Marking 300 Years Since Their Formation By Pipe Major Alistair Duthie, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) Association.
The origins of what became The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) can be traced back 300 years to a period of instability in the Scottish Highlands following the Jacobite Rising of 1715. With local authority weakened, criminal activity increased across the region.
A call for order came from within the Highlands themselves. Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat amongst other Chiefs, appealed to King George I to address the situation. In response, General George Wade was authorised to raise Independent Highland Companies. Their role was to patrol and restore stability in the Highlands.
On 21 May 1725, a warrant was issued for three companies, to be led by:
These companies were to be completed by 1 June 1725.
In 1726, three additional companies were raised under:
Personnel were drawn from the clans Grant, Munro, Fraser, MacGregor, MacIntosh, MacPherson, and Campbell. The companies of Skipness and Carrick were based near Aberfeldy and mainly included men from West and North Perthshire.
These were not clan militias. While senior officers often came from influential families, junior officers were assigned as needed without regard to clan affiliation. The companies covered a broad area – from Caithness, east to Braemar, south to Killin, and west to the coast.
Detachments ranged from 6-8 men to full platoons depending on local needs. They were trained to military standards and equipped similarly to regular army units, with the exception that they were allowed to carry personal broadswords, pistols, and targes.
It is believed the uniform included:
Each company had a piper and drummer, though details of their dress are not confirmed.
According to the 1726 Grant papers and research by Colonel Peter MacDonald of the Scottish Tartans Authority, the tartan associated with the Black Watch likely originated between Strathspey and Easter Ross. It is linked to the Munros and Grants and is now worn by the Grants, Munros, and Campbells.
All members of the companies, including officers and sentinels (as the soldiers were known), spoke Gaelic. It is unclear whether drill instructions were given in Gaelic or learned in English.
The name “The Black Watch” or Am Freiceadan Dubh in Gaelic, refers to the companies’ role as a watch force patrolling the Highlands. The term “Black” is believed to relate to their efforts in policing cattle routes and suppressing Màl Dubh (blackmail), a common issue affecting drovers, farmers, innkeepers, and landowners.
An old saying notes:
“There are three occasions when ‘The’ is used at the start of a name: The King, The MacIntosh, and The Black Watch.”
In 1739, King George II authorised the raising of four additional Highland companies. These, along with the original six Independent Companies, were to be formed into a Regiment of the line of the regular British Army, with the Earl of Crawford appointed as Colonel.
The first official muster of the new regiment took place near Aberfeldy in 1740, where many of the original Highland sentinels were still serving. This event is marked by a monument near the River Tay, featuring a soldier in the uniform worn at that time. Some would go on to serve in the newly established regiment for decades to come – records show a few were still enlisted as late as 1764.
Sadly, few material records of the Independent Companies survive today. Most documentation comes from estate papers, The Knock notebook (held by the National Library of Scotland), and scattered references in parish records and War Office pension records at the National Archive in Kew. The most complete picture comes from the papers of Colonel Grant, whose company remains the best documented.
As we reflect on 300 years since the creation of these Highland Companies, their formation marks the beginning of a long and complex history. What started as a response to unrest in the Highlands laid the foundation for a regiment that would go on to serve in conflicts around the world. To learn more about the evolution of The Black Watch from its early days as Independent Companies to its role as a regiment in the British Army, visitors are welcome to explore the galleries at The Black Watch Museum in Perth.
As the Collections Assistant at The Black Watch Museum, I spend my days surrounded by conflict-related artefacts such as medals, uniforms, letters, and photographs that
Just before heading up the stairs to Gallery 4 visitors will see the painting of someone who, on first glance, might not look like a
Rosie Waine is the William Grant Foundation Research Fellow at the National Museum of Scotland. Here she writes how the Black Watch Museum & Castle
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
© The Black Watch Castle and Museum
The Black Watch Regimental Trust is a charitable company registered in Scotland | Charity No: SC005848
