During World War 1, most of the battalions of the Black Watch fought mainly in France and Flanders. German troops in the trenches gave them the nickname "The Ladies From Hell".
These kilted Scots were so fierce that the Germans were known to retreat from battle simply by hearing the skirl of the bagpipes; they knew that the pipes signalled an onslaught of the Black Watch soldiers. The Scots were coming and bringing Hell with them.
"As a musical instrument of war, the Great Pipes of the Highlands were without equal, according to historians. The shrill and penetrating notes worked well in the roar and din of battle and pipes could be heard at distances up to 10 miles. Because of the importance of the bagpipes to any Highland army, they were classified as an instrument of war by the Loyalist government during the Highland uprising in the 1700s. After the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745, kilts and bagpipes were outlawed, the pipes being classified as instruments of war.
Never has an instrument been so loved by a people and yet so feared by their enemies as the Highland bagpipes. The pipes are a symbol of strength, the salve of the soul, and the prize of Clans." ( Quote from the PalmBeachPipes.com web site)
Visit the official web site of the Black Watch.
More information on the Black Watch can be found here.
Visit the website of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) Canada.
Slainte,
Dianne
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The Ladies From Hell (Die Damen aus der Hölle)
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The Royal Scots Regiment
The regiment that became known as the The Royal Scots was raised by Sir John Hepburn on April 24, 1633.
The Privy Council issued a warrant ordering Hepburn to raise the regiment to fight in the French service. The recruits came mainly from the Scottish mercenaries of Gustavaus Adolphus in the Thirty Year's War.
Once known as "The Royal Regiment of Foot", they were the oldest and most senior line of infantry in the British Army. The Regiment maintained service (the 2nd Battalion fought at Falkirk and Culloden) until 2006, when it was amalgamated with The King's Own Scottish Borderers to become the 1st Battalion of the newly-formed Royal Regiment of Scotland.
The Regimental motto is "Nemo me impune lacessit": Latin for "Nobody touches me with impunity"; "Touch me and draw back a bloody stub".
The Regiment is also known by its nickname of "Pontius Pilate's Bodyguard". There is no definitive history to explain how they got this nickname. One theory is that Pontius Pilate was either born in Scotland and/or the child of a Scottish mother. This claim is based on the existence of the "Pilate Stone".
Another popular explanation is that, while on their extended tour of duty in France, members of the Royals and the French Regiment of Picardy were arguing over which regiment deserved to be placed in the coveted spot on the right of the line. The French claimed that they had been on guard at the Crucifixion, thereby making them the senior regiment and most deserving of the honor.
The Royals counter-claim was that had the Scots been on guard, Jesus would never have gotten out. The French conceded the seniority.
The official site of The Royal Scots can be found here.
