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Short History
While the American Civil War and the creation of a large American Federal Army were creating a necessity of establishing a united Canada, Canadian citizens were demanding the creation of local militia units to guarantee the fundamental rights of British North America. Montrealers were no exception, and early in 1862 the 5th Battalion Royal Light Infantry, the forbear of The Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, came into existence. From the beginning in 1862, Canada‘s senior Highland Regiment, has been privileged to serve Canada in its obligations not only to the Empire and Commonwealth, but also to international organizations such as NATO and the United Nations.
The Black Watch of Canada‘s birth and growth is thus analogous to that of the Parent Regiment, which was formed in 1739 to guarantee peace in the highlands of Scotland and eventually to fight for Monarch and Country in conflicts throughout the world. It is therefore not surprising that both Regiments share a common heritage and spirit and a distinctive highland dress. The tartan of the Black Watch and the Royal Stewart tartan of its pipers, are known the world over as hallmarks of outstanding service in peace and war.
Although members of the Regiment served side by side with the Black Watch of Scotland in the Boer War, the formal alliance between Regiments did not occur until 1905. The great battles of World War I and World War II served to strengthen the alliance, and constant liaison and exchanges of officers and other ranks are fitting expressions of our wish to maintain this valuable affiliation.
During World War I, 11,954 officers and enlisted men fought in the three battalions of the Canadian Regiment, winning twenty-six battle honours. Of those who served, 2,163 were killed, 6,014 were wounded and 821 were decorated. Six of the decorated members were awarded the Victoria Cross.
During World War II, the Canadian Regiment joined with battalions of the Black Watch from all parts of the Commonwealth in the struggle to defeat the Axis Powers. The Regiment first saw action at Dieppe, where it‘s "C" Company and Mortar Platoon were an essential element of the raid. Landing in Normandy shortly after D-Day, the Black Watch participated in some thirty battle actions throughout France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Members of the Regiment won 211 honours and awards for the campaign.
The designation "3rd Battalion" has now been removed from the Militia Unit and The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada has reverted to its traditional role as being a Militia Regiment in Canada‘s Armed Forces. In August 1992, the Regiment was granted the Freedom of the City of Montreal. The towns of Ormstown and Huntingdon, Quebec granted the Regiment the Freedom of their cities in 1997 and 1998, respectively.
And in the fall of 1999, the City of Verdun, Quebec, bestowed the Freedom of the City upon the Regiment. Verdun has provided many Black Watch soldiers from the First War onwards.
Today the Black Watch is a modern infantry battalion providing trained soldiers to augment regular force units and to aid civil authorities in times of crises. Currently, the Regiment has soldiers involved in peacekeeping activities in the former Yugoslavia. To fufill these tasks, the soldiers undergo extensive infantry and more specialized training.
Battle Honours (43)
EARLY
SOUTH AFRICA, 1899, 1900
THE GREAT WAR
Ypres, 1915, 1917
VIMY, 1917
Gravenstafel
Arleux
ST. JULIEN
Scarpe, 1917, 1918
Festubert, 1915
Hill 70
MOUNT SORREL
PASSCHENDAELE
SOMME, 1916
AMIENS
Pozieres
Drocourt-Queant
Flers-Courcelette
Hindenburg Line
Thiepval
CANAL DU NORD
Ancre Heights
PURSUIT TO MONS
Ancre, 1916
FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915-1918
ARRAS, 1917, 1918
World War Two
BOURGUEBUS RIDGE
Woensdrecht
FAUBOURG DE VAUCELLES
South Beveland
VERRIERES RIDGE -- TILLY-LA-CAMPAGNE
WALCHEREN CAUSEWAY
THE RHINELAND
Falaise
THE HOCHWALD
Clair Tizon
Xanten
FORTE DE LA LONDE
The Rhine
Dunkirk, 1944
Groningen
Antwerp-Turnhout Canal
OLDENBURG
THE SCHELDT
NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1944-1945
Copyright © 2003 The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada - All rights reserved.
While the American Civil War and the creation of a large American Federal Army were creating a necessity of establishing a united Canada, Canadian citizens were demanding the creation of local militia units to guarantee the fundamental rights of British North America. Montrealers were no exception, and early in 1862 the 5th Battalion Royal Light Infantry, the forbear of The Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, came into existence. From the beginning in 1862, Canada‘s senior Highland Regiment, has been privileged to serve Canada in its obligations not only to the Empire and Commonwealth, but also to international organizations such as NATO and the United Nations.
The Black Watch of Canada‘s birth and growth is thus analogous to that of the Parent Regiment, which was formed in 1739 to guarantee peace in the highlands of Scotland and eventually to fight for Monarch and Country in conflicts throughout the world. It is therefore not surprising that both Regiments share a common heritage and spirit and a distinctive highland dress. The tartan of the Black Watch and the Royal Stewart tartan of its pipers, are known the world over as hallmarks of outstanding service in peace and war.
Although members of the Regiment served side by side with the Black Watch of Scotland in the Boer War, the formal alliance between Regiments did not occur until 1905. The great battles of World War I and World War II served to strengthen the alliance, and constant liaison and exchanges of officers and other ranks are fitting expressions of our wish to maintain this valuable affiliation.
During World War I, 11,954 officers and enlisted men fought in the three battalions of the Canadian Regiment, winning twenty-six battle honours. Of those who served, 2,163 were killed, 6,014 were wounded and 821 were decorated. Six of the decorated members were awarded the Victoria Cross.
During World War II, the Canadian Regiment joined with battalions of the Black Watch from all parts of the Commonwealth in the struggle to defeat the Axis Powers. The Regiment first saw action at Dieppe, where it‘s "C" Company and Mortar Platoon were an essential element of the raid. Landing in Normandy shortly after D-Day, the Black Watch participated in some thirty battle actions throughout France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Members of the Regiment won 211 honours and awards for the campaign.
The designation "3rd Battalion" has now been removed from the Militia Unit and The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada has reverted to its traditional role as being a Militia Regiment in Canada‘s Armed Forces. In August 1992, the Regiment was granted the Freedom of the City of Montreal. The towns of Ormstown and Huntingdon, Quebec granted the Regiment the Freedom of their cities in 1997 and 1998, respectively.
And in the fall of 1999, the City of Verdun, Quebec, bestowed the Freedom of the City upon the Regiment. Verdun has provided many Black Watch soldiers from the First War onwards.
Today the Black Watch is a modern infantry battalion providing trained soldiers to augment regular force units and to aid civil authorities in times of crises. Currently, the Regiment has soldiers involved in peacekeeping activities in the former Yugoslavia. To fufill these tasks, the soldiers undergo extensive infantry and more specialized training.
Battle Honours (43)
EARLY
SOUTH AFRICA, 1899, 1900
THE GREAT WAR
Ypres, 1915, 1917
VIMY, 1917
Gravenstafel
Arleux
ST. JULIEN
Scarpe, 1917, 1918
Festubert, 1915
Hill 70
MOUNT SORREL
PASSCHENDAELE
SOMME, 1916
AMIENS
Pozieres
Drocourt-Queant
Flers-Courcelette
Hindenburg Line
Thiepval
CANAL DU NORD
Ancre Heights
PURSUIT TO MONS
Ancre, 1916
FRANCE AND FLANDERS, 1915-1918
ARRAS, 1917, 1918
World War Two
BOURGUEBUS RIDGE
Woensdrecht
FAUBOURG DE VAUCELLES
South Beveland
VERRIERES RIDGE -- TILLY-LA-CAMPAGNE
WALCHEREN CAUSEWAY
THE RHINELAND
Falaise
THE HOCHWALD
Clair Tizon
Xanten
FORTE DE LA LONDE
The Rhine
Dunkirk, 1944
Groningen
Antwerp-Turnhout Canal
OLDENBURG
THE SCHELDT
NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1944-1945
Copyright © 2003 The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada - All rights reserved.