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1770s - the Black Watch was involved in the
wars in the West Indies and American War of
Independence. Much of North America was
part of the British Empire at that time.
Britain recognized American Independence in
1783, ending the wars.
1801 - the Black Watch was involved in
battles in North Africa against the French
forces of Napoleon as the French tried to
extend their Empire.
1809 - they were involved in the Peninsular
War in Spain and Portugal against French forces
of Napoleon.
1815 - they took part in the Battle of
Waterloo where Napoleon was defeated for
the final time. This battle is said to have
resulted in over 40,000 killed or wounded.
1850s - they took part in the Crimea War.
This war was over Britain and France trying to
prevent Russia taking control of the Ottoman
Empire. The most famous battle of this war was
the Battle of
Balaclava in 1854 with the Charge of the
Light Brigade. This war also saw the nurse
Florence
Nightingale become famous for the start of
modern nursing.
1858 - they were involved in the India
Rebellion as the country began protesting
against British rule, wanting independence from
the British Empire. 100s of thousands of
combatants and civilians were killed during the
uprising.
1899 - they arrived in South Africa during
the Boer War. The
Dutch had controlled South Africa from the
early 1600s with their settlers known as Boers.
Britain began a campaign to take control of
South Africa in 1899 with them defeating the
Boers in 1902, adding South Africa to the
British Empire.
1914 - 1918 - they took part in World War One
including the famous Battle of the
Somme. World War One also saw them involved
in battles with the Germans in the Middle
East.
1939 - 1945 - they took part in the Second World
War in areas such as North Africa, Italy,
Northwest Europe and Burma.
1948 - they were the last troops to leave
India after the partition of the peninsular
into India and
Pakistan. India had gained independence
from the British Empire in 1947. Before
leaving, the British divided the area into
Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India. People on the
wrong side of the partition were often forced
to move or were killed. Estimates are between
200,000 and 2 million people were killed over
religion at that time. The Great Calcutta
Killings in 1946 were the most notable
event in the lead up to the partition.
1950s - they took part in the Korean War.
This war was between the Chinese and Soviet
backed North Korea and US and British backed
South Korea. A treaty was signed in 1953 to end
the fighting, although the two countries
officially remained at war until talks began in
2018 to end the war.
1953 - they were deployed to Kenya to
suppress the Mau-Mau
Rebellion. This was when natives of Kenya
tried to end British rule in their country. It
was a gruesome uprising with many civilians
brutally murdered over what side they backed as
many wanted to stay with Britain. Kenya gained
independence from Britain in 1963.
1958 - they were used in Cyprus against
EOKA on the
Island. This was an organization that fought to
end British rule in Cyprus. The island gained
independence for the United Kingdom in
1960.
1970s - served as peace keeping troops in
Northern
Ireland. Known as The Troubles, these
shootings and bombings were between mainly
Catholic Nationalists and Protestant Unionists.
The Nationalists wanted to end British rule in
Ireland. The Troubles ended after the Good
Friday Agreement in 1998, with Northern Ireland
staying part of the United Kingdom.
1997 - they were the last troops to leave
Hong Kong after the Island was handed back to
China. This was a peaceful event.
2003 - 2004 - they took part in the Invasion of
Iraq and later served as peace keeping
forces in Iraq. The UK backed the US invasion
claiming Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.
The end of the war a few months later, showed
Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction.
The last British peace keeping troops were
withdrawn from Iraq in 2009.
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