Devils in skirts. A profile of 'The Black Watch'

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Devils in skirts. A profile of 'The Black Watch' The Hook This is not the first time that 'The Black Watch' has relieved the US Marines in combat. The last time was in November 1952 and the adversary none other than China's PLA. The Black Watch held a strategic Korean feature called 'The Hook' until themselves relieved; but not before having gained a respect, bordering on a kind of affection, for their determined adversary. This was a defensive action, but the Black Watch made their reputation as an attacking force. 'Devils in skirts' In the 1914-18 War they were known to the Germans as 'devils in skirts' because, even in that quagmire, they wore the traditional kilt - although of khaki not tartan (plaid). It was then customary to shout across when a new enemy regiment arrived to ask who they were. Other British regiments used to answer The Black Watch just to enjoy the hush with which such news was greeted . Such was their aggressiveness that out of an establishment of almost 1,000 at the start of the war, only 39 of the original members of the 1st Battalion Black Watch survived the war. They truly earned their motto: 'Nobody insults me without punishment'. Armoured infantry The Black Watch today is an Armoured Infantry Battalion. Their normal role is to operate with a tank regiment against armoured adversaries. They have 52 Warrior 7-man armoured personnel carriers, 21 AFV432 command and mortar vehicles, 6 Sabre reconnaissance vehicles and 741 men. Not an obvious choice of force for what is being billed as a policing role, but like all British regiments they have toured the troubled province of Northern Ireland. It is here that they will have learned about conducting military operations in civilian areas. One may expect a different approach to their American comrades. The US army's favourite weapon seems to be the A10 Warthog ground attack aircraft. The Black Watch prefer the bayonet. Battle honours The regiment was raised in 1725 in Central Scotland as a watch (militia) to counter smuggling and rustling. The dark tartan of the kilts gave them their name. Their first battle honour was at Fontenoy (1745). For the next 200 years they served all over the Empire: protecting New York from the French (1756); seizing the standard of Napoleons 'Invincible Legion' in Egypt (1801); fighting in the battles of Salamanca (1812) and Waterloo (1815); the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, then Crimea, India, Ashanti, Australia, Argentina, South Africa, Sudan, Macedonia, Gaza, Baghdad, Sicily, Italy, Greece, Crete, Burma, Korea, Kenya, Cyprus. In 1977 they were the last British regiment to leave Hong Kong. The Glory? These battle honours stirred my blood as a boy; the skirl of the bag-pipes stirs me to this day. This is the magic of the British regimental system. The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, The Kings Own Scottish Borders, The Gordon Highlanders, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders: these are names to conjure with. Is my pride misplaced? Am I a victim of emotional manipulation by the state? The 'Glory of Wa'r: what about the 'Glory of Peace'?