The Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment)

[leigh kitchen]

The Royal Highland Fusiliers were formed on 20/1/1959 by the amalgamation of the Royal Scots Fusiliers with the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment).

A controversial merger, as the RSF were a Lowland regiment & the HLI a Highland regiment.

RHF has "Highland" in its title, but the RHF Band became part of the "Lowland Band" on 15/3/1994 under "Options For Change".

The Royal Highland Fusiliers became "The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland", when the RRS was formed on 28/3/2006.

This is the gilt & silver plate badge of the Pipe Major of the RHF, the Pipers & Bandsmen wearing the same badge but in white metal or silver anodised.

An ex-member of the band of 1 RHF tells me that this badge was commissioned to be worn by the Pipe Major during the 1980's / early 1990's, the Pipe Major at the time being Pipe Major, later Major Gavin Stoddart MBE, BEM.

At the moment I know no more about this badge, & I have'nt got "Bloomer" to hand to see if it's mentioned in there - I never tended to take much notice of badges other than those of basic regular infantry pattern.

It is of 5 x pieces, fitted together by means of 4 x small screw posts & nuts.

[leigh kitchen]

A painting of Pipe Major Gavin Stoddart from this site:

http://scotsatwar.co.uk/picgallery.htm

More on Gavin Stoddart here:

http://www.footstompin.com/artists/pipe_major_gavin_stoddart

Edited May 12, 2008 by leigh kitchen

[leigh kitchen]

The white metal version of the Pipers & Bandsmans badge. I can't decide if this is a heavy die struck or a cast badge, the white metal appears in its uncleaned state to have a slight yellow tint to it, & it may have had a silver coloured fnish over it at some time.

An item privately commissioned by the regiment, from a Pakistani manufacturer?

Edited November 4, 2009 by leigh kitchen

[leigh kitchen]

The Other Ranks issue anodised badge, flamed grenade in gold colour (the ball of the grenade in a dimpled finish to produce a "frosted" effect), Crown & "HLI" cypher in silver colour

The grenade drawn from the badge of The Royal Scots Fusiliers, albeit now with the "frosting" & a different flame pattern, & the Crown & "HLI" from the badge of The Highland Light Infantry.

Of one piece construction.

K&K 2045: