First let me congratulate the Regiment on achieving 150 years of service to Canada and the Crown. 1862; fully 100 years before I became a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Over one year ago, I was approached in an Antique Mall in Carson, California, by a dealer who had acquired an item, that morning, at a "Swap Meet" nearby. I quickly identified it to him as a 'Swagger Stick' and, upon close examination under a jeweler's "loop", I could read at the broad end that it "belonged" to The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada. I quickly paid the antique dealer's asking price and, became determined to return it to it's rightful owners, your Regiment.

I just sent an email - with two photos - to your Archivist, care of the 'Kit Shop'; hopefully I will here from that person as to how I might get this item back to whom I feel are it's rightful owners: The Regiment.

If anyone out there is able to contact the Archivist regarding my donation, please feel free to contact them; an article such as this should not be "on the market".

Thanks much and, again, congratulations

Norm' McMenemy

I hope he is acknowledged soonest as the Swagger Stick is a rare ,Lost mine years ago and once the rank structure changed they disappeared.

Good to hear from 'scouten' regarding the Swagger Stick in my possession here, in California.

When speaking with your webmaster in Nova Scotia, I described the article to him as being in natural wood with silver tips at each end and, of course, the larger end bearing the embossed Regimental Crest. The Swagger Stick is in excellent condition and, I have kept it polished and shining.

I understand that such a swagger stick would have been carried by an Officer and, that RSM's and, Warrant Officers - and, I suppose, Other Ranks authorized to carry such an item - would have used solid black Swagger Sticks.

I wish I could add photos to this email so you could see it.

Norm'

Further information re: the wayward swagger stick/cane.

I have received an email this morning from one Mr. Cal' Kufta, Coordinator of Regimental Museum and Archives, The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada, at his address in Montreal.

I will be forwarding the swagger stick/cane to Mr. Kufta and, once the Regimental Foundation completes the accession process, it (the swagger stick/cane) will be placed on long-term loan to the Regimental Museum which will integrate it into the collection at the Armoury on rue de Bleury, either for display or research purposes.

It seems this particular swagger stick/cane may be unique in that it is apparently longer - at 25 and 7/8 inches - and, it is speculated that it may be a Senoir NCO's cane. Apparently, '. . . the natural finish seems unusual.'

Norm' McMenemy
Long Beach, California

For your general information and, particularly that of 'scouten', the subject Swagger Stick/"Cane" is now in the hands of the Black Watch (RHR) of Canada's curatorial staff at the Montreal H.Q.

'Scouten'; if you have any particular information you might provide in regard to this particular type of "cane", you might wish to contact <Cal.Kufta@forces.gc.ca> who has received the cane.

All the best,

Norm' McMenemy,
Long Beach, California