Canada's Highland Regiments

[Ancienne Alliance]

F A N T A S T I C !
Thank you Terry.


Best,

Robert

[BoldHighlander]

On 2005 May 08, a contingent of active serving members of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada (Vancouver, Canada) marched in the parade in Apeldoorn, Netherlands commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Liberation of Holland. They were accompanied by a combined band comprising the Pipes and Drums of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and the Seaforth Highlanders of Holland Memorial Pipes and Drums.



The Black Watch (R.H.R.) of Canada Remembrance Day Parade in Montreal, QC, Canada on November 11, 2008

[ThistleDown]

Thanks, Terry, for the Seaforth pics. The 100th anniversary celebrations will be at the Seaforth Armoury on November 27, 2010. Go to www.seaforth100.com for information.

Rex

[BoldHighlander]

Thanks Rex, I'd love to make it up for that!

[BoldHighlander]

Speaking of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, I ran across an interesting photo & tid-bit just a couple days ago.

Kiltmaker Robert MacDonald of Vancouver, BC; is a former Seaforth and on the belts & blades section of his website is the following photo & caption which I wish to share here:



In most regiments, the use of the sgean dubh is restricted to pipers, serjeants and officers. This has been circumvented by the ever-resourceful 'jocks' with the introduction of the 'Regimental tattoo'.

In the Seaforth's, this takes the form of the Regimental badge tattooed on the right calf and placed so that the top portion is visible above the stocking. The Coronet and Cypher look somewhat like a sgean dubh with the advantage that airport security doesn't pitch a blue fit about it!


Interesting. Is this practiced by any other kilted regiments, and if so does anyone have any photos of these leg/calf tattoos they would be willing to share?

[Good Egg]

I do reading something about the original Canadian Scottish Regiments having Kilts made out of khaki wool normally used in tunics and trews because of a lack of Tartan available but I can't find any substantiation for this.

[Lallans]

Courtmont, no word back from the Stormont Dundas and Glengarry Reserve Regiment- I begin to despair- but they could easily be photographed at the next Glengarry Games in Maxville and posted here in full colour. By someone that has a digital camera, unfortunately I still use a Kodak Brownie type unit.

Fashion note: The bonnets in the old WW1 era B&W photos are certainly larger than you can buy now. A year or so ago, I seized on what seemed to be a larger one in an Ottawa celtic store and was trying it on in front of a mirror thinking it was an authentic reproduction, only to be told, somewhat sniffily by the store's owner, that what I had on was in fact an item intended for women. (I think I had already decided that, based on the lightness and fineness of the materials, but I'm sure there are many stores that would have sold it to me anyway.) Anyway while that was a failed attempt at authenticity on my part-I would be interested in getting a era one if they are sold anywhere.

[highland mafia]

Many years asgo I got a really fantastic "combat Belmoral" while on a training course in CFB Petawawa. There was a army surplus store in the town called "Honest Johns" ( I pretty sure that's what it was called). Being in the Canadian Army during the 90's we often had to rely on outside sources for good kit!! And this guy had it all. Anyways he had so many really great old style Belmorals there as well as other bonnets. The one I got was pretty huge compared to our issued ones. Maybe not as big as some of the ones in those photo's. It was olive drab colour and probally came from the 50's /60's
Still got it..

[BoldHighlander]

Fashion note: The bonnets in the old WW1 era B&W photos are certainly larger than you can buy now. A year or so ago, I seized on what seemed to be a larger one in an Ottawa celtic store and was trying it on in front of a mirror thinking it was an authentic reproduction, only to be told, somewhat sniffily by the store's owner, that what I had on was in fact an item intended for women. (I think I had already decided that, based on the lightness and fineness of the materials, but I'm sure there are many stores that would have sold it to me anyway.) Anyway while that was a failed attempt at authenticity on my part-I would be interested in getting a era one if they are sold anywhere.

Here's a photo of my repro WW1/WW2 bonnet:



You can get them from What Price Glory.

[Lallans]

Worth checking out. Thanks!