Questions for the military veterans here

[Ruanaidh]

Whichever tartan you decide to get, make sure to purchase the Sheillah pin of the Fighting 69th. It makes a great kilt pin.
http://www.antietammuseumstore.com/sheillahpin.html

[Riverkilt]

I don't know what changed...but this year, in my little town's Veteran's Day parade, the folks along the sidewalks were shouting "Thank You!" at us as we marched by. Not just a few people...it was like a continuing wave of "Thank You's." Certainly a new experience in this town.

Just my opinion, but to me a civilian wearing a military tartan kilt would be taken as a form of "Thank You" and support.

Ron

[Nighthawk]

Whichever tartan you decide to get, make sure to purchase the Sheillah pin of the Fighting 69th. It makes a great kilt pin.
http://www.antietammuseumstore.com/sheillahpin.html

Oh yeah- I have one. Their so heavy that they make perfect pins. I got it this last summer when I went to Antietem with my dad. It was just too good to pass up.

[Archangel]

Aha, tickled, I thought it said ticked.

As a "military rule of thumb" keep in mind that only 6 (2 are Black Watch) have seen combat. Those ones have had blood spilled so more respect should be shown. As noted above, those military have become more common so there's less attachment to tradition. The one that stands out is the military Gordon, I don't believe that has a civilian counterpart.

The other military kilts are ceremonial/modern: they don't have a blood history.

After all that info, go for it.

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

The Gordon Tartan you mention is Modern Gordon, which is not military per se.

As a "military rule of thumb" keep in mind that only 6 (2 are Black Watch) have seen combat. Those ones have had blood spilled so more respect should be shown. As noted above, those military have become more common so there's less attachment to tradition. The one that stands out is the military Gordon, I don't believe that has a civilian counterpart.

By Regiment

Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders* .......Black Watch/Government then Campbell of Cawdor
Argyll Fencibles......................................... ..................................Campbell of Cawdor
Argyll Highlanders (Old 74th) .................................................. ..Lamont
Argyllshire Highlanders, 91st.............................................. ......Black Watch
Atholl Highlanders....................................... ...............................Murray of Atholl
Auckland Highland Rifle Volunteers (NZ) ..............................Black Watch
Baluch Regiment, Pakistan.......................................... ...............Baluch Regt Tartan
Black Watch of Canada .................................................. ........Black Watch
Black Watch Pipers .................................................. ...............Royal Stewart
Black Watch(The Royal Highland Regt)* ..............................Black Watch
Bombay Volunteer Rifles ( India) ............................................Stewar t Hunting
Breadalbane Fencibles .................................................. ..........Campbell of Breadalbane
Byron Regiment (Australia) .................................................. ..Sutherland
Calcutta Scottish (India) .................................................. .......Stewart Hunting
Cameron Highlanders 79th of Foot .........................................Cameron of Erracht
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)* ..............................................Doug las
Canterbury Scottish Rifle Volunteers (NZ) ...........................Gordon
Cape Town Highlanders (SA) ................................................Go rdon
Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders (72nd) ...........................Prince Charles Edward Stewart
Dunedin Highland Rifle Volunteers (NZ) ...............................Black Watch
First City Regiment (SA) .................................................. .......Graham of Montrose
Ghurka Rifles (1st) .................................................. .................Childers
Glasgow Highlanders (HLI) .....................Black Watch and then MacKenzie as TA Bn until 1967
Glenalmond School Scotland .................................................. Murray of Atholl
Gordon Highlanders* .................................................. ...........Gordon
Highland Light Infantry* .................................................. ....MacKenzie
Highlanders .........................................MacKenzie/Cameron Erracht/Gordon
Highlanders of Canada (48th) ................................................. Davidson/Stewart of Fingask
Kaffrarian Rifles (SA) .................................................. ............MacKenzie
Kimberley Scottish .................................................. ................. MacKenzie
King's Own Scottish Borderers (TA)* ..........(Pipers) Erskine Red/Green till 1940 then Buccleuch
King's Own Scottish Borderers ..............................................Lesl ie/Royal Stewart
Liverpool Scottish (TA) .................................................. .......Forbes
London Irish Rifles (TA) .................................................. .......Saffron
London Scottish (TA)* .................................................. ........Hodden Grey
Loretto School Scotland .................................................. .......Stewart Hunting
Lovat Scouts .................................................. ...................Fraser Hunting
Merchiston Castle School Scotland .......................................Cameron of Erracht
Natal Mounted Rifles (South Africa) ...........pipe band still wear Douglas
New South Wales Scottish (Aus) ...........................................Black Watch
New Zealand 1st Armoured Car Regt .................................... .Black Watch
Pretoria Highlanders (SA) .................................................. .....Stewart Hunting
Prince Alfred's Guard 1874 (SA) .............................................Camer on of Erracht
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders* ...............................Cameron of Erracht
Queen's Own Highlanders ................................Cameron of Erracht/MacKenzie
Rajput Regiment,(NW India) .................................................. Rajput Tartan
Ross-shire Buffs (78th) .................................................. .........MacKenzie
Royal Artillery, 19th Regiment Royal Artillery Highland Gunners.............Robertson Hunting (rank slides)
Royal Auxillary Air Force 602 Sqn. (Glasgow) .........................Douglas Grey
Royal Auxillary Air Force 603 Sqn. (Edinburgh) .........................Douglas Grey
Royal Durban Light Infantry(SA) ..........................................Black Watch
Royal Highland Fusiliers .................................................. ......MacKenzie
Royal New South Wales Regiment (Aus) .............................Black Watch
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Pipers) .................................... Royal Stewart
Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) .......................................Hunting Stewart
Royal Scots Fusiliers* .................................................. ........Erskine Hunting
Royal Scots Fusiliers (Pipers).......................................... ......Erskine red & black
Royal Scots (Pipers)* .................................................. .......... Royal Stewart
Royal Scots Greys (Pipers)....trews................................. ........Dalziel
Royal South Australia Regiment ..........................................MacKenzi e
Scots Guards (Pipers)* .................................................. ........Royal Stewart
Scottish Horse .................................................. .............Fraser Hunting
Seaforth Highlanders* .................................................. ........MacKenzie
Shanghai Volunteer Corps (China) .......................................Stewart Hunting
South African Scottish .................................................. .......Murray of Atholl
Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders TA (Can) ...........MacDonnell of Glengarry
Toronto Scottish (Can) .................................................. .......Hodden Grey
Transvaal Scottish (SA) .................................................. ........Murray of Atholl
Tyneside Scottish (RE) .................................................. .......Black Watch
Wanganui Highland Rifles (NZ) ........................................... Gordon
Wellington Highlanders (NZ) ...............................................Bla ck Watch
Witwatersrand Rifles (SA) .................................................. ..Douglas

[OFCJAX]

As a former Marine, I say "Do it."

The Tartan isn't official anyway and it doesn't have the EGA (Eagle, Globe and Anchor)on it which it what most Marines are touchy about non-Marines wearing.

[kiltimabar]

Since you mentioned your Civil War ancestors, I might mention there is a Federal Memorial tartan that is specifically designed to commemorate the service of those Boys in Blue who fought to preserve the Union. Matt Newsome made up a kilt for me from custom woven material sewn to the original design of the kilt of the 79th NY Cameron Highlanders, another celebrated Civil War regiment. It's not common, so when people ask what it is it gives you the opening to tell them about your ancestors and what they mean to you.

[Daaaaang]

Matt Newsome made up a kilt for me from custom woven material sewn to the original design of the kilt of the 79th NY Cameron Highlanders, another celebrated Civil War regiment. It's not common, so when people ask what it is it gives you the opening to tell them about your ancestors and what they mean to you.

I thought this was just Cameron of Erracht?

[macwilkin]

I thought this was just Cameron of Erracht?

The 79th did wear the Cameron of Erracht; the reference to the 79th was the design of Matt's kilts, which is based on an original 79th kilt.

T.

[macwilkin]

Since you mentioned your Civil War ancestors, I might mention there is a Federal Memorial tartan that is specifically designed to commemorate the service of those Boys in Blue who fought to preserve the Union. Matt Newsome made up a kilt for me from custom woven material sewn to the original design of the kilt of the 79th NY Cameron Highlanders, another celebrated Civil War regiment. It's not common, so when people ask what it is it gives you the opening to tell them about your ancestors and what they mean to you.

I will second kiltimabar's suggestion of the Federal Memorial tartan, since your ancestor actually served in in a Federal regiment during the War of the Rebellion. It's "tailor-made" for your wish to honour your ancestor.

Or, you could always go with the New York City tartan, since the 69th was a city regiment. One of the reasons why I chose the Iowa state tartan was in honour of my great-great grandfather, 1st. Lt. William Williamson, who served in the War of the Rebellion with F Coy., 11th Iowa Vol. Infantry.

Regards,

Todd

ps: moved thread to heraldry & tartans section, since we're discusing tartan symbolism & meaning.