jf42

Thank you for those. Interesting to see the OR version of the Wolseley distinction. It's hard to see but it seems to be more of a 'brush' than a hackle- as per the OR shako. The date would appear to be inter-war. Do we know where it was taken- i.e.which battalion? Smart shirt- black, green or dark blue? It suggests the 2nd Bn(Scottish Rifles) rather than the 1st (Cameronians) but that's a guess. Smart hose tops! Damn, they were smart head to toe, so they were! And how old can that man be?

I hadn't seen this before. An enjoyable piece of detective work. 'Ceylon, 1810-1811' is not a bad margin of error!- but what about that jacket?

That should read 'Scottish nationality'. What are the editing facilities on the forums for bad typists?

Well, originally, the belted plaid and tartan trews were both worn in the Highlands, the latter more by the gentry whereas, until the 19th century, people of lowland Scotland wore a mix of standard European dress with some elements of woven tartan cloth as leg wear and as blanket plaids, together with a felted wool bonnet. Eventually, the Highland cult spread south so that trews and the particularly the kilt are now seen as National dress. Before the amalgamation of the Scottish regiments, trews were generally seen as the appropriate garb for Lowland regiments while the kilt was seen as the preserve of Highland regiments. There were of course exceptions to that principle. Now it is all just a bugger's muddle. "Scots-Irish" is an American term, applied to colonial settlers from Ireland who proclaimed their Protestant Scottish origins. These forbears were staunchly Presbyterian Scots from Southwest Scotland, Cparticularly Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Galloway, who were 'planted' by the Stuarts in Ulster in the early 17th century. These were joined in Ireland by settlers from the Borderers on both sides of the West and Central Marches of Dumfriesshire and Roxburghshire in Scotland; Cumberland and Northumberland in England. Some were in a sense Lowland Scots in so far as they were not Highland Scots but, until very late in their existence, border families owed allegiance principally to their own kin (if that) rather than to any sense of Scotland nationality.

If you have the party's Army number, I would imagine the UK National Archives at Kew would be a good starting place. This is not my area of expertise, although I have done my own research there (mainly C18th and early C19th), relying on pointers from others and feeling my way through the catalogue (in situ and online). One afternoon I found myself looking at a scan of my father's citation for his M.C. from 1943, scribbled with Monty's approval. It was surprisingly moving. I would start there. Reading that disability form you may be interested to read the rest of Derrick Jackson's description of his arrival: "We unloaded our kit and formed up in ranks, a sergeant came towards me and three other corporals. "Follow me, welcome to Bari and Fort of Tears". This disheartened me slightly, wondering why Fort of Tears. However this I found was his way of greeting, I found later it was quite the opposite to a fort of tears." It would seem your chap's experience was different- but then Jackson was excused boots, designated 'C.I.' having been left lame and deaf after getting the wrong side of a German grenade. Good luck.

This photo taken by Derrick Jackson who ended up at Land Forces Adriatic HQ in 1943 should clinch it. He describes the emblem as Pegasus although it bears little resemblance to the airborne forces flash described by Mervyn- and, I agree, it does look like it's swimming. Maybe it's a reference to the raiding missions that set out from Bari across the Adriatic to German-occupied Yugoslavia. In his memoir at <http://www.britain-at-war.org.uk/ww2/Derrick_Jackson/html/adriatic_hq.htm> he writes: "In no time we entered the outskirts of Bari and through the streets we drove, eventually pulling up outside a M.P.s building to ask our way. We were directed to a large building about three stories high. A sergeant came out and instructed our driver to drive through a large archway in the middle of the building. This led into a large space where several vehicles were parked. I noticed all of them had large signs on them of a horse with wings and the words L.F.A. This was the designation sign Pegasus the flying horse, represented Land Forces Adriatic." (His punctuation) JF

Toby, thanks-although I did have to go and lie down with a flannel over my face after first reading your most recent post- which seems to have disappeared, which is interesting but I shall leave you to worry about that, should such be necessary. You have read my thoughts accurately. My interest is in how the black hackle became the cherished distinction of a regiment whose identity as a Rifle regiment 'only' dated back to 1881 and with component corps neither of whose outward identity before that date had been overly Scottish and certainly not Highland, (with regard to the hackle). Now that I have recuperated, while bowing as always to your encyclopedic knowledge, may I question one point in your last post? While the Royal Scots and the KOSB adopted the unlovely 'Kilmarnock' Full Dress bonnet in 1904, the Cameronians kept their rifle-green shako, on paper at least, till Full Dress was finally abolished. This would have been decorated with the upright egret or horsehair plume. I have yet to see a photo of an officer's shako showing the exact form of the plume. Some modern illustrations show a plume as full as a hackle but if the form followed that worn by the 95th and 60th, I suspect that the Full Dress headgear cannot be looked to as the source of the Cameronians black hackle per se. I still have not been able to look into the First World War in any detail but, for the practical reasons to which you alluded, it seems unlikely that a hackle was ever seen on a Cameronian bonnet (either the blue or khaki balmoral) in this period. However, we know that as early as 1910-11, some officers of 2nd Bn Cameronians embarking for Malta were informally sporting a black hackle in their Wolseley sun helmets. Might this be interpreted as the former 90th embracing the black 'Rifles' distinction in homage to their former Light Infantry identity? After fifteen years in India, the 2nd Bn had gone to South Africa in 1899 and only returned from there to Britain in 1907. It will be interesting to find out how soon after the introduction of the Wolseley (1898-1902), the 2nd Bn started wearing a hackle distinction in their sun helmets. It may be the practice started in South Africa among officers in garrison. Now, why the Scottish Rifles should have adopted a hackle as a distinction in their helmets, when they were neither Highlanders, Fusiliers or Foots Guards is an interesting question. Neither The Rifle Brigade nor the KRRC did anything similar, as far as I am aware. The Scottish connection would seem to be the most likely explanation but it remains a curious choice. Perhaps it was the closest thing to the Shako plume (presumbly left at home) that was available in South Africa. In 1931, the 1st Battalion, The Cameronians, arrived at Lucknow. We are told that well into the 1930s, fifty years after the amalgamation, they were still clinging to their 26th Regiment identity: "The two Regular battalions adopted a somewhat parochial attitude. Members of the 1st Battalion like to be called 'Cameronians,' those of the 2nd Battalion, 'Scottish Rifles.' There were minor differences in dress, and long serving personnel- both Officers and men- tended to remain with one Battalion throughout their careers. Transfer from the 1st to the 2nd Battalion, or vice versa, was a matter for regret, if not actual resentment." ('History of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)' Vol III) Nonetheless, on arriving in India the officers of the 1st Bn duly adopted a Rifle black hackle for their Wolseley helmets. The 1st battalion had left India in 1909 after 15 years service, and spent three years in South Africa on their way back to Blighty in 1912. Whether they too had been sporting a black hackle in their sun helmets before the outbreak of war in 1914 remains to be seen. After arriving in Lucknow in 1931, the 1st Bn remained in the east, in India, Burma and Malaya till after WW2. The 2nd Bn, too, were back east of Suez from 1919 till 1930 and we can perhaps assume they once again sported the black hackle in their Wolseley helmets. It seems, then, that until 1948, when the black hackle was ordered for the Cameronians' Rifle green 'Lowland Bonnet', it had hitherto only ever been seen attached to their Wolseley sun helmet south of Plymouth and East of Gibraltar. This is not to diminish its significance. Given the amount of time both battalions spent in the tropics in the first half of the 20th century, the black hackle in the tropical helmet would have become a standard, if non-regulation, Regimental distinction in the experience of many Cameronians and thus an accepted part of the Regiment's identity. By 1945, the Wolseley helmet had been discarded as hot weather headgear. It is noteworthy that as soon as the Regiment, reduced to one battalion, returned to proper soldiering after WW2, the black hackle was adopted for the Cameronians' Rifle green Lowland Bonnet. It may be significant that in 1946, the 1st Battalion was reduced and the 2nd Battalion, which had embraced the Rifles aspect of the Regiment's identity more fully, became the Regular Battalion of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). This may explain the black hackle emerging from use only as a tropical helmet distinction to being accepted as part of the Cameronians' core identity, together with the regimental cap badge and the tartan flash. By this date, the Q.O. Cameron Hldrs had been granted a blue hackle for their bonnets, the HLI were in the process of adopting a red on white hackle as were the Royal Highland Fusiliers their white 'fusilier' hackle. Formerly the preserve of the Black Watch, bonnet hackles as regimental distinctions were in fashion and would become more important as regimental identities began to be blurred. This may be why, when ca. 1958 the Cameronians were badged as part of Lowland Brigade, and the Rifle green Bonnet with hackle was replaced by the Glengarry for No.1 & No. 2 Dress, the black hackle was adopted for the Khaki ToS, which hitherto had been worn only with cap badge and tartan flash. This might have been seen as helping to preserve and promote Regimental identity, at least in barracks and the field. (There is a parallel there with the concession to battalions of Royal Regt of Scotland in 2006). From photographs taken in Germany1960-63, the black hackle appears at first to have been worn only by Officers and Senior NCOs, then by junior NCOs, although the picture quite literally, is not clear. The date at which all ranks started wearing the black hackle in their ToS is not clear. Photo records available online are ambiguous because many are not dated. Other uniform details are not immediately helpful. However with regard to the emergence of the black hackle as a distinction for the Cameronians, a general outline chronology can be drawn. 1881 26th Cameronians and 90th Perthshire Volunteers Light Infantry combined to become ------------ 1st and 2nd battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) -------- Uniform is in Rifle green with Home Service helmet or plain glengarry, Highland doublet and Government tartan trews. 1890 Cameronians adopt Douglas tartan trews and a plain RIfle green Shako in HLI style with a vertical 'plume' of black egret and vulture feathers for officers; [?] horsehair for men. 1898< Wolseley sun helmet observed in general use by officers of Scottish regiments, eg Q.O. Cameron Hldrs. By 1902, it is replacing 1877 Foreign Service helmet for all ranks. 1899 - 1st Bn Cameronians arrive in South Africa, following fifteen years service in India, and remain there till 1909 ---------2nd Bn Cameronians arrive in South Africa from Gibraltar. They return to UK in 1902 1902 Khaki Service Dress with Glengarry worn by Scottish regiments; Rifle green for Cameronians. Wolseley sun helmet is worn with khaki drill in Mediterranean, Africa and and East of Suez 1911 Officers of 2nd Battalion in khaki drill, departing for Malta, are wearing a black plume with flash in their Wolseley sun helmets. Is this from their full dress shako? 1915 Balmoral/ToS replaces Glengarry bonnet as head dress for active service. Only tartan flashes and badges are worn. Glengarry worn behind the lines. . 1919 Full Dress suspended. Glengarry worn by all Scottish regiments for parade wear; ToS for drill, training and active service Post War: 1st battalion still referring to themselves as 'Cameronians'. 2nd Battalion refer to themselves as Scottish Rifles. This 'lasted well into the 1930s' 1919-30 2nd Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in India and Iraq 1931 1st Battalion arrive in Lucknow. Officers wear black hackle in sun helmet with parade dress. They remain in East till 1946 1946 1st Battalion reduced. 2nd Battalion becomes 1st Bn Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). 1948 'Lowland Bonnet' adopted in Rifle Green by Cameronians, worn with black hackle and Regimental badge. 1958 Cameronians badged as part of Lowland Brigade. Bonnet replaced with Glengarry for wear with No. 1 and No. 2 dress. -------Black hackle adopted in ToS with Lowland Bde badge and tartan flash by officers and (senior) NCOs 1962-67 Black hackle subsequently adopted for wear with ToS by all ranks 1968 Regiment disbands

Toby, further to our recent meditations on hackles worn by Highland regiments in the later 19th century and beyond, and earlier musings in which I was involved on the now-archived British regiments forum regarding the black hackle of 1 SCOTS, I've been thinking more about the Cameronians black hackle and doing a little digging. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) wore a black horsehair 'brush' plume on their Full Dress shakos post-1891 and there are two photos from the regimental museum website- <www.cameronians.org> - one showing 2nd Bn Officers embarking for Malta in 1911 and the other showing officers of the 1st Battalion in India. In both cases they are wearing what we might assume are black hackles- in the1st Bn case, tucked into the LH of the tartan diamond (with badge) worn on both sides their tropical helmets. In all subsequent photos, though, through tthe forties and fifties they wearing only the Regimental badge on both ToS and Glengarry. Incidently, like the Argylls, they only wore the Glengarry in Aden- unless in the djebel when they wore the hat, floppy. Perhaps only the Black Watch and QOH wore the ToS on all possible occasions. Not sure about the Gordons. More research needed there. However, in '1967-8' (according to the museum) a group photo was taken showing the various orders of dress worn by officers and men (this subsq. formed the basis of some regimental prints). In that photo a Jock is shown wearing a smart OD gaberdine combat jacket and trousers fresh from the stores and in his ToS he wears a small black hackle. That was barely a year before the Regiment disbanded. Do you know of earlier use of a black hackle in the bonnet by the Cameronians? I thought about Keyes VC but I'd forgotten he was a Scots Grey and the photo of him in bonnet and black hackle from 1940-41 was as a member of 11 (Scottish) Commando. I yet to do a more thorough look into WWI. JF

This is an interesting addition to a discussion that has been taking place over on the Victorian Wars Forum- where a low resolution copy of the photo can be seen in a thread entitled "Cameron Highlander pith helmet hackle." Certainly these officers have been identified as Gordon Highlanders and the photo features in the Bydand website- although the Gordon Highlanders Museum has been unable to cast any light on the red-over-white hackles. The red gauntlet cuffs coupled with the Foreign Service helmet decked out for Winter Full Dress would seem to date the photograph between 1878 and 1880 just before the 92nd returned to Britain and were paired with the 75th to form the Gordon Highlanders. However, your reference to the South Australia Regiment in 1906 with the three officers being named throws the game open. It does seem odd, though, that the Gordons have claimed the officers as theirs. I am not a master of the minutiae of accoutrements, someone else might be able to deal with that. However, if you look at the photograph I mentioned, although the kilt detail is very poor there is some detail visible on the left hand officer's right hand thigh area, which looks more like Black Watch than anything else, but the dark stripe forming a cross in the lighter square is likely to be the yellow of the Gordon sett as yellow showed black on photographs of the 1870s ( witness the black stripes on US cavalry uniforms of the same period). I would expect the white stripe of the Mackenzie sett to show up as white either in 1878-80 or 1906. Another thought: was the Foreign Service Helmet still being worn in Australian regiments when British regiments had started wearing the Wolseley? However, it now dawns on me that the shape of the red-and-white hackles on those FS helmets does resemble the shape of the feather flashes sometimes worn above the badge/clasp on the turned up brim of Australian bush hats, which might be significant. All in all, an intriguing twist in the story. While I'm typing, I think to describe Toby Purcell as a freeloader is harsh, however much his impatient comments might rankle. He is a knowledgeable and generous- nay, prolific- contributor elsewhere. My twopence halfpenny.

A basic question for the Fusilier community- and I apologise if this seems shamefully elementary: is the origin of the Fusiliers grenade or bomb symbol to do with their original association with the artillery? Or has it as much to do with their status as elite regiments, on a par (at least) with the grenadier companies of all infantry regiments- did Fusiliers indeed have grenadier coys or were they, in effect, all grenadiers? (All stories of the Fifth at Wilhlmstahl and St Lucie aside). Many thanks, JF

Greetings- I'm glad some of that was interesting. Regarding the second half of the 19th century, I have a general framework that I have kept in my head (rather like kings and queens date charts) since the days before I started looking at primary sources: After about 60 years of informal use the Glengarry bonnet was recognised for most Scottish corps in 1852 and adopted for the army at large sometime between 1868 and 1874. Meanwhile, the Guards Field Service cap had also been introduced in 1852. The "Torin" version of that cap introduced in 1877 (Barthorp in 'British Infantry Uniforms' 1982) - initially for staff officers, I believe- was recognised in 1883 - (Barthorp says 1885,)- and both of these continued in use parallel with the Field Service cap after that was introduced in 1894 to replace the glengarry for all other than the Scottish infantry. With the introduction of Service Dress in 1902, topped off by the khaki serge peaked cap in 1905, both forms of side cap were restricted to regimental use, while the glengarry remained as the Service Dress headgear for Scottish infantry. I should very much like to refine that framework. How much of it holds water now? It seems to me that my sense of vagueness stems from the fact that the secondary sources on which I cut my teeth often failed to distinguish between regulations that applied to officers and those that had broader application and between those records that announced a change and regulations that were recognising a state of affairs that already existed and that I wasn't aware of the difference. I meant to say before, very interesting photos, by the way. JF

Just to catch up with this thread_ ROUND PEAKED CAPS The Wiki Article is correct about the early nineteenth century date for the appearance of the round forage cap as military dress. Essentially a form of the round bonnet that became common throughout Europe in the 16th century, it persisted in Germany as the mutze and was adopted by student societies in Germany where, by this time with a leather peak and decorated with society colours, it was known as the 'kappi'. When these bodies became the focus of national resistance to France after Prussia's defeat at Jena in 1806, it became identified as an item of military clothing. German influence was strong in Russia which led to the adoption of a peakless forage cap- hence 'furashka'- for Russia soldiers. The peaked form became popular headgear for the Prussian Landwehr in the latter years of the Napoleonic war and clearly by Waterloo it was undress wear for Prussian officers. Russian officers had adopted a peaked furashka sometime before that. A round bonnet had begun began to supersede earlier forms of undress and watering cap for the British army after introduction of the shako. This may have reflected the influence of German emigres and Hanoverian troops serving with British forces. By 1815 the round bonnet predominated. The peaked version seems to have been adopted by officers a little later and lasted till the round pill box version was adopted in the 1840s. The Kilmarnock 'pork-pie' adopted for soldiers around that time was a round bonnet but of different construction to the German 'mutze' form which remained in Prussian/German use until the end of WW1. By that stage, the peaked round cap was becoming a fairly universal form of uniform headgear for military and civilian use. (The French of course ploughed their own furrow). THE SEVEN YEARS WAR The light infantry caps in the Embleton illustrations for Osprey are made from cut-down cocked hats with the brims re-modelled into a 'button-up' fall to create a hood when necessary. These was first ordered by Lord George Howe who, with his brother was a pioneer of light infantry tactics in America and later it was a recommended form of forage cap in Cuthbertson's "Management of an Infantry Battalion" from the 1770s, to be made of old coats, and it may have been one of the models of forage cap used by the British in the last quarter of the 18th century. [sEE BELOW]. The French also experimented during this period with forage caps that had falling 'hoods.' TORIN CAPS This form was first introduced into the British Army as a Field Service cap for the Foot Guards in 1852 and saw service in the Crimean war and seems to have been used by the Guards as working head dress until the introduction of Service Dress, etc. Why the version for staff officers introduced in 1883 was dubbed the 'Torin' is a source of much head scratching. I am fairly sure that I read somewhere that it was named after the officer who 'designed' it- it was hardly original but I guess drawings had to be made. However, as I can't find the reference, this will have to remain a tantalising speculation (Torin is an Irish surname by the way). The form first appeared in 1812 as a new holtzmutze - 'wood bonnet'- for the Austrian army. Originally made of old coats it was white with facing-coloured piping on the welts . Later in mid-century, by which time it was known as lagermutze- 'camp bonnet, it was trouser-coloured, which meant blue for the infantry. Later cavalry adopted it with a chin strap. It's a moot point whether the form was an Austrian invention, since British infantry were wearing something very similar though made of much lighter wool, as early as 1803. It was superseded in Austro-Hungarian service by the feldkappe with the buttoning ear-flaps, which in its peakless form inspired the 1896 F.S. cap- 'Austrian model' - although both 'Torin' and 'F.S.' were 'Austrian', really. It was adapted by the forces of Nazi Germany in un-peaked and also peaked forms- for instance, by the Afrika Corps and the Gebirges Jagern. By the end of WWII, it had become the generic field/undress headgear for German soldiers. The 'Torin' form is still worn as side-cap by a few British regiments (Duke of Lancs; & ?) while the lagerkappe form inspired the pilotka of the former Soviet bloc and can still be seen in the traditional headgear of Serbian forces. FINALLY- A query that I hope is not a quibble. "The "Forage Cap for Field Service" replaced the glengarry in 1874 for other ranks"- Was the Glengarry not superseded for other than Scottish regiments by the F.S. Cap- Austrian model- around 1896? This period comes in and out of focus for me and just as I think I have grip it goes all blurry again. Glad to get that off my chest.

'oo ever 'e is, the 'orrible little man, 'is turn out is SHOCKIN'! He needs to try Marchin' Up An' Dahn a bit!

That seems a shame. What rules are these, then?

It might be. As you say, it's not easy to tell, but the intriguing question- for me at any rate- would still be "Why"? I think it is almost certainly an unofficial and local decoration. The question for me would be why, after fifty years or so, would there be any lingering sense of affection for what was after all not a Regimental distinction but an identifying company marker common to every battalion company in the Line Regiments? My only thought as I write is that it might have been for a gala to commemorate one of the 92nd's Penninsula battles with the company feathers of the period being worn as a mark of remembrance, in this case as you say the battalion coys. white-over-red. I doubt it would be for Waterloo because that would be in June and they seem to be in Indian winter Full Dress. Would that be right? Alexandria? Corunna? Is this a possibility? JF

There is a fine group portrait of the 74th painted by David Cunliffe in1846 to mark the the restoration of Highland status to the 74th and the retirement of the CO at the time, Lieut Col Eyre-Crabbe. The shako distinctions are all as one would expect both for officers and ORs- white on red for battalion companies, white for grenadiers and green for the Light Coy. Company distinctions in the bonnets of Highland regiments had been done away with in 1829 with the white feather introduced for all as you noted. Clearly this did not apply to the new shakos of the 74th. Presumably the ORs of the 74th would have been wearing white 'pom poms' in 1840 because, for reasons best known to their Excellencies the Horse Guards, the company cap distinctions were altered for Line Infantry in 1831, with all Battalion and Grenadier companies (and Fusiliers?) wearing an 8" white feather instead. This changed to a white 'ball tuft' (pom-pom) in 1835. Both Light infantry companies and Regiments had been wearing a green ball-tuft since 1829. After the introduction of the 'Albert' shako in 1844, the former system was restored and in 1846 white once again became the distinction for grenadiers and Fusiliers (except of course for the Fifth) and white-over-red denoted battalion companies. God, did they have nothing better to do? Anyway, it would seem we have to look elsewhere for an explanation of the HLI post-war hackle. It may, of course, be recorded in standing orders of the time. Given that even the Black Watch still don't really know what the origins of the Red Hackle were- or at least cannot agree- we may remain in the dark about both these queries for some time. Thanks

I was wondering if anyone can think of a general compendium of British Army regimental history- badges, battle honours, nickname, etc., that was published earlier than "Records and Badges of every Regiment and Corps in the British Army" by H.M. Chichester and G. Burges-Short, (c.1895) and J.S. Farmer's "Regimental Records of the British Army." (1901). Cannon's series of single-volume 'Historical Records' were obviously much earlier and not complete as well as not wholly reliable, but an interesting reference nonetheless. With Thanks,

An interesting thought, but I believe the 2nd HLI didn't start wearing a red and white hackle till quite late, 1947 I believe, when the regiment came kilted again. Despite that change, the regiment was nonetheless assigned to the Lowland brigade, a decision probably influenced by its being the regiment of Glasgow since the amalgamation of the 71st and 74th in 1881 (Not that that affected the status of the Argylls who have also recruited strongly from Glasgow) A fascinating beast, the HLI, neither quite fish nor flesh during its entire history. As it is, the photo in question is definitely of officers in the 92nd. It must have been taken shortly before the 1881 changes, in the last years of a twelve-year posting in India that culminated in the Afghan campaign of 1878-80. I am awaiting a reply from Gordon Highlander sources to see what the Regimental word is. It may well be that this 92nd hackle of the 1870s and the HLI hackle of the 1940s-50s both have their origin in the red and white dicing on the glengarry and balmoral. No evidence to prove that, though. Thanks

Ah Ha! So where the hell do we continue the discussion about blue -- drill, serge, patrol- jackets? Jack

[quote Soldiers of the Queen;- http://www.soldiersofthequeen.com/

Yes that's the one. Not wanting to tax your powers of long-distance recall (or make you homesick) but when you've moment to consider, what was the position with Rifle and LI regiments? Blues and coloured caps? Blues and standard pattern caps? Did Rifles wear green 'Blues'? I never realised how little I know about this area. JF

But clearly, as you say, very popular. But was that not the case in 1937, then? I have a poster for an Aldershot Tattoo in the early 20's, I think, and the drummer- hard to tell what the regiment is meant to be- is wearing a smart scarlet jacket with chevrons down the sleeves' and a blue peaked forage cap.

I didn't realise. How interesting. I thought Patrol Blues were only for officers. In my opinion, one of the smartest elements of British uniform in the C20th. I don't know why it was superceded. No 2 Dress, well, perhaps more 'national' in some respects, but.... When did Blues come in for ORs- was it to accompany Khaki Service Dress? Was the '37 headress based on a blue (or green?) SD/forage cap and glengarry for Scots? JF

That is interesting. My understanding was that on the outbreak of war in 1914, all Full Dress clothing was returned to store, with officers and men thenceforth only wearing forms Service Dress for all occasons, and that after the war, Full Dress was only worn by the Guards on Public Duties, by officers at levees and by some bands. It seems Full Dress Regulations continued in place and were updated in 1934, at any rate, but by the Coronation of George VI a special 'austerity' Coronation Uniform had to be devised.This latter was the basis of No 1 Dress after the war. Is that all an oversimplification? (No irony intended) Yes, you might well be spot on there. That occurred to me, then I thought "Why didn't they used the dicing itself?" but feathers would more appropriate for a Full Dress occasion like a durbah, especially given the sigificance of the Gordon's distinctive two-colour dicing. More investigation underway. Thanks. PS the photo can be found here, by the way- http://www.bydand.com/history.htm -if you scroll down a bit.

Well, no. That's the puzzle. As far as I am aware, between 1829 and 1914 when Full Dress was suspended all Highland regiments apart from the Black Watch wore a white hackle in their feather bonnets. Indications are that between the wars, the Seaforths and Q.O.Camerons also wore white feathers in their Wolsey F.S. helmets. This would appear to be a local decoration while wearing the Foreign Service helmet in India. I only know of the 1870s photo. Whether it continued with the creation of the Gordon Highlanders (75th & 92nd) and was worn by the 1st and 2nd battalions when they served in Egypt, the Sudan, NFW and South Africa, I have yet to discover. Thanks, JF