Canada's Black Watch

Book excerpt: Nothing brings to mind the romance and camaraderie of the army more than the Highland Regiments -- arguably the most storied and well respected fighting units in the world. Among these soldiers, one regiment stands out above the others: The Black Watch, the Royal Highland Regiment. In Canada, the Regular Force battalions of the Black Watch were formed during 1951 in response to the Cold War. Drawing on five reserve units based in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria, and Nova Scotia, the Black Watch were first based in Aldershot, Nova Scotia, and then at CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick. The First and Second Battalions were stationed in Germany, fought in the Korean Conflict, and served as a peacekeeping force in Cyprus. Then, in 1970, the Regular Force Batallions were disbanded and the Black Watch reverted to a one-battalion Militia unit. This illustrated history brings together the colour and pageantry of the Regular Force Battalions of this legendary regiment. Photographs of the soldiers, their commanding officers, bases, uniforms, badges, and medals bring to life the story of the thousands of men who trained for a war that never came.