Scotland Forever!

[revwardoc]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/iraq/...s-watch25.html

Famed Scottish regiment heads to Iraqi hot spot

BASRA, Iraq -- Under a clear blue sky and enclosed in a square of armored vehicles, the soldiers of Britain's famous Black Watch regiment, some teenagers, sang "Amazing Grace" before hearing an Old Testament reading from the Book of Joshua that talked of standing "firm and steadfast."

"In the best traditions of the British Army we serve as ambassadors of our country," the chaplain, Aled Thomas, told them as they prepared to join U.S. forces south of Baghdad.

"The way we conduct ourselves can make us stand out as a force for good or not." At the moment when he paused after saying "let us pray," the distant boom of a large explosion could be heard several miles away.

"The regiment is ready to go and the guys are focused," said Lance Corp. Lewis Montague, 23, from Kirkcaldy, Scotland. "Everybody is a bit nervous but we have been through this before during the war last year. We just talk to our friends, keep each other going and stay focused."

The Black Watch was the first of the Scottish Highland regiments, the units famous for their kilts and recruited from the rugged mountains of Scotland. The regiment's name stems from the dark tartan it wears.

Corp. Alex Wilson, 27, from Dunfermline, Scotland, said the battalion was excited at being the first British troops into the so-called Sunni Triangle, where hundreds of American servicemen have been killed.

'Blue Bonnets Over the Border' The regiment was led into their final Sunday service before departure by bagpipes and drums playing the traditional Scottish song "Blue Bonnets Over the Border."

The troops' self-assurance was more than matched by their commanding officer, Lt. Col. James Cowan. "There's been much sensationalist talk about the threat we will face," he said.

"Frankly, this regiment beat Napoleon, beat the Kaiser and beat Hitler. "For the Jocks of the Black Watch this is just the latest chapter in our history and another job to be done."

Cowan was eager to avoid reference to the Americans' more direct approach at peacekeeping. "We are different nations and we do things differently. "We are the British Army, they are the American army, we will do it our way and they will do it their way. "We will act as a force for good in a new and different part of this country and it will be well within our ability and experience. We will fit in."

Cowan also ducked questions over the future of the Black Watch. Defense cuts mean that it is high on the list of infantry regiments to be disbanded. "I'm sure the Black Watch has a long, fine future ahead of it," he said.

[Jerry D]

God Bless the Scots , My GrGrGrGrGrampa Issac Haire Brown came over from Scotland as a Stowaway and worked off his passage settled near Warren Co. Tenn married a Cherokee Woman named Mary Mooney had a dozen youngens then moved to Missouri.When the War started in 1861 2 of his boys served in Union Army the Other 2 Served in the Confederacy ,One of the Union boys Pvt. A.H.Brown died in the Battle Of Stone River in Tenn so, I know them Scots can fight and have been since Robert Burns and his boys fought for their freedom from the King of England. So, I am glad to have them in Iraq. Maybe they will sceer the Terrorist like they did the Germans in WW2 when they played their bagpipes going into battle. The Germans refered to the Black Watch in their Kilts as Witches

[revwardoc]

http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/14606176

Having one's picture taken sitting next to the Queen is usually no sniggering matter.

Particularly when it's an official photograph of the battalion in full uniform and Her Majesty is there in her role as commander of the armed forces.But Colonel Simon West didn't appear to be taking the occasion too seriously yesterday.

In his cap, jacket and spats, his hands on his knees and his ankles crossed, he sat proudly in the front row of the 1st Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, next to the Queen.

But unlike his comrades, he hadn't taken the time to adjust his sporran and kilt for decency.

So the kilt flapped about for all the world to see. And judging by the grin on his face, the colonel knew exactly what he was doing.

Onlookers said the Queen didn't notice what was happening next to her. But she does not exactly appear comfortable in the photograph. She was visiting the battalion at Howe Barracks in Canterbury, Kent, to present medals after their recent tour of duty in Iraq.