The Black Watch ( Royal Highland Regiment ) of Canada The Black Watch ( Royal Highland Regiment ) of Canada is a reserve infantry regiment in 34 Brigade Group , 2nd Canadian Division . The regiment is located on rue de Bleury in Montreal , Quebec , Canada , and is currently commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Phare , CD . The regiment ' s armoury was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2008 . They are the Senior Canadian - Scottish Regiment . History . Volunteers have served since the regiment ' s inception in Montreal on January 31 , 1862 , as the 5th Battalion , Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada . The rise of American military strength during the Civil War concerned Canada . The government authorized formation of militia regiments . Each of six Montreal Scottish chieftains responded by raising an infantry company for the 5th Battalion . Eventually , eight companies were raised . Since then , thousands of Canadian citizens have served in the Black Watch . In addition to service during the Fenian raids , they have fought in the Great War and the Second World War ; bolstered NATO operations in Europe and UN peacekeeping worldwide ; and helped their fellow Canadians at home during the 1998 Ice Storm ( Operation ASSISTANCE ) and 2011 flooding in Quebec ( Operation LOTUS ) . The Black Watch is the oldest highland regiment in Canada . The Black Watch ( Royal Highland Regiment ) of Canada originated in Montreal , Quebec on 31 January 1862 as the 5th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles , Canada . It was redesignated as the 5th Battalion , The Royal Light Infantry of Montreal on 7 November 1862 , as the 5th Battalion , Royal Fusiliers on 19 November 1875 . The Regiment officially became a Scottish Regiment when it was redesignated as the 5th Battalion , Royal Scots Fusiliers on 27 February 1880 . It was subsequently redesignated the 5th Battalion , Royal Scots of Canada on 29 February 1884 , the 5th Regiment Royal Scots of Canada on 8 May 1900 , the 5th Regiment , Royal Scots of Canada , Highlanders , on 2 May 1904 , the 5th Regiment , Royal Highlanders of Canada , on 1 October 1906 , the The Royal Highlanders of Canada on 29 March 1920 , The Black Watch ( Royal Highlanders ) of Canada on 1 January 1930 , finally assuming its current name , The Black Watch ( Royal Highland Regiment ) of Canada on 1 July 1935 . On 16 October 1953 , it was amalgamated with the 1st and 2nd Canadian Highland Battalions . Perpetuations . War of 1812 : The Black Watch ( Royal Highland Regiment ) of Canada perpetuates the 5th Battalion , Select Embodied Militia . First World War : The regiment perpetuates the 13th Battalion ( Royal Highlanders of Canada ) , CEF , 42nd Battalion ( Royal Highlanders of Canada ) , CEF and 73rd Battalion ( Royal Highlanders of Canada ) , CEF . Operational history . The Fenian Raids . The 5th Battalion , The Royal Light Infantry of Canada , was called out on active service on 8 March 1866 and served on the South - Eastern frontier until it was removed from active service on 31 March 1866 . The battalion was again called out on active service on 24 May 1870 , again serving on the South - Eastern frontier until it was removed from active service on 31 May 1870 . South African War . The regiment did not fight in the Boer War in South Africa , but contributed volunteers for the various Canadian Contingents , mainly to the 2nd ( Special Service ) Battalion , Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry . The Great War . Details of the 5th Regiment , Royal Highlanders of Canada , were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protective duty . The 13th Battalion ( Royal Highlanders of Canada ) , CEF , was authorized on 1 September 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 26 September 1914 , disembarking in France on 16 February 1915 , where it fought as part of the 3rd Infantry Brigade , 1st Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war . The 13th Battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920 . The 42nd Battalion ( Royal Highlanders of Canada ) , CEF , was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 10 June 1915 , disembarking in France on 9 October 1915 , where it fought as part of the 7th Infantry Brigade , 3rd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war . The battalion was disbanded on 15 September 1920 . The 73rd Battalion ( Royal Highlanders of Canada ) , CEF , was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 31 March 1916 , disembarking in France on 13 August 1916 , where it fought as part of the 12th Infantry Brigade , 4th Canadian Division until 9 April 1917 when it was withdrawn from the line after Vimy and broken up to provide reinforcements . The battalion was subsequently disbanded on 19 April 1917 . Second World War . The 2nd Battalion was called out on service on 26 August 1939 and details of the battalion were placed on active service on 1 September 1939 , as the 2nd Battalion , The Black Watch ( Royal Highland Regiment ) of Canada , CASF ( Details ) , for local protection duties . These details were disbanded on 31 December 1940 . The regiment mobilized the 1st Battalion , The Black Watch ( Royal Highland Regiment ) of Canada , CASF , on 1 September 1939 . This unit , which served in Newfoundland from 22 June to 11 August 1940 , embarked for Great Britain on 25 August 1940 . Three platoons took part on the raid on Dieppe on 19 August 1942 . On 6 July 1944 , the battalion landed in France as part of the 5th Infantry Brigade , 2nd Canadian Infantry Division , and it continued to fight in North West Europe until the end of the war . The overseas battalion was disbanded on 30 November 1945 . The regiment subsequently mobilized the 2nd Battalion , The Black Watch ( Royal Highland Regiment ) of Canada , CASF , on 18 March 1942 . This unit served in Canada in a home defence role as part of Atlantic Command until it was disbanded on 15 August 1943 . The 1st Battalion , Black Watch was brigaded with Le Régiment de Maisonneuve and Les Fusiliers Mont - Royal of the Second Canadian Division , however the FMR were replaced with the Calgary Highlanders in the 5th Brigade in 1940 . The 1st Battalion suffered more casualties than any other Canadian infantry battalion in Northwest Europe according to figures published in " The Long Left Flank " by Jeffrey Williams . Disaster seemed to follow the unit ; Post - war . On 4 May 1951 , the regiment mobilized two temporary Active Force companies designated , " E " and " F " Companies . " E " Company was reduced to nil strength upon its personnel being incorporated into the 1st Canadian Highland Battalion for service in Germany with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization . It was disbanded on 29 July 1953 . " F " Company was initially used as a reinforcement pool for " E " Company . On 15 May 1952 , it was reduced to nil strength , upon its personnel being absorbed by the 2nd Canadian Highland Battalion for service in Korea with the United Nations . " F " Company was disbanded on 29 July 1953 . The 1st Canadian Highland Battalion originated in Valcartier , Quebec on 4 May 1951 . On 16 October 1953 , it was redesignated the 1st Battalion , The Black Watch ( Royal Highland Regiment ) of Canada . The 2nd Canadian Highland Battalion originated in Aldershot , Nova Scotia on 10 April 1952 . On 16 October 1953 , it was redesignated the 2nd Battalion , The Black Watch ( Royal Highland Regiment ) of Canada . Regular Force soldiers of the 2nd Battalion served on NATO duty in West Germany from 1962 to 1965 . Three Regular Force Black Watch soldiers lost their lives while serving with the United Nations Force in Cyprus : On 1 July 1970 , when the 1st and 2nd Battalions were reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle , the Reserve Force battalion automatically relinquished its numerical designation . Battle honours . Those battle honours in bold type are emblazoned on the regimental colour . Music . " Gallant Black Watch " , a Scotch style march and two - step , was composed by Bert L . Billings and published in Toronto by Whaley , Royce & Co . , circa 1906 . Black Watch ( Royal Highland Regiment ) of Canada Museum . Opened in 1949 , the regiment ' s museum includes uniforms , weapons , musical instruments , maps , medals , photographs and documents that focus on the history of the regiment , the city and the Canadian armed forces . The museum is open to members of the Regimental family as well as to the public on Tuesdays and by appointment . The museum and archives are located at the regiment ' s headquarters on rue de Bleury in Montreal . The museum portrays the history of The Black Watch ( Royal Highland Regiment ) through a collection of regimental uniforms , accoutrements , trophies of war , and mementos .