Storm Hawks Chapter 29: Red Watch

As you might have noticed by now, the inspiration for the Rhynn Watch, later known as the Red Watch, comes from British history.

In the aftermath of the First Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, Independent Companies of militia were raised from loyalist Highland clans for policing and peacekeeping duties. These companies were commonly known in Gaelic as ‘Am Freiceadan Dubh’, or ‘The Black Watch’, due to their unpopular nature and their dark green government-issue tartan – the regiment wore kilts as part of its everyday uniform until 1940.

National Army Museum, Chelsea, London

The actual Royal Highland Regiment went on to distinguish itself in
British military campaigns from the French Revolutionary Wars, through both World Wars, to the Iraq War.

But in its early days, the Black Watch was not well favored by the clans they patroled.

In enforcing the Disarming Act in Scotland they were required to keep a constant watch on rival clans to prevent plunder and reprisals.

Brittanica

These [watch companies] were to be “employed in disarming the Highlanders, preventing depredations, bringing criminals to justice, and hindering rebels and attainted persons from inhabiting that part of the kingdom.”  The [Black Watch] epithet may have come from the uniform plaids of dark tartan with which the companies were provided. Other theories have been put forward; for instance, that the name referred to the “black hearts” of the pro-government militia who had sided with the “enemies of true Highland spirit,” or that it came from their original duty in policing the Highlands, namely preventing “blackmail” (Highlanders demanding extortion payments to spare cattle herds).

Wikipedia

This chapter also marks the first time in the Rootstock Saga Nigel uses his secret token to send someone on a mission.

A crescent moon carved into a rose quartz coin signals that the bearer is legitimate and sent by the Silver Fox himself.