New Scots Regiment may be wearing cheap foreign tartan

**macwilkin** · 31st May 06, 03:36 AM

Originally Posted by bubba

The Special Forces was the first authorized to wear a beret with the uniform, the green beret. Rangers were the first authorized to wear the black beret with the uniform.

Actually, the first US Ranger beret was green:

During WWII, the First Ranger Battalion, commonly known as Darby's Rangers, formed in Northern Ireland in 1942. Completion of training at the Commando Depot afforded those Rangers the right to wear the British Commando green beret and the tartan of the Clan Cameron of Lochiel. The U.S. Army disallowed this and Rangers never donned their berets...

http://www.suasponte.com/m_beret.htm

Too bad the brass didn't allow the Rangers to keep their Scottish connection, eh? :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd

**RockyR** · 31st May 06, 07:11 AM

Not to play Mod, but this thread is about Kilts and the Scotish Regiments... not Special forces berets...

**macwilkin** · 31st May 06, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by RockyR

Not to play Mod, but this thread is about Kilts and the Scotish Regiments... not Special forces berets...

You'll notice, Rocky, that I tried to keep the discussion "Scottish" with a mention of the Rangers wearing the British Commando beret with a Cameron tartan patch. :mrgreen: For those who may be unaware, the Commando training camp was in Cameron country at Achnacarry Castle.

But, there is a connection here, involving esprit-de-corps and unit insignia. Members of the old Lowland Regiments, the KOSB's, the Royal Highland Fusiliers and the Royal Scots, for example, are not keen on wearing the kilt in the new RRS, since trews has been the traditional garb of the Lowland soldier since the 19th century.

Regards,

Todd

**bubba** · 31st May 06, 07:54 AM

In due course they'll be wondering why enlistments are down, morale is down and unit effectiveness is suffering. Bureacrats and bean counters have no clue how important symbols and traditions are to the troops. It'll turn out to be penny wise, pound foolish. Sadly, it's pretty much a done deal. The traditions and esprit de corps are already becoming history. It might turn around some day, but that'll be a long way off.