The Black Watch Part 16

Within a year it was in the lead of the force of six thousand men which Sir Colin led against twenty-five thousand mutineers at Cawnpore.

Its next hard fighting was in the Ashanti campaign, under General Sir Garnet Wolseley.

In 1881 it was combined with the 73rd Highland regiment (formerly the 2nd battalion of the Black Watch) and in the next year was back, fighting in Egypt. Through the whole of that war in Egypt it was in the fore-front, fighting with distinction up to the end of the expedition which was organized for the relief of Gordon at Khartoum.

The regiment suffered its most terrific losses--up to those of the retreat from Mons--in the South African campaign. The slaughter of the Black Watch, at Magersfontein, when the Boers ambushed it in close formation, was the most shocking news that came to England from the Cape.

The story of the 2nd Battalion of the regiment and its deeds is a separate one, through several decades. It sailed to India in 1780 and was in action in all of the big and little Indian wars of that early and troublous time.

In 1809 it was made a separate regiment and called the 73rd Highlanders.

As such it served at Waterloo, and it remained a separate unit until 1881, when it was reunited with the original 1st Battalion.

The Black Watch, as now organized, might almost be called a small army.

There is a depot battalion at Perth, four territorial battalions in Scotland and six service battalions.

In 1905, I enlisted in the 1st Battalion of the Black Watch--the same "Royal Highlanders" that had won its designation at Ticonderoga. In 1907, I was transferred to the 2nd Battalion, which had been known as the 73rd Highlanders. I joined them at their station at Peshawar, near the mouth of the famous Kyber Pa.s.s, in Afghanistan. In the athletic contests for which the regiment was famous, I met as a compet.i.tor, Ned MacD---- the same Ned MacD---- whose romantic story I have told in a previous chapter. After a time we were the regimental champions, and, many a day in India, we strenuously upheld the honour of the Black Watch in compet.i.tion with the men of other regiments.

My athletic days and my fighting days are over. But ever my blood will quicken with the thought that I have played my part and done my service and shed my blood in the ranks of the Black Watch, fighting for Right and for the Freedom of Mankind. The pain of old wounds will ever vanish, the regrets for departed comrades will ever fade into forgetfulness when I read, again, the verses which paraphrase the t.i.tle conferred by the bodies upon the Black watch--upon us!

There's a toss o' th' sporran, A swing o' th' kilt, A screech frae th' pipers In blood-stirrin' lilt; They step out together As pibroch notes swell-- Oh, they're bonny, braw fighters, "The ladies from h.e.l.l."

They're far frae th' heather An' far frae th' moor; As th' rocks o' their hillsides Their faces are dour.

Oh, Th' Campbells are Comin'

Frae corrie an' fell-- What a thrill to their slogan!

These "Ladies from h.e.l.l."

As they charged at Culloden Like fire o'er th' brae, Their brothers are charging In Flanders to-day.

One lesson in manners The boche has learned well: 'Tis: Make way for the ladies-- "The Ladies from h.e.l.l."

THE END

THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS GARDEN CITY, N. Y.

Footnotes:

[1] Since my discharge and residence here in America, I have heard several other cases of this kind, but the one narrated above is the only one I actually came in contact with. THE AUTHOR.

[2] This was Ned's individual experience. Prisoners in other hospitals and prison camps may have been allowed to write home even at that time. In talking to others I have learned that the prison camps in Germany vary a great deal.--THE AUTHOR.