A Black Watch veteran in Dundee is preparing to mount a challenge to get a “disrespectful” memorial changed.
Former Sergeant Major Charlie Reid, who was with The Black Watch for 22 years, discovered a memorial in the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA), in the East Staffordshire town of Burton upon Trent, that seems to show the wrong insignia for the regiment.
He described seeing the mistake as a “kick in the teeth”.
While the sign did have some similarities, there are some marked differences to the badge soldiers would wear on their uniforms. The overall shape is different, with only the centre bearing some resemblance.
Named the Loyal Order Of the Thistle of Scotland, Mr Reid said the soldiers would call it “Jimmy” as a term of endearment and that it means a great deal to veterans.
The emblem used in the memorial garden seems to be the one that is used by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which differs from the badge a serving Black Watch soldier would use.
While the Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) Scots are currently in consultation with the Black Watch Association about the issue, Mr Reid has pledged to campaign against the decision if the stone is to stay as it is.
“It seems like they’ve got something against The Black Watch and they want to write out our identity,” he said. “We want to know who passed that and who decided to put that there.
“They have taken away our identity and our history. It is a disgrace. That is the badge we served under.
“School children will look at that in 100 years and not understand it is wrong. It’s like they are rewriting history.
“Dundee is a Black Watch city. There are a lot of veterans from Dundee, Perth, Angus and Fife.”
Mr Reid added he has received almost 100 messages on social media from fellow veterans supporting his calls to have the correct insignia in place.
Peter Orgill, the head of operations at the NMA said the memorial was “commissioned, designed, funded and built” by the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
“Although we do ensure the overall quality of any memorial that is brought to site, the accuracy of any regimental details is the responsibility of the organisation that is putting the memorial in,” he added.
An Army spokeswoman said: “RHQ Scots are currently in consultation with the Black Watch Association to clarify and, if necessary, rectify any potential issue.
“RHQ Scots have raised the matter to the Black Watch Association and await a response from them to allow the matter to be resolved appropriately.”
