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.
£1m worth of VC medals examined
November 9, 2008
Courtesy of The Sunday Post, Rob McLaren (Reporter)MORE THAN £1 million worth of Victoria Cross medals were examined for the first time in more than a decade in Perth last week, writes Rob McLaren.
The six medals, owned by The Black Watch Museum, are kept in a bank vault instead of being on display due to prohibitive insurance costs.
However, the museum, which draws in more than 10,000 visitors annually, hopes to display the medals instead of replicas as part of ambitious expansion plans.
The fundraising campaign aims to raise £3.2 million to buy and improve Balhousie Castle, which is currently leased by the Ministry of Defence.
An extension would allow a larger display area, more room for storage, a meeting room to talk to groups, and a cafe.
It is hoped the modernisation will increase the number of visitors to the Hay Street museum, which is a treasure trove for people interested in the military regiment, and justify the insurance costs.
Curator Major Ronnie Proctor cast his eye over the medals, which are the highest military decoration, as he put them in special preservation envelopes.
Three of the medals are 150 years old this year, having been awarded to Lieutenant Francis Farquharson, Lance Corporal Alexander Thompson and Private Edward Spence in 1858 for their valour in the face of the enemy during the Indian Mutiny.
The others were awarded to Private Thomas Edwards for fighting in Egypt in 1884, and to Sergeant David Finlay and Private Charles Melvin for their part in the World War 1.
Major Proctor said, "The interesting thing is that although each of the medals is made from the same Russian cannon from the Crimean War, they all look a little different, as they were made in different years.
"The Black Watch could have put forward soldiers for the honour for their part in the Crimean War - but they didn't like the look of the medal!
"By the time of the Indian Mutiny they realised the prestige of the medal. Members of the regiment were awarded the VC 14 times."
Black Watch secretary Lieutenant Colonel Roddy Riddell said it was important that the real medals, which can fetch up to £250,000 each at auction, were on public view.
He said, "People wouldn't know that we had replicas on display.
But having the replicas instead of the real medals is not quite the same.
"Having the real medals in view would help bring the history to life."
He added that the fundraising campaign had already raised £1.2 million. Once they reach the halfway stage they can apply for the Heritage Lottery Fund and other major trusts for the rest.