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Comrades by Robert Gibb. A dying soldier of the Black Watch is supported by his comrade, while another stands to protect them, as the ranks of the Highlanders march on, after the battles at Sebastopol during the Crimean war. |
Grenadiers of the XLII or Royal, and XCII or Gordon Highlanders No text for this item |
The Battle of Alma by Felix Philippoteaux. The Black Watch is shown with the Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards in the distance advancing up from the river Alma to attack the Russian forces at the top of the surrounding hills. |
Alma Forward the 42nd by Robert Gibb. The Black Watch advance up the slopes of the hills overlooking the River Alma, defeating the Russian defenders. A British Victory in the Crimean Campaign. |
Comrades by Robert Gibb. A dying soldier of the Black Watch is supported by his comrade, while another stands to protect them, as the ranks of the Highlanders march on, after the battles at Sebastopol during the Crimean war. |
The Attack of the Black Watch, Battle of Corunna by Harry Payne. The Battle of Corunna, 1809: With 20,000 fighting men Sir John Moore invaded a country overrun by 300,000 veterans, and, meeting with no support from the Spaniards, struck boldly at Bonapartes communications. The audacity of this strategy drew from Napoleon that Moore was the only foe worthy of his steel. With characteristic energy Bonaparte abandoned his plan of campaign and set out in pursuit, but rumour of an alliance between Russia and Austria sent him in hot haste to Paris. Soult was left behind to drive the British into the sea. Undismayed by the overwhelming force with which he was threatened, Moore prepared to meet the French. But prudence prevailed. Madrid had capitulated without striking a blow, and the Spanish legions had melted into shadows. Moore decided to fall back upon the coast. His force was so reduced that he had to post his men on an inferior range of hills commanded by the artillery fire of the enemy. But advantage of position and superior numbers were of no avail against the gallantry of the British. By a skillful move Moore managed to outflank the left of the French columns sent to crush the infantry under Baird. Centre and left became engaged and a furious fight swept along the line. Moore was in the forefront of the conflict near the village of Elvina, against which the assault was fiercest. Here a cannon shot struck him on the left breast, shattering the shoulder to pieces, breaking the ribs over the heart and tearing the muscles to shreds. Thrown violently from his horse he gave no sign of the terrible nature of his would, but fixed his gaze steadily on his troops. Only when he saw the thin red line advancing did he suffer himself to be carried to the rear. The hilt of his sword had entered the wound and an officer of his staff would have removed it. It is as well as it is, said the dying soldier, I had rather it should go out of the field with me. I hope my country will do me justice, were among his last words. By his skill, foresight and bravery, he saved Englands army from destruction and arrested the blow that Napoleon aimed at the conquest of Spain. |
Black Watch Uniforms 1739 - 1845 by Harry Payne. Top left : Officer, Piper and Sergeant, 1739 (showing the first uniform of the Black Watch). Top centre : Private, 1742. Top right : Officer, 1770. Middle left : Piper, 1840. Middle centre : Private and Officer, 1801 (Battle of Alexandria). Bottom left : Corporal (Marching Order) and Drummer, 1845. Bottom centre : Private (Marching Order), 1845. Bottom Right : Officer (Full Dress), 1830. |
Quatre Bras (Black Watch at Bay) by William Barnes Wollen. At the height of the Battle of Quatre Bras, 16th June 1815, the French Cavalry almost broke through Wellingtons positions. One Regiment of the 69th was decimated and lost its colour as it tried to form square. Another of the Black Watch received a terrible mauling by General Pires Lancers, as it formed square (depicted here) Reproduced by permission of the trustees of the Black Watch. |
The Captive Eagle by J P Beadle. Corporal Styles of the 1st Royal Dragoons displays a captured French Eagle to the cheering Black Watch. Behind him can be seen Wellington. |
Scaling the Heights of Abraham, Battle of Quebec by Harry Payne. No text for this item |
Badge and Colours of the Black Watch by Harry Payne. Printed on high quality 300gsm German etching stock. Only 25 copies of this superb quality reprint are available. |
Black Watch Under Orders by R.G. Hutchinson. Showing men of the Black Watch in a barrack room in Edinburgh Castle about to leave for the war in Egypt. |
Battle of Aboukir Bay 25th July 1798 by Louis Lejeune. When Nelson shattered the French fleet in the Bay of Aboukir he foresaw, as his despatches showed, that the army of Bonaparte was land-locked. Bonaparte, having made an unsuccessful attempt, after traversing the Palestine Desert, to effect the siege of Acre, defended by Sir Sidney Smith, was obliged to anticipate the retreat from Moscow, and wearily trudge back to Egypt. Next his ambitious stake for Empire recalled him to France, and he left Egypt hurriedly and the army of occupation to its fate. Eventually the British Government, alive to the fruits of Nelsons victory, despatched Sir Ralph Abercromby to dislodge the imprisoned French battalions and to capture the covetable land of Egypt. In March 1801, Abercromby with Smith of Acre, and Moore, afterwards of Corunna, was prepared to disembark on the shore affronting the castle of Aboukir.The General had no maps, no clues of military topography. Everything depended on his imperturbable coolness, and on that intrepid and resourceful spirit and action of the men in his command. In the early morning every man for the landing was in his position in his boat. In the fury of the cannonade, three boats were sunk, but a fair number out of the 180 men involved were saved. The captain of this enterprise of seamanship was Alexander Cochrane, of the famous family of Dundonald. Eventually the troops plunged through the surf, with bayonets fixed and flags flying, and dashed up the sandhills. The 42nd Highlanders, rapidly clambering up, raced up to the French defenders, and closed with bayonet and butt-end. In the meantime the French cavalry had courageous ridden into the sea and cut down many of the close packed troops in boats. Again, too, squadrons charged into the ranks of the alert invaders, but they were repulsed with heavy casualties. Nothing could stop the fearless headway of the dauntless infantry, seamen and marines. General Moore was the life and soul of this wondrous attack, which caused him the loss of nearly 700 killed and wounded. The affair was almost as acrobatic as that of Quebec, and the Frenchmen had a quick awakening from their experiences of native troops. In a few hours after the original order for landing, the scattered enemy were in headlong retreat on the road to Alexandria, upon which the English eagerly prepared to advance. |
Death of Colonel McCara (Blackwatch at Quatrebras) by Richard Simkin. No text for this item |
Square of the 42nd Charged by French Cuirassiers at Quatrebras by Harry Payne. 16th June 1815. 'A most destructive fire was opened; riders, cased in heavy armour, fell tumbling from their horses.' Anton, Military Life |
The Royal Highland Regiment, The Black Watch, Medal Roll 1801 - 1911 by Capt John Stewart. This is a goldmine for historians, medallists and genealogists; here are nominal rolls of officers and men of the two regiments present at the various campaigns and battles for which medals were awarded. Prior to 1881 they were two separate regiments and the lists are shown under 42nd and 73rd Foot, but in 1881 they became the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Black Watch and are listed accordingly. This fascinating record begins with Waterloo and continues with the Peninsula, Kaffir Wars, Crimea, Indian Mutiny, Gold Coast, Egypt, Suakin, Sudan and on to S Africa (1899-1902) Where there were clasps awarded for battles in a campaign the entitlement to a particular clasp is shown. A remarks/comments column provides additional information on indivduals such as deaths, casualties, discharges, desertions, forfeitures. Victoria Cross awards (with citations), and those of the DSO, DCM, MSM, LSGCM constitute separate lists as do awards to Volunteers and Territorials. Also included are the affiliated Royal Highlanders of Canada (5th Regiment) and the New South Wales Scottish Rifle Regiment. |
Battle of Alexandria by Peter Archer. Depicting the Royal Artillery along with the Gloucester regiment and Black Watch against Napoleons forces in Egypt 21st March 1801. |
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