed a particularly fierce attack on the guns, and at one of them, Edwards was standing with Lieutenant Almack, R.N., when a hand-to-hand fight took place.  The Lieutenant was killed, as also was one of the bluejackets, but Edwards bayoneted two Arabs and, though severely wounded by a appear, rejoined the ranks and did excellent service in the defence of the guns. 

Sun in Splendour by Chris Collingwood. (AP)