The Black Watch

The Black Watch, or "Royal Highland Regiment," the oldest of the Highland units, wears the "Universal" tartan. Sometimes called the "Black Watch" or "42nd" tartan, it is claimed to be a Campbell tartan and is worn as such, when woven in brighter color shades, by the Duke of Argyle.  The pipers of the Regiment, however, wear a different tartan known as the "Royal Stewart," as do their counterparts in other Scottish regiments.

"In 1726, General George Wade, an Irishman, was appointed Commander-in-Chief in Scotland with a brief to pacify the Highlands.  Wade revived the idea of using Highlanders with proven loyalty to the Crown.  He raised them in 1725 at Aberfeldy when six companies of some 500 men were drawn from the clans Campbell, Grant, Fraser and Munro.

The Black Watch also policed the Highlands.  They were authorized to disarm clansmen, prevent cattle stealing and act as guides for Hanoverian redcoats and dragoons. Believing it to be in the government's interest that the men of the Watch be kept happy in their remote camps, Wade established breweries for his men.  In 1739, a year after the major road-building program was finished, the six companies were increased to ten and The Black Watch Regiment was formally constituted."

from "Scotland's story: a new perspective" by Tom Steel.

For more information, please visit the official
Black Watch site