By Paul Reoch

THE RETURN of The Black Watch has been hailed as a prospective boost to tourism as they are set to be back among their “ain folk.”

The famous army regiment, with its roots in Perthshire, is to come home to Scotland, it was announced last night.

Plans are already in place to transport 500 soldiers and 180 families of The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (RRS), from their base in Belfast to their new location at Fort George, in barracks overlooking the Moray Firth.

The Black Watch was merged in a controversial move in 2004 that saw it amalgamated along with The Royal Highland Fusiliers, The Highlanders, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, The Royal Scots and The King’s Own Scottish Borderers to form the RRS.

There was widespread criticism of this decision, including a concerted campaign backed by The Courier.

The regiment, with its ancestral home at Balhousie Castle in Perth, has suffered losses in Iraq and there was anger that the famous Red Hackle can only be worn as part of uniform.

But the announcement to locate the soldiers back in Scotland was warmly welcomed by Highland tourist chiefs, who feel visitors from around the world will be desperate to catch a glimpse of the renowned fighting unit.

Scott Armstrong, area director with VisitScotland Highland, told The Courier he will be delighted to witness The Black Watch back in Fort George—10 years after their last stay there.

“As one of the best known regiments in the world, it is sure to attract more visitors to Fort George as a working army barracks,” he said.

Brian Ford of Historic Scotland, added, “Visitors are often astonished and amazed that the fort is not only a major public attraction but continues to be a working barracks—doing the job it was built for in the 18th century.

“Having the army at the site certainly adds an extra dimension for visitors and I’m sure that will be all the more true with a world-famous regiment like The Black Watch.

Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay MacDuff, commanding officer of The Black Watch, said that having tourists walking around the barracks was one of the unique aspects of a posting to Fort George.

“We’re all really looking forward to spending the next few years at Fort George,” he said.

“For The Black Watch it’s as close to coming home as we can get and it’s a joy to be back among our ain folk.

“Our soldiers are used to being in the public spotlight and they usually play to the crowds, but life will be very busy at Fort George and soldiering comes first.

“But those of us who have served there before have happy memories of tourists pressing their noses to our office windows or posing with us for photographs, so I’m sure there’s plenty of scope to keep both the army and the tourists happy.”

The Black Watch will deploy on exercise to Kenya next year.