Forward the 42nd!

[tulloch]

Welcome from the highlands of Central Massachusetts, USA!

[kry]

I was reading (HIGHLANDER IN THE FRENCH-INDIAN WAR) thinking units of the 42 was in Western North Carolina close to Franklin where the Scottish Tartans Museum is in 1761; however, it looks like the 77th Foot and the Royal Scots were fighting the Cherokees there. The book does mention some, most of the deployments of the 42nd Reg.

[Dall_Piobaire]

Welcome from the lowlands of NC. Thanks for your service during a difficult period.

[Deil the Yin]

Lookin' forward to reading your input on all things kilt-ish! Welcome to the boards.

Cheers,
Wesley

[MacGuffin]

Greetings from Southern California!

[tripleblessed]

Greetings, and welcome! The forum is rife with those who appreciate the willingness to
stand up and serve. Thank you, and enjoy your sojourn here.

[BoldHighlander]

I was reading (HIGHLANDER IN THE FRENCH-INDIAN WAR) thinking units of the 42 was in Western North Carolina close to Franklin where the Scottish Tartans Museum is in 1761; however, it looks like the 77th Foot and the Royal Scots were fighting the Cherokees there. The book does mention some, most of the deployments of the 42nd Reg.

Indeed. The 77th of Foot and the 1st of Foot (The Royals or Royal Regt as they were styled then, they received the designation Royal Scots in 1812), were fighting their old allies the Cherokee.

If you wish to read what is probably the most thorough history of the Highland Regiments in the Seven Years War, I'd highly recommend the two volume work by Ian Macpherson McCulloch (former commander of the Black Watch RHR of Canada & Deputy Director of History & Heritage for the Canadian Forces in Ottawa) entitled Sons of the Mountain; The Highland Regiments in the French & Indian War, 1756 ~ 1767.

It is a treasure trove of information!

Cheers!

[Sammac]

Welcome from Michigan,USA

[Bigkahuna]

Some history - worth sharing.

A few years ago, the Black Watch was in Basra, in Iraq - and in a very tough situation, shot at by the locals and by the Labour government at home - which decided to amalgamate all the Highland and Lowland regiments into one "super-regiment" the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

When British Army regiments were numbered - 1st Foot, 2nd Foot and so on, the Black Watch was the 42nd - but hadn't used that number since reforms in late 1800s, when all regiments were renamed.

Back at home, The Black Watch as an independent regiment faced a sort of extinction. On the battlefield, in Basra, in an ambush, one unnamed officer took quick action and ordered his troops forward to attack their ambushers. His order? Something that hadn't been heard on a foreign battlefield for well over a century: Forward the 42nd! It inspired the jocks and they swept away their attackers, so I understand.

That was right after he ordered them to "Fix Bayonets"! If I recall correctly.

[BoldHighlander]

That was right after he ordered them to "Fix Bayonet"! If I recall correctly.

I seem to recall that too.