As an aspiring historian, having the opportunity to work with the Black Watch through the Faculty of Arts Internship Program, has truly been the experience of a lifetime. Before applying for this internship, I had been hoping to gain the necessary skills that would allow me to one day work in an archive as I enter my final year of undergraduate studies. Not only has my time with the Black Watch surpassed these initial expectations, but my conviction for the career I have chosen to pursue has never been stronger. Being able to work in the largest regimental archives in Canada has been an edifying experience and a constant reminder of why I love history and wish to dedicate my life to it.
As an intern with the Black Watch, I learned to perform a variety of tasks pertinent to archival work. Primarily, my time was spent looking through boxes of unorganized materials which dated from the late nineteenth century to the present day and indexing them using Microsoft Excel which acquainted me with the ins and outs of an archive. Throughout this process, I made some remarkable findings including the letters from Guy Simonds and George V, the maps used on the frontlines at Vimy Ridge and the collection of propaganda leaflets dropped by the Allies on occupied countries during World War II. Perhaps my favorite findings were the dusty, long-forgotten folders labeled “SECRET”, among which I came across documents on suspected Communists in the regiment from the early years of the Cold War.
I was also tasked with digitalizing and indexing several scrapbooks produced by members of the regiment following the conclusion of World War I. These are no doubt some of the greatest treasures in the archives and they hold precious photographs of prime ministers, presidents, royalty and, often most interestingly, ordinary soldiers going about their day in the trenches. Among these photographs were also souvenirs brought back from Europe such as foreign currencies, train tickets, and postcards which make for an intimate tapestry of what members of the regiment saw and experienced during the war.
Because I mentioned my interest in genealogy on my application, I was also asked to investigate the descendants of Major-General Sir Frederick Oscar Warren Loomis—one of the regiment’s most famous members. I helped to gather information on his son, Daniel McKay Loomis, and grandson, Daniel Gordon Loomis. I learned that the older Daniel served with the Black Watch during World War II, while the younger Daniel had quite an accomplished career with the Royal Canadian Regiment before amassing an impressive bibliography as a writer in his retirement.
Though these duties were carried out remotely from my home, I was fortunate to be able to visit the Louis-Joseph Forget House and Black Watch Armoury once every week to pick up new documents and meet with my supervisor Lt.-Col. Bruce Bolton. Getting to know Bruce has been an absolute pleasure and he always manages to keep me immersed in the history of the regiment. Whether it be sharing stories of his father’s harrowing experience at Verrières Ridge, showing me Sir Frederick’s ceremonial dirk or taking the time to give me impromptu bagpipe lessons, he has enriched my understanding and love for Scottish-Canadian culture. I will not forget the tour he gave me of the Armoury on Bleury Street where so much of what I have been reading about happened.
Having decided to make this internship count towards my degree requirements, I will be working with Dr. Don Nerbas during the fall semester to produce a research paper based on my experiences and findings. My intention is to examine the historiography of the Black Watch using the correspondence of Col. Paul P. Hutchison from when he was writing a centennial history of the regiment in the 1960s. As the regiment is due to publish another extensive history this year, I am hoping to trace how the Black Watch has portrayed itself throughout its existence and what this might reveal about wider contexts of Canadian and British Imperial identity.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Bruce Bolton for having made this experience so enjoyable and to Dr. Nerbas who first brought this internship opportunity to my attention. It has been an experience like no other which I shall carry with me for the rest of my days both professionally and personally.
