The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada is a reserve infantry regiment in 34 Canadian Brigade Group, 2nd Canadian Division, of the Canadian Army. The regiment is located at 2067, rue Bleury (2067, Bleury Street) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and is currently commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel R.M. Unger, MMM,CD. The regiment's armoury was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2008. They are the senior Canadian-Scottish Regiment.
Lineage and history
Volunteers have served since the regiment's inception in Montreal on 31 January 1862, as the 5th Battalion, Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada. The rise of American military strength during their Civil War concerned Canada. The government authorized formation of militia regiments. Each of six Montreal Scottish chieftains responded by raising an infantry company for the 5th Battalion. Eventually, eight companies were raised. Since then, thousands of Canadian citizens have served in the Black Watch. In addition to service during the Fenian raids, they have fought in the First and Second World Wars; bolstered NATO operations in Europe and UN peacekeeping worldwide; and helped their fellow Canadians at home during the January 1998 North American ice storm (Operation Assistance) and 2011, 2017, and 2019 flooding in Quebec (Operation Lentus).
Queen Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother after 1952) was appointed colonel-in-chief in 1947 and continued in that role until her death in 2002. The Prince of Wales (King Charles III after 2022) was appointed colonel-in-chief in 2004.
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
Originated 31 January 1862 in Montreal, Canada East, as the 5th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles, Canada Redesignated 7 November 1862 as the 5th Battalion, "The Royal Light Infantry of Montreal" Redesignated 19 November 1875 as the 5th Battalion, "Royal Fusiliers" Redesignated 27 February 1880 as the 5th Battalion, "Royal Scots Fusiliers" Redesignated 29 February 1884 as the 5th Battalion, "Royal Scots of Canada" Redesignated 8 May 1900 as the 5th Regiment "Royal Scots of Canada" Redesignated 2 May 1904 as the 5th Regiment "Royal Scots of Canada, Highlanders" Redesignated 1 October 1906 as the 5th Regiment "Royal Highlanders of Canada" Redesignated 29 March 1920 as the Royal Highlanders of Canada Redesignated 1 January 1930 as the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) of Canada Redesignated 1 July 1935 as the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada Amalgamated 16 October 1953 with the 1st Canadian Highland Battalion and the 2nd Canadian Highland Battalion, which became the 1st and 2nd Battalions, respectively, while the Reserve component of the regiment became the 3rd Battalion. 1 July 1970 the 1st and 2nd Battalions were reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle and the Reserve Force battalion automatically relinquished its numerical designation.
The 1st Canadian Highland Battalion
Originated 4 May 1951 in Valcartier, Quebec
Amalgamated 16 October 1953 with The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada and redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
The 2nd Canadian Highland Battalion
Originated 10 April 1952 in Aldershot, Nova Scotia
Amalgamated 16 October 1953 with The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada and redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
Lineage chart
Perpetuations
War of 1812
5th Battalion, Select Embodied Militia
World War I
13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), CEF
42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), CEF
73rd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), CEF
Operational history
Fenian raids
The 5th Battalion, The Royal Light Infantry of Canada, was called out on active service on 8 March 1866 and served on the South-Eastern frontier until it was removed from active service on 31 March 1866. The battalion was again called out on active service on 24 May 1870, again serving on the South-Eastern frontier until it was removed from active service on 31 May 1870.
Boer War
The regiment did not fight in the Boer War in South Africa, but contributed volunteers for the various Canadian units, mainly to the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry.
World War I
Details of the 5th Regiment, Royal Highlanders of Canada, were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protective duty.