New Social Group: Steel Bonnets

[ForresterModern]

Maybe my ignorance, but why are we "Steel Bonnets"? Because of the perpetual ongoing fighting over the borders (needing steel helmets for protection), or am I missing some other allusion?

[Sir William]

Maybe my ignorance, but why are we "Steel Bonnets"? Because of the perpetual ongoing fighting over the borders (needing steel helmets for protection), or am I missing some other allusion?

While I don't have access to the exact quote, steel bonnets refers to the helmets worn by reivers when on a raid or a hot trod (in pursuit of other reivers). Men were supposed to have arms, armor, and horse at instant readiness to protect their lands or pursue any raiders.

I don't think the reivers were called "steel bonnets" in their time but that it is a more recent nickname picked up from George MacDonald Fraser's history of the same name.