Talk:Black Watch (play)

Verbatim material from war correspondent James Denselow

This is attributed, but the actual source isn't given (it's from here). I propose to delete it, to conform to WP:NPS. Views, before I go ahead? --Old Moonraker (talk) 13:25, 10 January 2012 (UTC)

Introductory section

"The Black Watch regiment is based in Fife and the Tayside region in Scotland, and the British Army has been a part of their lives for generations. Their fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers, have been soldiers in the regiment – a regiment that has been involved in virtually every major conflict since it was formed as the Gallant Forty Twa in 1739. "It's in the blood. It's part of who we are."

This passage may have been culled from a press package or other similar material. It has several problems.

The former regiment was not "based" in Fife and the Tayside region. For a start, the short-lived administrative unit of 'Tayside' has not existed since 1996. From the late C19th onwards, the regiment's recruiting area comprised the former counties of Perthshire, Angus and Fife. The regimental headquarters was situated in Perth, and continues to be for legacy purposes (2021). The regiment's "base," if such a term is used, would be wherever the battalion is stationed- the more appropriate term- e.g. Fort George, where The Black Watch -as 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland are currently stationed in 2021.

Given the point being made, and given when the play was set, the use of the historic county names might be appropriate.

"Their lives" etc. It is not unusual to refer to a regiment in the corporate plural, as one might a family or a sports team, but in this case the usage is rendered redundant. Of course the regiment has been associated with the British Army for generations. It is a regiment of the British army. An intermediary section is required refering to the people of the historic recruiting areas.

"since it was formed as the Gallant Forty Twa in 1739" This is incorrect. "The Gallant Forty Twa" as a term of reference is from the C19th, popularised in the song of the same name that is used in the play. In 1739, the regiment was embodied as the Earl of Crawford's or The Highland Regiment of Foot. It wasn't numbered forty-second in the line until 1749, receiving the official title "42nd (Highland) Regiment of Foot" in 1751.

Proposed amendment:

'The Black Watch regiment recruited from the former counties of Perthshire, Fife and Angus in Scotland. For the people of those districts, the British Army has been a part of their lives for generations and, for some, their fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers, have been soldiers in the regiment – a regiment that has been involved in virtually every major conflict since it was formed in 1739. As a character says in the play, "For some of us, it's in the blood. It's part of who we are."'

JF42 (talk) 07:41, 30 August 2021 (UTC)