Each garrison of the 78th Fraser Highlanders can order their own fabric so some are different weights and slightly different colors.
The fabric in my first photo is the fabric used by the Vancouver, BC Garrison. It is 13oz and lighter in shade than the fabric used by the Victoria, BC Garrison.
The fabric used by the Victoria Garrison is woven in 16oz and the shades are darker or brighter as can be seen in this pipe ribbon that I just completed for them.
The Garrison in Ottawa now prefer a version with darker orange and green but in years past used the lighter versions.
The 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band was once part of the larger organization but is now a separate entity. They just re-did their uniforms and darkened the colors again.
Now the green is predominant instead of the orange.
The design of the 78th Fraser Highlander Tartan is inspired by the painting "The Death of General Wolfe" by Benjamin West which now hangs in the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. (There are at least 4 different versions of this same painting)
Simon Fraser can be seen behind the figure of Sir William Johnson in the green coat. The basis for the current Tartan comes from the small part of the painting just under Johnson's arm where it appears that Simon Fraser is wearing a predominately orange Tartan.
It is stated on the website of the 78th Fraser Highlanders "Our decision to go with a simple red and green Inverness district type tartan was based on portraits and accounts, and having found a piece of this tartan in the possession of a descendent of the Regiment. "
Each of these is different from SRT 5396 "The 78th Highlanders Ross-shire Buffs were raised in 1793 by Frances Humbertson Mackenzie (1754 - 1815). In 1881 they were amalgamated with the 72nd Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders to form the Seaforth Highlanders. The Duke of Albany's Own had been raised in 1778 by Kenneth, last Earl of Seaforth as the 72nd Highlanders."
And all are different from SRT #1247 the Sobieski Fraser.
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