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42nd Regiment of Foot

The 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot was a Scottish infantry regiment in the British Army also known as the Black Watch. Originally titled Crawford's Highlanders or the Highland Regiment and numbered 43rd in the line, in 1748, on the disbanding of Oglethorpe's Regiment of Foot, they were renumbered 42nd and in 1751 formally titled the 42nd (Highland) Regiment of Foot. The 42nd Regiment was one of the first three Highland Regiments to fight in North America.[1] [2] In 1881 the regiment was named The Royal Highland Regiment (The Black Watch), being officially redesignated The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) in 1931. In 2006 the Black Watch became part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot
Cap badge of the 42nd Regiment of Foot
Active1661–1718
1725–1881
Country Scotland (1661–1707)
 Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1718; 1725–1800)
 United Kingdom (1801–1881)
Branch British Army
TypeLine Infantry
Garrison/HQQueen's Barracks, Perth
Nickname(s)Black Watch
Forty-Twa
Black Jocks
Motto(s)(Scotland's) Nemo me impune lacessit
Engagements
Battle honours

History

Early history

 
Memorial to Sir Robert Henry Dick at the St. George's Cathedral, Madras, India, depicting a 42nd Highlander in full uniform resting against a pedestal, on which is inscribed the battle roll of the regiment[3]

After the Jacobite rising of 1715 the British government did not have the resources or manpower to keep a standing army in the Scottish Highlands. As a result, they were forced to keep order by recruiting men from local Highland clans that had been loyal to the Whigs. This proved to be unsuccessful in deterring crime, especially cattle rustling. Therefore, Independent Highland Companies (of what would be known as the "Black Watch") were raised as a militia in 1725 by General George Wade to keep "watch" for crime.[4] He was commissioned to build a network of roads to help in the task.[5] The six Independent Highland Companies were recruited from local clans, with one company coming from Clan Munro, one from Clan Fraser of Lovat, one from Clan Grant and three from Clan Campbell. These companies were commonly known as Am Freiceadan Dubh, or the Black Watch, this name may well have been due to the way they dressed.[6] Four more companies were added in 1739 to make a total of ten Independent Highland Companies.[7]

The ten Independent Highland Companies of "Black Watch" were officially formed into the "43rd Highland Regiment of Foot", a regiment of the line in 1739.[7] It was first mustered in 1740, at Aberfeldy, Scotland. The Colonel was John Lindsay, 20th Earl of Crawford and the Lieutenant-Colonel was Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet. Among the Captains were his next brother, George Munro, 1st of Culcairn (also a Captain of an Independent Company raised in 1745) and their cousin John Munro, 4th of Newmore, who was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1745 (in place of Sir Robert who went on to command the 37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot). The other Captains of the 43rd were George Grant, Colin Campbell of Monzie, James Colquhoun of Luss, John Campbell of Carrick, Collin Campbell of Balliemore and Dougal Campbell of Craignish.[8]

First action and mutiny

In March 1743, the regiment was assembled at Perth in preparation for moving to London, then Flanders to join British forces fighting in the War of the Austrian Succession. Scottish officials, including the Lord President of the Court of Session, Duncan Forbes warned the government this was contrary to a general understanding their service was restricted to Scotland. Assured the move was only because George II wanted to inspect them, they arrived in London in May and were then ordered to Gravesend for shipment to Flanders. Anger at the deception, allied to rumours they were going to the West Indies, a location notorious for high mortality rates, caused a mutiny; they set out for Scotland, led by Corporals Malcolm and Samuel MacPherson and Private Farquhar Shaw.[9] They reached Ladywood on the outskirts of Oundle, Northamptonshire on 22 May before being intercepted. The mutineers surrendered in hope of a free pardon but were marched back to London and incarcerated in the Tower of London. The three leaders of the mutiny were subsequently court-martialed and executed by firing squad on 18 July 1743, at Tower Green. Two hundred other members of the regiment were distributed variously to garrisons in Jamaica, Gibraltar and Menorca, with the remainder shipped to Flanders.[10][11]

The regiment's first full combat was the disastrous Battle of Fontenoy in May 1745, where they surprised the French with their ferocity, and greatly impressed their commander, the Duke of Cumberland.[12] Allowed "their own way of fighting", each time they received the French fire Colonel Sir Robert Munro ordered his men to "clap to the ground" while he himself, because of his corpulence, stood alone with the colours behind him.[11]

When the Jacobite rising of 1745 broke out, another three companies were raised in Scotland, one being present at the Battle of Prestonpans in September 1745 where the entire company was either killed or taken prisoner.[13] Another fought for the government under Dugald Campbell of Auchrossan at the Battle of Culloden in April 1746 where they suffered no casualties.[14][15] These three companies were disbanded in 1748.[13]

The rest of the regiment landed in England on 4 November and remained there in anticipation of a possible French invasion until after the rebellion ended. From early 1747 to the end of 1748, it was in Flanders but otherwise was stationed in Ireland until 1756. In 1749, after Oglethorpe's Regiment of Foot was disbanded and the Black Watch was re-numbered the 42nd and in 1751 formally titled the 42nd (Highland) Regiment of Foot.[13] On the outbreak of the Seven Years' War in 1756, it was sent to North America.[16]

The Americas

 
"An Officer & Serjeant of a Highland Regiment". c.1740

During the French and Indian War, at the first battle of Ticonderoga, also known as the Battle of Carillon, the regiment lost over half of its men in the assault in July 1758.[17][18] At that time they were already officially recognized as a Royal regiment.[19] The second battalion of the Black Watch was sent to the Caribbean[20] but after the losses of Ticonderoga, the two battalions were consolidated in New York. The regiment was present at the second battle of Ticonderoga in July 1759 and the surrender of Montreal in September 1760. They were sent to the West Indies again where they saw action at Havana, Martinique and Guadeloupe.[11]

Between 1758 and 1767 the 42nd served in America. In August 1763, the regiment fought in the Battle of Bushy Run while trying to relieve Fort Pitt, modern Pittsburgh, during Pontiac's Rebellion.[21] The regiment went to Cork, Ireland in 1767 and returned to Scotland in 1775.[11]

During the American Revolutionary War, the regiment was involved in the defeat of George Washington in the Battle of Long Island in August 1776[22] and saw combat at the Battle of Harlem Heights in September 1776, the Battle of Fort Washington in November 1776 and the Battle of Piscataway in February 1777. It also fought at the Battle of Brandywine (light infantry and grenadier companies only) in September 1777,[23] the Battle of Germantown (Light Company only) in October 1777[24] and the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778 as well as the siege of Charleston in spring 1780.[25] In September 1778 a detachment from the regiment raided Fairhaven, Massachusetts, inflicting severe damage on the town's shipping industry.[11]

Following the end of the war in America, the 42nd were posted to Nova Scotia in 1783,[26] serving there until 1786 when they moved north to Cape Breton Island. The regiment returned to England in 1789.[27] Landing at Portsmouth, they marched to Tynemouth in Northumberland and in the spring of 1790 marched on to Glasgow, before taking up residence at Edinburgh Castle in November 1790.[28]

French Revolutionary Wars

 
Black Watch depicted guarding Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.

During the Battle of Alexandria in 1801 a major in the regiment captured a standard from the French. They went on to besiege Cairo and then Alexandria in which the French forces were expelled from Egypt.[11]

Peninsular War

The 1st battalion embarked for Portugal in August 1808 for service in the Peninsular War.[29] At the Battle of Corunna in January 1809[30] it was a soldier of the 42nd Highlanders who carried the mortally wounded General Sir John Moore to cover, and six more who carried him to the rear, but only after he had witnessed the victory in which the stout defence of the Black Watch played a major part. Moore's army was evacuated from Spain and the 1st Battalion of the 42nd Highlanders went with them.[11]

As the 1st battalion left, the 2nd battalion was dispatched from Ireland to Spain for service in the Peninsular War. The 2nd battalion fought at the Battle of Bussaco in September 1810[31] before falling back to the Lines of Torres Vedras.[32] The 2nd battalion fought with great distinction at the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro in May 1811,[32] the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in January 1812[33] and the bloody siege of Badajoz in March 1812[33] before returning home to recruit.[34] The 1st battalion returned to the Peninsula in time to fight in the Battle of Salamanca in July 1812,[34] the siege of Burgos in September 1812[35] and the Battle of Vitoria in June 1813.[35] It then pursued the French Army into France and fought at the Battle of the Pyrenees in July 1813,[36] the Battle of Nivelle in November 1813[37] and the Battle of the Nive in December 1813[37] before seeing action at the Battle of Orthez in February 1814[38] and the Battle of Toulouse in April 1814.[38]

Waterloo

 
Black Watch at Quatre Bras
 
Regimental tartan

With the war with France now apparently over, the 2nd battalion was disbanded in 1814 and some of its number transferred to the permanent 1st battalion. The now single battalion 42nd fought at the chaotic Battle of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815[39] under Lieutenant-colonel Sir Robert Macara, who was killed by French lancers.[40] The 42nd was one of four battalions mentioned by Wellington in despatches after the battle. Two days later at the Battle of Waterloo,[41] the 42nd and also the 2nd/73rd Highlanders, which was later to become the new 2nd Battalion, Black Watch, were both in some of the most intense fighting in the battle.[11]

The Victorian era

From 1847 to 1851 the regiment was posted to the garrison of the Imperial fortress of Bermuda, in British North America (Bermuda's garrison forming part of the Nova Scotia command until the Confederation of Canada), arriving from Malta aboard HMS Vengeance (which departed Malta on the 21 (or 27, depending on the source) February with the 1st Battalion under Lieutenant-Colonel D. A. Cameron) and HMS Resistance (the arrival of which at Malta had been delayed, resulting in its departing with the 2nd Battalion at a later date).[42]

The 1st Battalion arrived in Bermuda on 15 April, 1847.[43] The Vengeance and Deliverance then delivered the 20th (East Devonshire) Regiment of Foot from Bermuda to Halifax, Nova Scotia.[44] The 2nd Battalion (or Reserve Battalion) under Lieutenant-Colonel MacDougall departed Malta aboard the Deliverance on the 16 March, 1847, and arrived at Bermuda on 24 of April, after stopping at Gibraltar for water.[45][46]

The convicts transported to Bermuda included many Irishmen, including participants in the ill-fated Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848 and Nationalist journalist and politician John Mitchel.[47][48][49] Conditions for the convicts were harsh, and discipline was draconian. In April 1830, convict James Ryan was shot and killed during rioting of convicts on Ireland Island. Another five convicts were given death sentences for their parts in the riots, with those of the youngest three being commuted to transportation for life. In 1849, convict James Cronin, on the hulk Medway at Ireland Island, was placed in solitary confinement from the 25th to the 29th for fighting. On release, and being returned to work, he refused to be cross-ironed. He ran onto the breakwater, brandishing a poker threateningly. For this, he was ordered to receive punishment (presumably flogging) on Tuesday, 3 July 1849, with the other convicts aboard the hulk assembled behind a rail to witness. When ordered to strip, he hesitated. Thomas Cronin, his older brother, addressed him and, while brandishing a knife, rushed forward to the separating rail. He called out to the other prisoners in Gaelic and many joined him in attempting to free the prisoner and attack the officers. The officers opened fire. Two men were killed and twelve wounded. Punishment of James Cronin was then carried out. Three hundred men of the 42nd Regiment of Foot, in barracks on Ireland Island, responded to the scene under arms.[50]

The 42nd Regiment was stationed in Bermuda at a time when the military infrastructure, as well as the naval, was undergoing development and expansion. The regiment provided working parties to clear ground in Devonshire Parish for the development of what was to become Prospect Camp and to dig a well near to the Government House on Mount Langton in Pembroke Parish during a drought in 1849. The well has been known since as Black Watch Well. In the 1930s, a pass was cut through the ridgeline from Black Watch Well, on the North Shore Road, to Marsh Folly Road, and it took its name, Black Watch Pass, from the adjacent well.[51][52]

The regiment formed part of the Highland Brigade at the Battle of Alma in September 1854 and the siege of Sevastapol in winter 1854 during the Crimean War; it also formed part of that brigade at the siege of Cawnpore in June 1857 and the siege of Lucknow in autumn 1857 during the Indian Rebellion.[11] During the siege of Cawnpore the regiment captured a gong which has tolled the hours in the regiment's guardroom ever since.[53]

As part of the Cardwell Reforms of the 1870s, where single-battalion regiments were linked together to share a single depot and recruiting district in the United Kingdom, the 40th was linked with the 79th Regiment of Foot (Cameronian Volunteers), and assigned to district no. 57 at Queen's Barracks in Perth.[54] On 1 July 1881 the Childers Reforms came into effect and the regiment amalgamated with the 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot to form the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).[11]

Popular culture

A number of songs were composed about the regiment including and "Jock MacGraw" and "The Gallant Forty Twa".[55]

The second line of Brian McNeill's song "The Baltic tae Byzantium" briefly references the 42nd as "The Gallant Forty Twa".[56]

The traditional Scots Language song "Twa Recruitin' Sergeants" refers to efforts by recruiters to lure Highlanders to the regiment.[57]

Gregory Burke's 2006 play Black Watch for the National Theatre of Scotland, based on interviews with soldiers and featuring as a recurring motif the songs The Gallant Forty Twa and Twa Recruitin' Sergeants, is a dramatised account of the regiment's part in Operation Telic.[58]

Notable soldiers

Battle honours

Battle honours awarded to the regiment were:[59]

Victoria Crosses

Regimental Colonels

Colonels of the Regiment were:[59]

42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot - (1758)

42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot, The Black Watch - (1861)

References

  1. ^ The Highland regiments that landed in America and took part in the French and Indian War were the 42nd or Royal Highland Regiment ("The Black Watch"), the 77th Regiment of Foot and the 78th Regiment of Foot.
  2. ^ Pollard 2009, p. 63.
  3. ^ Cotton, Julian James (1945). List Of Inscriptions On Tombs & Monuments in Madras Vol 1. Madras, British India: Government Press. p. 488. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  4. ^ Simpson 1996, p. 113.
  5. ^ Sir K.S.Mackenzie, "General Wade & his Roads", paper before the Inverness Scientific Society,13 April 1897
  6. ^ Simpson 1996, pp. 113–114.
  7. ^ a b Simpson 1996, pp. 116–117.
  8. ^ Simpson 1996, pp. 207–208.
  9. ^ Groves 2017, pp. 3–4.
  10. ^ Groves 2017, p. 4.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "42nd Royal Highland Regiment". British Empire. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  12. ^ Cannon, p. 34
  13. ^ a b c Groves 2017, p. 6.
  14. ^ Pollard 2009, pp. 71–72.
  15. ^ Cannon, p. 40
  16. ^ Cannon, p. 45
  17. ^ Cannon, p. 46
  18. ^ "First Highland Regiments in America". Electricscotland.com. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  19. ^ Cannon, p. 49
  20. ^ Cannon, p. 50
  21. ^ History of Pittsburgh and environs George Thornton Fleming, American Historical Company, American Historical Society, Incorporated, New York, 1922. "They waited on the commander of the fort, Captain William Murray, who received them politely and introduced them to the Rev. Mr. McLagan, the chaplain of the 42d Highlanders, then the garrison of the fort."
  22. ^ Cannon, p. 68
  23. ^ Cannon, p. 73
  24. ^ Cannon, p. 74
  25. ^ Cannon, p. 79
  26. ^ Cannon, p. 80
  27. ^ Cannon, p. 85
  28. ^ Stewart, I, p.402-403
  29. ^ Cannon, p. 118
  30. ^ Cannon, p. 119
  31. ^ Cannon, p. 124
  32. ^ a b Cannon, p. 125
  33. ^ a b Cannon, p. 126
  34. ^ a b Cannon, p. 127
  35. ^ a b Cannon, p. 128
  36. ^ Cannon, p. 130
  37. ^ a b Cannon, p. 131
  38. ^ a b Cannon, p. 132
  39. ^ Cannon, p. 141
  40. ^ Dalton, Charles (1904). The Waterloo roll call. With biographical notes and anecdotes. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode. p. 158.
  41. ^ Cannon, p. 144
  42. ^ "Untitled item in Column 2". The Royal Gazette. Bermuda. 6 April 1847. p. 2. H. M. line-of-battle ship Vengeance, Capt. Lushington, having on board the 1st Batt. of the 42nd Regt, (Royal Highlanders), under the command of Lt. Col. D. A. Cameron, arrived on Thursday last from Malta, which Island they left on the 27th February.-The battalion landed on the following day at Ireland Island and at this Town. At this place, there not being sufficient accommodation for the portion of the 1st Batt. XX before in quarters here and that part of the 42nd that succeeds them-an equal number of both Regiments are in the Barracks and encamped in the rear.-This latter disposition is a very pleasing, and to many a very novel sight. The Highlanders wear their national costume, and, as might be expected, attracted crowds of persons to see them land. The following is a list of the Officers, and the number of Men, &c with the Battalion:- Lt.-Colonel D. A. Cameron. Captains-Thos Tulloch, C.Murray, A. C. Campbell. Lieutenants-Alexr. Ramsay, J. W. Wedderburn, Hon. G. H. E. Grant, J. O. Barnett, P. R. Burrows. Ensigns-W. G. Cameron, J. W. P. Orde, Wm. L. McNish, R. C. Cunninghame. Lt. & Adjt.-T. R. Drummond Hay. Paymaster-J. Wheatley. Quarter Master-E. Paton. Surgeon-Jas. McGregor. Asst.-Surgeon-W. M. Muir. M.D.. Five hundred and fourteen Non-Commissioned Officers, rank and file; twenty-four Women and 42 Children of the 1st Battalion, and 3 Non-Commissioned Officers, 8 Privates, 8 Women and 12 Children of the Reserve Battalion. We understand that they have had a very pleasant passage from Malta, and that the Resistance, with the reserve battalion was to leave about 6 days after. The following highly complimentary General Order was issued by the Lieutenant-General, Commanding at Malta, on the embarkation of this gallant and highly distinguished Corps:- Head Quarters, Valletta Malta, 24th February, 1847. [General order] On the departure of the two Battalions 42nd Royal Highlanders from this Garrison, where they have been stationed for upwards of four years; the Lieut. General Commanding, has much satisfaction, in recording, in General Orders, the high sense he entertains of the discipline, and General Good Conduct, of both the Battalions, since they have been under his command, and he begs that Lieut. Cols. Cameron and McDougall, as well as the Officers Non-Commissioned Officers and Men, will accept his best wishes, for their happiness, and prosperity wherever they may go. P. EDWARDS, Lt.-Col. and A.M.S.
  43. ^ "ARRIVAL OF THE 1ST BATTALION 42ND REGT". The Royal Gazette. Bermuda. 20 April 1847. p. 2.
  44. ^ "THE XX REGIMENT". The Royal Gazette. Bermuda. 9 February 1847.
  45. ^ "ARRIVAL OF THE SECOND BATTALION 42ND ROYAL HIGHLANDERS". The Royal Gazette. Bermuda. 27 April 1847.
  46. ^ "Untitled item in Column 1". The Royal Gazette. Bermuda. 4 May 1847. p. 2. The following is a list of the Officers and number of Men, &c, of Reserve Battalion 42nd Royal Highlanders arrived in H.M. troop ship Resistance, on Saturday 24th ult. Lt.-Colonel James MacDougall, (Commanding). Captains-H.M. Drummond, G. W. MacQuairie, J. H. Daniell, Farquhar Campbell. Lieutenants-G. M. Ross, (Act Paymaster,) E. F. G. Clavering, S. D. Abercromby. Ensigns-C.C. Graham, W. J. Cunninghame, (Act. Adjutant), R. A. Frazer. Qr. Master-C. Fraser. Surgeon H. MacKey. 24 sergeants, 11 drummers, 468 rank and file, 26 soldiers' wives, 39 children; Detachment 1st Batt., 3 Sergeants, 7 rank and File, 7 women, 15 children. Passengers in Resistance Mrs MacQuarie and 5 children Mrs Ross and 5 children Mrs MacVey and Mrs Fraser and 2 children.
  47. ^ British military presence in Bermuda[permanent dead link], The Royal Gazette, 3 February 2007
  48. ^ Convict Establishment. Bermuda Brochure, by Chris Addams and Michael Davis, 1998
  49. ^ Tri S Ranch: The Irish Slave Trade — The Forgotten "White" Slaves. The Slaves That Time Forgot, by John Martin
  50. ^ Bermuda Sampler 1815–1850, by William Zuill. Publisher: The Bermuda Book Store. 1 January 1937
  51. ^ "Black Watch Well ceremony for Thursday". The Royal Gazette. Bermuda. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  52. ^ Hainey, Raymond (23 October 2015). "Black Watch Well rededication ceremony". The Royal Gazette. Bermuda. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  53. ^ "The Cawnpore Gong". Black Watch. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  54. ^ . Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 10 February 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  55. ^ "Wha Saw the 42nd". Digital Tradition Mirror. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  56. ^ "The Baltic tae Byzantium". Musixmatch. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  57. ^ "Traditional Scottish Songs - Twa Recruitin' Sergeants". www.rampantscotland.com. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  58. ^ "Black Watch (2006)". National Theatre of Scotland. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  59. ^ a b . regiments.org. Archived from the original on 10 March 2006. Retrieved 21 September 2016.

Bibliography

  • Cannon, Richard (1845). Historical Record of the Forty-second, or, the Royal Highland Regiment of Foot. London: Parker, Furnivall, and Parker.
  • Groves, Percy (2017) [1893]. History Of The 42nd Royal Highlanders: The Black Watch, Now The First Battalion The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) 1729-1893. Edinburgh: W. & A. K. Johnston. ISBN 1376269481.
  • Pollard, Tony, ed. (2009). Culloden: The History and Archaeology of the Last Clan Battle (1st ed.). Barnsley, England: Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 978-1-84884-020-1.
  • Schofield, Victoria (2012). The Highland Furies: The Black Watch 1739–1899. London: Quercus. ISBN 978-1-84916-918-9.
  • Simpson, Peter (1996). The Independent Highland Companies, 1603–1760. Edinburgh: J. Donald. ISBN 978-0-85976-432-2.
  • Stewart, David (1822). Sketches of the Character, Manners, and Present State of the Highlanders.
  • Swinson, Arthur (1972). A Register of the Regiments and Corps of the British Army. London: The Archive Press. ISBN 0-85591-000-3.

External links

  • Black Watch
  • Archive catalogues for collections relating to soldiers of the 73rd Regiment and 42nd Regiment (The Black Watch), The Black Watch Castle & Museum, Perth, Scotland.

42nd, regiment, foot, 42nd, royal, highland, regiment, foot, scottish, infantry, regiment, british, army, also, known, black, watch, originally, titled, crawford, highlanders, highland, regiment, numbered, 43rd, line, 1748, disbanding, oglethorpe, regiment, fo. The 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot was a Scottish infantry regiment in the British Army also known as the Black Watch Originally titled Crawford s Highlanders or the Highland Regiment and numbered 43rd in the line in 1748 on the disbanding of Oglethorpe s Regiment of Foot they were renumbered 42nd and in 1751 formally titled the 42nd Highland Regiment of Foot The 42nd Regiment was one of the first three Highland Regiments to fight in North America 1 2 In 1881 the regiment was named The Royal Highland Regiment The Black Watch being officially redesignated The Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment in 1931 In 2006 the Black Watch became part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of FootCap badge of the 42nd Regiment of FootActive1661 17181725 1881Country Scotland 1661 1707 Kingdom of Great Britain 1707 1718 1725 1800 United Kingdom 1801 1881 Branch British ArmyTypeLine InfantryGarrison HQQueen s Barracks PerthNickname s Black WatchForty TwaBlack JocksMotto s Scotland s Nemo me impune lacessitEngagementsWar of the Austrian Succession French and Indian War American War of Independence Peninsular War Indian MutinyBattle honoursEgypt 1801 Corunna Peninsula Waterloo Alma Sevastopol Lucknow Ashanti Contents 1 History 1 1 Early history 1 2 First action and mutiny 1 3 The Americas 1 4 French Revolutionary Wars 1 5 Peninsular War 1 6 Waterloo 1 7 The Victorian era 2 Popular culture 3 Notable soldiers 4 Battle honours 5 Victoria Crosses 6 Regimental Colonels 7 References 8 Bibliography 9 External linksHistory EditEarly history Edit Main article Independent Highland Companies Memorial to Sir Robert Henry Dick at the St George s Cathedral Madras India depicting a 42nd Highlander in full uniform resting against a pedestal on which is inscribed the battle roll of the regiment 3 After the Jacobite rising of 1715 the British government did not have the resources or manpower to keep a standing army in the Scottish Highlands As a result they were forced to keep order by recruiting men from local Highland clans that had been loyal to the Whigs This proved to be unsuccessful in deterring crime especially cattle rustling Therefore Independent Highland Companies of what would be known as the Black Watch were raised as a militia in 1725 by General George Wade to keep watch for crime 4 He was commissioned to build a network of roads to help in the task 5 The six Independent Highland Companies were recruited from local clans with one company coming from Clan Munro one from Clan Fraser of Lovat one from Clan Grant and three from Clan Campbell These companies were commonly known as Am Freiceadan Dubh or the Black Watch this name may well have been due to the way they dressed 6 Four more companies were added in 1739 to make a total of ten Independent Highland Companies 7 The ten Independent Highland Companies of Black Watch were officially formed into the 43rd Highland Regiment of Foot a regiment of the line in 1739 7 It was first mustered in 1740 at Aberfeldy Scotland The Colonel was John Lindsay 20th Earl of Crawford and the Lieutenant Colonel was Sir Robert Munro 6th Baronet Among the Captains were his next brother George Munro 1st of Culcairn also a Captain of an Independent Company raised in 1745 and their cousin John Munro 4th of Newmore who was promoted Lieutenant Colonel in 1745 in place of Sir Robert who went on to command the 37th North Hampshire Regiment of Foot The other Captains of the 43rd were George Grant Colin Campbell of Monzie James Colquhoun of Luss John Campbell of Carrick Collin Campbell of Balliemore and Dougal Campbell of Craignish 8 First action and mutiny Edit In March 1743 the regiment was assembled at Perth in preparation for moving to London then Flanders to join British forces fighting in the War of the Austrian Succession Scottish officials including the Lord President of the Court of Session Duncan Forbes warned the government this was contrary to a general understanding their service was restricted to Scotland Assured the move was only because George II wanted to inspect them they arrived in London in May and were then ordered to Gravesend for shipment to Flanders Anger at the deception allied to rumours they were going to the West Indies a location notorious for high mortality rates caused a mutiny they set out for Scotland led by Corporals Malcolm and Samuel MacPherson and Private Farquhar Shaw 9 They reached Ladywood on the outskirts of Oundle Northamptonshire on 22 May before being intercepted The mutineers surrendered in hope of a free pardon but were marched back to London and incarcerated in the Tower of London The three leaders of the mutiny were subsequently court martialed and executed by firing squad on 18 July 1743 at Tower Green Two hundred other members of the regiment were distributed variously to garrisons in Jamaica Gibraltar and Menorca with the remainder shipped to Flanders 10 11 The regiment s first full combat was the disastrous Battle of Fontenoy in May 1745 where they surprised the French with their ferocity and greatly impressed their commander the Duke of Cumberland 12 Allowed their own way of fighting each time they received the French fire Colonel Sir Robert Munro ordered his men to clap to the ground while he himself because of his corpulence stood alone with the colours behind him 11 When the Jacobite rising of 1745 broke out another three companies were raised in Scotland one being present at the Battle of Prestonpans in September 1745 where the entire company was either killed or taken prisoner 13 Another fought for the government under Dugald Campbell of Auchrossan at the Battle of Culloden in April 1746 where they suffered no casualties 14 15 These three companies were disbanded in 1748 13 The rest of the regiment landed in England on 4 November and remained there in anticipation of a possible French invasion until after the rebellion ended From early 1747 to the end of 1748 it was in Flanders but otherwise was stationed in Ireland until 1756 In 1749 after Oglethorpe s Regiment of Foot was disbanded and the Black Watch was re numbered the 42nd and in 1751 formally titled the 42nd Highland Regiment of Foot 13 On the outbreak of the Seven Years War in 1756 it was sent to North America 16 The Americas Edit An Officer amp Serjeant of a Highland Regiment c 1740 During the French and Indian War at the first battle of Ticonderoga also known as the Battle of Carillon the regiment lost over half of its men in the assault in July 1758 17 18 At that time they were already officially recognized as a Royal regiment 19 The second battalion of the Black Watch was sent to the Caribbean 20 but after the losses of Ticonderoga the two battalions were consolidated in New York The regiment was present at the second battle of Ticonderoga in July 1759 and the surrender of Montreal in September 1760 They were sent to the West Indies again where they saw action at Havana Martinique and Guadeloupe 11 Between 1758 and 1767 the 42nd served in America In August 1763 the regiment fought in the Battle of Bushy Run while trying to relieve Fort Pitt modern Pittsburgh during Pontiac s Rebellion 21 The regiment went to Cork Ireland in 1767 and returned to Scotland in 1775 11 During the American Revolutionary War the regiment was involved in the defeat of George Washington in the Battle of Long Island in August 1776 22 and saw combat at the Battle of Harlem Heights in September 1776 the Battle of Fort Washington in November 1776 and the Battle of Piscataway in February 1777 It also fought at the Battle of Brandywine light infantry and grenadier companies only in September 1777 23 the Battle of Germantown Light Company only in October 1777 24 and the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778 as well as the siege of Charleston in spring 1780 25 In September 1778 a detachment from the regiment raided Fairhaven Massachusetts inflicting severe damage on the town s shipping industry 11 Following the end of the war in America the 42nd were posted to Nova Scotia in 1783 26 serving there until 1786 when they moved north to Cape Breton Island The regiment returned to England in 1789 27 Landing at Portsmouth they marched to Tynemouth in Northumberland and in the spring of 1790 marched on to Glasgow before taking up residence at Edinburgh Castle in November 1790 28 French Revolutionary Wars Edit Black Watch depicted guarding Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke of Wellington During the Battle of Alexandria in 1801 a major in the regiment captured a standard from the French They went on to besiege Cairo and then Alexandria in which the French forces were expelled from Egypt 11 Peninsular War Edit See also British Army during the Napoleonic Wars The 1st battalion embarked for Portugal in August 1808 for service in the Peninsular War 29 At the Battle of Corunna in January 1809 30 it was a soldier of the 42nd Highlanders who carried the mortally wounded General Sir John Moore to cover and six more who carried him to the rear but only after he had witnessed the victory in which the stout defence of the Black Watch played a major part Moore s army was evacuated from Spain and the 1st Battalion of the 42nd Highlanders went with them 11 As the 1st battalion left the 2nd battalion was dispatched from Ireland to Spain for service in the Peninsular War The 2nd battalion fought at the Battle of Bussaco in September 1810 31 before falling back to the Lines of Torres Vedras 32 The 2nd battalion fought with great distinction at the Battle of Fuentes de Onoro in May 1811 32 the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in January 1812 33 and the bloody siege of Badajoz in March 1812 33 before returning home to recruit 34 The 1st battalion returned to the Peninsula in time to fight in the Battle of Salamanca in July 1812 34 the siege of Burgos in September 1812 35 and the Battle of Vitoria in June 1813 35 It then pursued the French Army into France and fought at the Battle of the Pyrenees in July 1813 36 the Battle of Nivelle in November 1813 37 and the Battle of the Nive in December 1813 37 before seeing action at the Battle of Orthez in February 1814 38 and the Battle of Toulouse in April 1814 38 Waterloo Edit Black Watch at Quatre Bras Regimental tartan With the war with France now apparently over the 2nd battalion was disbanded in 1814 and some of its number transferred to the permanent 1st battalion The now single battalion 42nd fought at the chaotic Battle of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815 39 under Lieutenant colonel Sir Robert Macara who was killed by French lancers 40 The 42nd was one of four battalions mentioned by Wellington in despatches after the battle Two days later at the Battle of Waterloo 41 the 42nd and also the 2nd 73rd Highlanders which was later to become the new 2nd Battalion Black Watch were both in some of the most intense fighting in the battle 11 The Victorian era Edit From 1847 to 1851 the regiment was posted to the garrison of the Imperial fortress of Bermuda in British North America Bermuda s garrison forming part of the Nova Scotia command until the Confederation of Canada arriving from Malta aboard HMS Vengeance which departed Malta on the 21 or 27 depending on the source February with the 1st Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel D A Cameron and HMS Resistance the arrival of which at Malta had been delayed resulting in its departing with the 2nd Battalion at a later date 42 The 1st Battalion arrived in Bermuda on 15 April 1847 43 The Vengeance and Deliverance then delivered the 20th East Devonshire Regiment of Foot from Bermuda to Halifax Nova Scotia 44 The 2nd Battalion or Reserve Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel MacDougall departed Malta aboard the Deliverance on the 16 March 1847 and arrived at Bermuda on 24 of April after stopping at Gibraltar for water 45 46 The convicts transported to Bermuda included many Irishmen including participants in the ill fated Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848 and Nationalist journalist and politician John Mitchel 47 48 49 Conditions for the convicts were harsh and discipline was draconian In April 1830 convict James Ryan was shot and killed during rioting of convicts on Ireland Island Another five convicts were given death sentences for their parts in the riots with those of the youngest three being commuted to transportation for life In 1849 convict James Cronin on the hulk Medway at Ireland Island was placed in solitary confinement from the 25th to the 29th for fighting On release and being returned to work he refused to be cross ironed He ran onto the breakwater brandishing a poker threateningly For this he was ordered to receive punishment presumably flogging on Tuesday 3 July 1849 with the other convicts aboard the hulk assembled behind a rail to witness When ordered to strip he hesitated Thomas Cronin his older brother addressed him and while brandishing a knife rushed forward to the separating rail He called out to the other prisoners in Gaelic and many joined him in attempting to free the prisoner and attack the officers The officers opened fire Two men were killed and twelve wounded Punishment of James Cronin was then carried out Three hundred men of the 42nd Regiment of Foot in barracks on Ireland Island responded to the scene under arms 50 The 42nd Regiment was stationed in Bermuda at a time when the military infrastructure as well as the naval was undergoing development and expansion The regiment provided working parties to clear ground in Devonshire Parish for the development of what was to become Prospect Camp and to dig a well near to the Government House on Mount Langton in Pembroke Parish during a drought in 1849 The well has been known since as Black Watch Well In the 1930s a pass was cut through the ridgeline from Black Watch Well on the North Shore Road to Marsh Folly Road and it took its name Black Watch Pass from the adjacent well 51 52 The regiment formed part of the Highland Brigade at the Battle of Alma in September 1854 and the siege of Sevastapol in winter 1854 during the Crimean War it also formed part of that brigade at the siege of Cawnpore in June 1857 and the siege of Lucknow in autumn 1857 during the Indian Rebellion 11 During the siege of Cawnpore the regiment captured a gong which has tolled the hours in the regiment s guardroom ever since 53 As part of the Cardwell Reforms of the 1870s where single battalion regiments were linked together to share a single depot and recruiting district in the United Kingdom the 40th was linked with the 79th Regiment of Foot Cameronian Volunteers and assigned to district no 57 at Queen s Barracks in Perth 54 On 1 July 1881 the Childers Reforms came into effect and the regiment amalgamated with the 73rd Perthshire Regiment of Foot to form the Black Watch Royal Highlanders 11 Popular culture EditA number of songs were composed about the regiment including and Jock MacGraw and The Gallant Forty Twa 55 The second line of Brian McNeill s song The Baltic tae Byzantium briefly references the 42nd as The Gallant Forty Twa 56 The traditional Scots Language song Twa Recruitin Sergeants refers to efforts by recruiters to lure Highlanders to the regiment 57 Gregory Burke s 2006 play Black Watch for the National Theatre of Scotland based on interviews with soldiers and featuring as a recurring motif the songs The Gallant Forty Twa and Twa Recruitin Sergeants is a dramatised account of the regiment s part in Operation Telic 58 Notable soldiers EditJames Abercrombie Duncan Cameron John Small John GrantBattle honours EditBattle honours awarded to the regiment were 59 Egypt Peninsular War Corunna Fuentes D Onor Pyrenees Nivelle Nive Orthes Toulouse Peninsula Waterloo Crimean War Alma Sevastopol Indian Mutiny Lucknow Ashanti Wars Ashantee 1873 74 Guadaloupe 1759 Martinique 1762 Havannah awarded to successor regiment 1909 Busaco awarded to successor regiment 1910 North America 1763 64 awarded to successor regiment 1914 Salamanca awarded to successor regiment 1951 Victoria Crosses EditPrivate Walter Cook Indian Mutiny 15 January 1859 Private James Davis Indian Mutiny 15 April 1858 Lieutenant Francis Farquharson Indian Mutiny 9 March 1858 Colour Sergeant William Gardner Indian Mutiny 5 May 1858 Lance Sergeant Samuel McGaw First Ashanti Expedition 21 January 1874 Private Duncan Millar Indian Mutiny 15 January 1859 Quartermaster Sergeant John Simpson Indian Mutiny 15 April 1858 Private Edward Spence Indian Mutiny 15 April 1858 Lance Corporal Alexander Thompson Indian Mutiny 5 April 1858 Regimental Colonels EditColonels of the Regiment were 59 1739 1741 Lt Gen John Lindsay 20th Earl of Crawford 1741 1745 Brig Gen Hugh Sempill 12th Lord Sempill 1745 1787 Gen Lord John Murray42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot 1758 1787 1805 Gen Sir Hector Munro KB 1806 1820 Gen George Gordon 5th Duke of Gordon GCB Marquess of Huntly 1820 1823 Gen John Hope 4th Earl of Hopetoun GCB 1823 1844 Gen Sir George Murray GCB GCH 1844 1850 Lt Gen Sir John Macdonald GCB 1850 1862 Gen Sir James Dawes Douglas GCB 1862 1863 F M George Hay 8th Marquess of Tweeddale KT GCB42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot The Black Watch 1861 1863 1881 Gen Sir Duncan Alexander Cameron GCBReferences Edit The Highland regiments that landed in America and took part in the French and Indian War were the 42nd or Royal Highland Regiment The Black Watch the 77th Regiment of Foot and the 78th Regiment of Foot Pollard 2009 p 63 Cotton Julian James 1945 List Of Inscriptions On Tombs amp Monuments in Madras Vol 1 Madras British India Government Press p 488 Retrieved 2 June 2016 Simpson 1996 p 113 Sir K S Mackenzie General Wade amp his Roads paper before the Inverness Scientific Society 13 April 1897 Simpson 1996 pp 113 114 a b Simpson 1996 pp 116 117 Simpson 1996 pp 207 208 Groves 2017 pp 3 4 Groves 2017 p 4 a b c d e f g h i j 42nd Royal Highland Regiment British Empire Retrieved 15 May 2016 Cannon p 34 a b c Groves 2017 p 6 Pollard 2009 pp 71 72 Cannon p 40 Cannon p 45 Cannon p 46 First Highland Regiments in America Electricscotland com Retrieved 27 May 2017 Cannon p 49 Cannon p 50 History of Pittsburgh and environs George Thornton Fleming American Historical Company American Historical Society Incorporated New York 1922 They waited on the commander of the fort Captain William Murray who received them politely and introduced them to the Rev Mr McLagan the chaplain of the 42d Highlanders then the garrison of the fort Cannon p 68 Cannon p 73 Cannon p 74 Cannon p 79 Cannon p 80 Cannon p 85 Stewart I p 402 403 Cannon p 118 Cannon p 119 Cannon p 124 a b Cannon p 125 a b Cannon p 126 a b Cannon p 127 a b Cannon p 128 Cannon p 130 a b Cannon p 131 a b Cannon p 132 Cannon p 141 Dalton Charles 1904 The Waterloo roll call With biographical notes and anecdotes London Eyre and Spottiswoode p 158 Cannon p 144 Untitled item in Column 2 The Royal Gazette Bermuda 6 April 1847 p 2 H M line of battle ship Vengeance Capt Lushington having on board the 1st Batt of the 42nd Regt Royal Highlanders under the command of Lt Col D A Cameron arrived on Thursday last from Malta which Island they left on the 27th February The battalion landed on the following day at Ireland Island and at this Town At this place there not being sufficient accommodation for the portion of the 1st Batt XX before in quarters here and that part of the 42nd that succeeds them an equal number of both Regiments are in the Barracks and encamped in the rear This latter disposition is a very pleasing and to many a very novel sight The Highlanders wear their national costume and as might be expected attracted crowds of persons to see them land The following is a list of the Officers and the number of Men amp c with the Battalion Lt Colonel D A Cameron Captains Thos Tulloch C Murray A C Campbell Lieutenants Alexr Ramsay J W Wedderburn Hon G H E Grant J O Barnett P R Burrows Ensigns W G Cameron J W P Orde Wm L McNish R C Cunninghame Lt amp Adjt T R Drummond Hay Paymaster J Wheatley Quarter Master E Paton Surgeon Jas McGregor Asst Surgeon W M Muir M D Five hundred and fourteen Non Commissioned Officers rank and file twenty four Women and 42 Children of the 1st Battalion and 3 Non Commissioned Officers 8 Privates 8 Women and 12 Children of the Reserve Battalion We understand that they have had a very pleasant passage from Malta and that the Resistance with the reserve battalion was to leave about 6 days after The following highly complimentary General Order was issued by the Lieutenant General Commanding at Malta on the embarkation of this gallant and highly distinguished Corps Head Quarters Valletta Malta 24th February 1847 General order On the departure of the two Battalions 42nd Royal Highlanders from this Garrison where they have been stationed for upwards of four years the Lieut General Commanding has much satisfaction in recording in General Orders the high sense he entertains of the discipline and General Good Conduct of both the Battalions since they have been under his command and he begs that Lieut Cols Cameron and McDougall as well as the Officers Non Commissioned Officers and Men will accept his best wishes for their happiness and prosperity wherever they may go P EDWARDS Lt Col and A M S ARRIVAL OF THE 1ST BATTALION 42ND REGT The Royal Gazette Bermuda 20 April 1847 p 2 THE XX REGIMENT The Royal Gazette Bermuda 9 February 1847 ARRIVAL OF THE SECOND BATTALION 42ND ROYAL HIGHLANDERS The Royal Gazette Bermuda 27 April 1847 Untitled item in Column 1 The Royal Gazette Bermuda 4 May 1847 p 2 The following is a list of the Officers and number of Men amp c of Reserve Battalion 42nd Royal Highlanders arrived in H M troop ship Resistance on Saturday 24th ult Lt Colonel James MacDougall Commanding Captains H M Drummond G W MacQuairie J H Daniell Farquhar Campbell Lieutenants G M Ross Act Paymaster E F G Clavering S D Abercromby Ensigns C C Graham W J Cunninghame Act Adjutant R A Frazer Qr Master C Fraser Surgeon H MacKey 24 sergeants 11 drummers 468 rank and file 26 soldiers wives 39 children Detachment 1st Batt 3 Sergeants 7 rank and File 7 women 15 children Passengers in Resistance Mrs MacQuarie and 5 children Mrs Ross and 5 children Mrs MacVey and Mrs Fraser and 2 children British military presence in Bermuda permanent dead link The Royal Gazette 3 February 2007 Convict Establishment Bermuda Brochure by Chris Addams and Michael Davis 1998 Tri S Ranch The Irish Slave Trade The Forgotten White Slaves The Slaves That Time Forgot by John Martin Bermuda Sampler 1815 1850 by William Zuill Publisher The Bermuda Book Store 1 January 1937 Black Watch Well ceremony for Thursday The Royal Gazette Bermuda 20 October 2015 Retrieved 27 September 2021 Hainey Raymond 23 October 2015 Black Watch Well rededication ceremony The Royal Gazette Bermuda Retrieved 27 September 2021 The Cawnpore Gong Black Watch Retrieved 23 December 2016 Training Depots Regiments org Archived from the original on 10 February 2006 Retrieved 16 October 2016 Wha Saw the 42nd Digital Tradition Mirror Retrieved 8 May 2016 The Baltic tae Byzantium Musixmatch Retrieved 8 May 2016 Traditional Scottish Songs Twa Recruitin Sergeants www rampantscotland com Retrieved 6 June 2016 Black Watch 2006 National Theatre of Scotland Retrieved 19 April 2018 a b 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot The Black Watch regiments org Archived from the original on 10 March 2006 Retrieved 21 September 2016 Bibliography EditCannon Richard 1845 Historical Record of the Forty second or the Royal Highland Regiment of Foot London Parker Furnivall and Parker Groves Percy 2017 1893 History Of The 42nd Royal Highlanders The Black Watch Now The First Battalion The Black Watch Royal Highlanders 1729 1893 Edinburgh W amp A K Johnston ISBN 1376269481 Pollard Tony ed 2009 Culloden The History and Archaeology of the Last Clan Battle 1st ed Barnsley England Pen amp Sword Military ISBN 978 1 84884 020 1 Schofield Victoria 2012 The Highland Furies The Black Watch 1739 1899 London Quercus ISBN 978 1 84916 918 9 Simpson Peter 1996 The Independent Highland Companies 1603 1760 Edinburgh J Donald ISBN 978 0 85976 432 2 Stewart David 1822 Sketches of the Character Manners and Present State of the Highlanders Swinson Arthur 1972 A Register of the Regiments and Corps of the British Army London The Archive Press ISBN 0 85591 000 3 External links EditBlack Watch Archive catalogues for collections relating to soldiers of the 73rd Regiment and 42nd Regiment The Black Watch The Black Watch Castle amp Museum Perth Scotland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 42nd Regiment of Foot amp oldid 1129361557, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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