Tartans of Canada's Highland Regiments

[Lallans]

Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (left) and Stormont Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders (right) after the Tug of War Competition at the Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville 2007.

The Camerons Won!



Source http://www.camerons.ca/News_Glengarr...ults_2007.html

Very good photo and I am spared the anxiety of posting this year's group- supposing I ever did figure out a way to do it. The Camerons won again this year.

[Kilted Canadian]

The one thing I'd note about that photo is that the Glens recently underwent a Change of Command ceremony, so the Lieutenant-Colonel of the S,D&Gs (seated in rifle green tunic) is no longer the CO. But from what I've seen of the Regiment, everything else looks the same!

[macwilkin]

The Pipes & Drums of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians):

http://www.strathconas.ca/images/band/ATCO.jpg
http://www.strathconas.ca/pipesdrums.php

2nd Btn, Royal Canadian Regiment Pipes & Drums:

http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/2rcr/html/pipes_e.html

The Straths wear the Mackenzie of Seaforth tartan, while the RCR wear the Maple Leaf tartan, which if I remember correctly, was originally supposed to be a "universal" tartan for the Canadian Forces -- someone verify or correct that?

T.

[Kilted Canadian]

"The Maple Leaf Tartan has been approved for issue by National Defence Headquarters for Canadian Forces pipers and drummers not having a specific regimental affiliation. The Regimental Executive Committee, The Royal Canadian Regiment chose to adopt the Maple Leaf Tartan for use by Pipers and Drummers of the Royal Canadian Regiment and has been worn by the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Battalions."

Taken from the same page, actually. So I'd say that if it says so on an official Government website, then it's correct. But I'll enquire after it when I next see one of the Officers in my cadet unit.

[macwilkin]

"The Maple Leaf Tartan has been approved for issue by National Defence Headquarters for Canadian Forces pipers and drummers not having a specific regimental affiliation. The Regimental Executive Committee, The Royal Canadian Regiment chose to adopt the Maple Leaf Tartan for use by Pipers and Drummers of the Royal Canadian Regiment and has been worn by the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Battalions."

Taken from the same page, actually. So I'd say that if it says so on an official Government website, then it's correct. But I'll enquire after it when I next see one of the Officers in my cadet unit.

I knew I'd read that somewhere.

T.

[Bugbear]

Here's the book I was talking about, The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Red Watch, by Colonel J.A. Currie, M.P.

There appears to be pictures of some sort too... I came across it while looking for information on the khaki tartan, but it didn't have anything to do with that.

Any opinions?

[Lallans]

The name Currie alone is magic in Canada, or used to be when any of that generation were alive. Good old Project Gutenberg.

[macwilkin]

Here's the book I was talking about, The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Red Watch, by Colonel J.A. Currie, M.P.

There appears to be pictures of some sort too... I came across it while looking for information on the khaki tartan, but it didn't have anything to do with that.

Any opinions?

Well done, Ted!

T.

[Bugbear]

Well done, Ted!

T.

Look in chapter I, there is a fascinating description of the red check and the pleating. I haven't looked over the whole document yet.

PG HTML books have improved a great deal, and I need to update my collection. I love that they have left in the original copyright information.

[Mike_Oettle]

Some fascinating information there. Many thanks to all who contributed (Todd in particular).

And my commiserations, Terry, on your nephew’s near-tragedy. Glad to know he is safe and sound.
And good luck with your training for a new career. Does the term technician indicate that you will be servicing X-ray machines?

I wonder whether the US 6th Army acquired a pipe band through General Mark Clark’s association with pipe bands during the Second World War.
I have mentioned in a post somewhere on XMTS that the South African 6th Division was transferred from the British 8th Army to the US 5th, under Mark Clark, shortly before the liberation of Rome.
Included in the 6th Div was a kilted unit, the First City/Cape Town Highlanders. The fighting men of this battalion were in ordinary uniform for the Italian campaign (khaki shorts in summer, battledress in winter) but it did have a pipe band attached (likely to have been made up entirely of Cape Town Highlanders in Gordon tartan). When off duty, the fighting men wore tammies (the CTH officers had blue glengarries diced in red and white, the FC officers khaki balmorals), but in the line they wore tin hats.
A tank regiment, Prince Alfred’s Guard, was also part of 6th Div. It has a pipe band nowadays (and it has armoured cars, not tanks), but I couldn’t tell you whether it had pipers in the 1940s.
There was also a (British) Guards brigade (will have to look up which one) with the 6th Div at one point. I cannot recall whether the Scots Guards were part of it, but it would also have had its pipe band in tow.

And in closing, I was aware of the Maple Leaf tartan, but was not aware of its military status. The Scottish Register of Tartans calls it a district tartan, and classifies Maple Leaf Dress also as district.
Maple Leaf Blue is noted as having been adapted for “Ontario School”, but the chaps in Edinburgh aren’t sure whether this was for a school of that name, or simply a school in Ontario.
Regards,
Mike