PSALM - Scotland - A Touch of Tartan

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A Touch Of Tartan

I never knew my paternal grandfather for he died before I was born. There was one small photograph of him taken in a wheelchair outside Erskine Hospital for Disabled Ex-Servicemen.

He was a soldier who served in several Scottish Regiments and he was a kiltmaker and tailor to trade.

It was whilst with the Black Watch Regiment that he made his most famous kilt – the one for King George 5th who was Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment.

The newspaper photograph is from the “Daily Mail”. But whoever saved it cut the picture out of the newspaper without the date line so I do not know the exact year but the month was September for the caption tells that the King and Queen were at Balmoral – and an article on the reverse side gives “September Tasks For the Gardener.”

The two coloured photographs were taken, with permission, by my younger daughter when she and her husband visited the Black Watch Museum in Balhousie Castle, Perth, in November 1998. That is where my grandfather’s kilt is displayed.

For your interest, here are a few facts about the Black Watch Regiment.

The Black Watch Regiment was the first Highland Regiment raised under Royal Warrant in 1739 and as such is Scotland’s senior Highland Regiment. Initially it was made up of companies from different clans who were thought to be loyal and capable of guarding Highland areas from clan raiding and feuding.

In order not to show favouritism to any one clan, a Lowlander, John, 20th Earl of Crawford was given command of the original 1000 men.

The tartan was known in the 18 century as the “Government Tartan” and is based on the Royal tartan. It then became known as the “Universal” tartan and now is called the “Black Watch” tartan.

The Black Watch pipers in contrast wear the bright red Royal Stewart tartan. The regiment is the only one to have the privilege of wearing a red hackle (plume) in their bonnets. (I remember seeing my grandfather’s red hackle in a box, when I was a child.)

Motto: Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
No one attacks me with impunity.

Name: Gaelic Am Freiceadan Dubh
The Black Watch

Regimental March Past: "Heilan’ Laddie."
(Which is the midi that is playing!)

© copyright: Elizabeth M. Tolson 13th November 2000

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