A Black Watch talk at the Scots Guards Club!

Dr Derek Patrick visited the Branch on 7th June to examine Black Watch recruitment during the years of 1914-15. 

He used his research into the Regiment's volunteers to investigate the dynamic between tradition and comradeship in forging fighting spirit within the Black Watch's service battalions at Loos and on the Somme. 

Derek looked at intriguing demographic data which showed that volunteering into the Black Watch was often from well outwith the regiment's traditional recruiting grounds - including from as far as Lanarkshire, Aberdeenshire, and even England, perhaps suggesting the allure for recruits of a famous kilted regiment with a string of battle honours. 

His lecture also highlighted the importance of a kernel of experienced Black Watch NCOs to effectively fuse the drive and enthusiasm of new 'citizen' soldiers into the history and traditions of an old established regiment. 

It was an excellent presentation by Dr Patrick and a fitting end to our Spring season.