FEATHER BONNET - C/TOWN HIGHLANDERS

[Mervyn Mitton]

I thought Chris might appreciate this one - since it is Sth. African.

Capetown Highlanders - probably post 1960's. Worn only by the band. This is a famous unit, with a proud record of service.

Headgear seems to be popular within the forum at the present and this is a good one. Known as a feather bonnet, because it's construction is from ostrich feathers.

[Mervyn Mitton]

LEFT SIDE

[Mervyn Mitton]

REAR VIEW Not sure of the meaning for the swallow tailed black ribbon . Could it commemorate Queen Victoria's death ?

[Mervyn Mitton]

RIGHT SIDE - HAS TWO EXTRA HANGING SECTIONS

[Mervyn Mitton]

CLOSER VIEW OF HACKLE

[leigh kitchen]

Any photos of the inside please Merv? Just out of interest - these things are a lot less substantial than they look are'nt they, the apparent bulk coming from the ostrich feathers.

[Stuart Bates]

The black ribbon on the back of the bonnet is cut to what is termed a "fish tail". I am not sure of the meaning of these ribbons but I suspect that they originated from the the black ribbon that was used on the queue. Queues were abolished in 1808 but the Welch Fusiliers continued to use them but sewn to the back of the tunic collar.

They were certainly being used on feather bonnets in the first half of the 19th Century.

Stuart

PS. This is reminding me of Macbeth.

Edited May 14, 2009 by Stuart Bates

[leigh kitchen]

I think that they represent an exagerated sizng adjustment ribbon, I'm not sure, but I think that as per the glengary these ribbons have swallow tail or diagonal cut ribbons depending on the regiment.

I've read of the glengarys having razor blades stitched in the front & then being swung around by the ribbons as a weapon during bar fights, but this sounds rather fanciful & impractical.

[Mervyn Mitton]

I think it perfectly feasible to have razor blades in the ribbon. In the 1930' the Glaswegians - particularly - had a nasty habit of carrying a potato, with a blade embedded it it - did the most awful damage. The ch.const. - Sir Percy Sillitoe, and the magistrates agreed to stop this - anyone caught with the potato and blade got an immediate prison sentence and within a year it had stopped.

[Mervyn Mitton]

INTERIOR - AS REQUESTED.

[leigh kitchen]

Thanks, fairly modern I take it - I've never taken the time to look inside one of these & thought of a linng in leather, rather like the WWII era German steel helmet type.