The Black Watch was an elite military Regiment whose history stretches back almost three centuries. This website aims to provide comprehensive information on everything 'Black Watch' from the history of the Regiment to its current activities and exists to celebrate and sustain that unique heritage and tradition.
Birkenhead Claret Jugs
This handsome pair of silver claret jugs, engraved Major General Sir John Grey, KCB, are known as the Birkenhead Claret Jugs.
In 1852 Her Majesty’s Troopship The Birkenhead was carrying reinforcements from various regiments including the 73rd, who were going out to South Africa to take part in the Frontier Wars. On 26th February 1852, the ship sank at Simon’s Bay just east of Capetown. Many of the soldiers died as priority was given to saving the women and children (hence what is known as the Birkenhead Drill – “women and children first”).
The story was told that “When the Birkenhead went down, a Corporal’s wife, obviously determined not to come out of the experience of being shipwrecked penniless, picked up the two claret jugs, tucked them under her skirts and boarded one of the lifeboats. They eventually turned up at a London saleroom, where they were bought back by the Regiment.”
Major General Sir John Grey was appointed Colonel of the 73rd Regiment on 3rd April 1846. He then moved to the 5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) on 18 May 1849. At the time of the Birkenhead disaster he was Commander in Chief in Bombay.
The jugs can be seen on display at Balhousie Castle in Perth.
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The history of the First World War (1914 – 1918) is brought to life by personal reminiscences, film and objects and stand as a testimony to over 8000 Black Watch men who lost their lives. They were truly “the lost generation”.