Talk:Black Watch

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Referencing and citation: criterion not met Coverage and accuracy: criterion met Structure: criterion met Grammar and style: criterion met Supporting materials: criterion met

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Additional sources

I'll add stuff here as I run across it:

Hutchison, P. P. (1946). Highland Scrapbook. Vol. 5. Black Watch Museum and-Archives – via Internet Archive. – Collection of newspaper clippings and other ephemera mainly pertaining to the Black Watch. Other volumes might be online; I'm not sure. Yep, here's another one:
Hutchison, P. P. (1932–1939). Highland Scrapbook. Vol. 2. Black Watch Museum and-Archives – via Internet Archive.

— SMcCandlish ☏ ¢ 😼 15:13, 21 September 2023 (UTC); rev'd. 15:21, 21 September 2023 (UTC)[reply]

3 SCOTS

Wondering what this designation should be explained as in the parentheses, since it currently isn't. I did an unfruitful Google search just now. Is it a codename? Seasider53 (talk) 11:25, 21 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

3 SCOTS is the Royal Regiment of Scotland Battlion short designation, (Long: The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, 3 SCOTS for short.) 78.145.63.92 (talk) 13:53, 23 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

The modern era and structure part is wrong. 78.145.63.92 (talk) 13:51, 23 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Undiscussed move

An editor moved this article to The Black Watch (British Army regiment) without discussion. I have reverted the change as our convention is not to use "The" in article titles. Dormskirk (talk) 10:16, 24 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Although the general Wikipedia naming convention is to omit the definite article "The" at the start of article titles, there is an important exception: when "The" is part of the proper name or otherwise essential for recognition. In this case, The Black Watch is the correct and commonly used name of the regiment, and the article title should reflect that.

Wikipedia naming conventions state:

"Do not include the definite or indefinite article ('the', 'a', or 'an') at the beginning of a title unless the article is part of a proper noun or otherwise necessary to the name."

The Black Watch is a clear example of a proper noun that includes "The" as part of its formal and widely accepted name. The regiment has been known throughout its history, including in official British Army usage, as The Black Watch. This form is used in government documents, historical scholarship, official military websites, and in the name of the regimental museum: The Black Watch Museum.

Removing "The" would not reflect how the regiment is referred to in almost all reliable sources, and would be inconsistent with other British military articles such as The Parachute Regiment, The Rifles, or The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, where "The" is similarly part of the established name.

In short, "The" should be retained because:

It is part of the regiment’s official and historic name;
It is used consistently in reliable sources;
It ensures clarity and recognisability for readers;
It is in line with precedent for similar military articles.

Retaining "The" in The Black Watch is appropriate and fully consistent with Wikipedia’s naming guidelines. Loosenbach (talk) 11:28, 24 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Are you suggesting moving Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom), Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, Scots Guards etc as well? Dormskirk (talk) 11:37, 24 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]