Lieutenant & Serjeant, 42nd Royal Highlanders |
Introduction
The 1st Foot Guards Regiment of Foot was formed by old and new players of the community, as a small number of members in April 2017. They, being veterans of other Napoleonic War Regiments, we wanted to create an atmosphere of respect, fun, and entertainment while playing NW and PF. We achieve this by focusing on using excessive teamwork and tactics while playing the game. Our prime goals are to provide that same sense of comradery in and out of PF and into our other games we play. Our rank structure promotes a meaningful, but not overdone, organisation and couples with our focus on using historical line tactics and commands in both Napoleonic Wars and Persistent Frontier. We brag over several years of experience, and over this time, the Regiment is anything but average. We are consistently welcoming new players and focus on bringing players in that mesh with our attitudes and ideals. Many of those members have stayed and remain here to this day. Rank advancement is possible, we have no set limit for any ranks, and take those that can showcase their capabilities in and out of game, and have shown dedication to the Regiment over time.
We respect and ask that all new members respect everyone in this community, and we endeavour to achieve this goal daily. In addition to our consistency in Napoleonic Wars, we play a wide variety of games and encourage members to play together. We have members that turn up multiple times zones, so in the event, you’re staying up late, we are certain that you will have someone to play with! Our current list of games changes consistently, so if you are even remotely interested in playing with us, whether you are a veteran of Napoleonic Wars and Persistent Frontier or a beginner, no matter the age, you are welcome to join us, just add one of the following recruitment liaisons on Steam. See you on the battlefield! We mainly focus on playing Persistent Frontier as a group, to bring the mod back to life and to also enjoy ourselves, being strict and disciplined doesn't come into play often as we've said, we're only here for fun and the end of the day. If you wish to join the 1st add either one of the Steam contacts down below, see you on the battlefield soldier!
Historical Overview
After the Jacobite rising of 1715 the British government did not have the resources or manpower to keep a standing army in the Scottish Highlands. As a result, they were forced to keep order by recruiting men from local Highland clans that had been loyal to the Whigs. This proved to be unsuccessful in deterring crime, especially cattle rustling. Therefore, Independent Highland Companies (of what would be known as the "Black Watch") were raised as a militia in 1725 by General George Wade to keep "watch" for crime. He was commissioned to build a network of roads to help in the task.The six Independent Highland Companies were recruited from local clans, with one company coming from Clan Munro, one from Clan Fraser of Lovat, one from Clan Grant and three from Clan Campbell. These companies were commonly known as Am Freiceadan Dubh, or the Black Watch, this name may well have been due to the way they dressed. Four more companies were added in 1739 to make a total of ten Independent Highland Companies.
The ten Independent Highland Companies of "Black Watch" were officially formed into the "43rd Highland Regiment of Foot", a regiment of the line in 1739. It was first mustered in 1740, at Aberfeldy, Scotland. The Colonel was John Lindsay, 20th Earl of Crawford and the Lieutenant-Colonel was Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet. Among the Captains were his next brother, George Munro, 1st of Culcairn (also a Captain of an Independent Company raised in 1745) and their cousin John Munro, 4th of Newmore, who was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1745 (in place of Sir Robert who went on to command the 37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot). The other Captains of the 43rd were George Grant, Colin Campbell of Monzie, James Colquhoun of Luss, John Campbell of Carrick, Collin Campbell of Balliemore and Dougal Campbell of Craignish.
In March 1743, the regiment was assembled at Perth in preparation for moving to London, then Flanders to join British forces fighting in the War of the Austrian Succession. Scottish officials, including the Lord President of the Court of Session, Duncan Forbes warned the government this was contrary to a general understanding their service was restricted to Scotland. Assured the move was only because George II wanted to inspect them, they arrived in London in May and were then ordered to Gravesend for shipment to Flanders. Anger at the deception, allied to rumours they were going to the West Indies, a location notorious for high mortality rates, caused a mutiny; they set out for Scotland, led by Corporals Malcolm and Samuel MacPherson and Private Farquhar Shaw. They reached Ladywood on the outskirts of Oundle, Northamptonshire on 22 May before being intercepted. The mutineers surrendered in hope of a free pardon, but were marched back to London and incarcerated in the Tower of London. The three leaders of the mutiny were subsequently court-martialled and executed by firing squad on 18 July 1743, at Tower Green. Two hundred other members of the regiment were distributed variously to garrisons in Jamaica, Gibraltar and Menorca, with the remainder shipped to Flanders.
The regiment's first full combat was the disastrous Battle of Fontenoy in May 1745, where they surprised the French with their ferocity, and greatly impressed their commander, the Duke of Cumberland. Allowed "their own way of fighting", each time they received the French fire Colonel Sir Robert Munro ordered his men to "clap to the ground" while he himself, because of his corpulence, stood alone with the colours behind him.
When the Jacobite rising of 1745 broke out, another three companies were raised in Scotland, one being present at the Battle of Prestonpans in September 1745 where the entire company was either killed or taken prisoner. Another fought for the government under Dugald Campbell of Auchrossan at the Battle of Culloden in April 1746 where they suffered no casualties. These three companies were disbanded in 1748.
The rest of the regiment landed in England on 4 November and remained there in anticipation of a possible French invasion until after the rebellion ended. From early 1747 to the end of 1748, it was in Flanders but otherwise was stationed in Ireland until 1756. In 1749, after Oglethorpe's Regiment of Foot was disbanded and the Black Watch was re-numbered the 42nd and in 1751 formally titled the 42nd (Highland) Regiment of Foot.On the outbreak of the Seven Years' War in 1756, it was sent to North America.
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