Saw Pipe Major insignia on Prince Charlie Jacket

[Bugbear]

Short answer is "yes". Mess jackets usually have the body in one colour (often red in the British army) with the lapels (and sometimes the cuffs) in a different colour, defining the regiment. Waistcoats are often black, although red is by no means uncommon. A few mess jackets fasten at the neck, similar to a Sherrifmuir jacket, and have a "bib" underneath, again in a contrasting colour.

Costello & Son in Ilford, London, supply much of the mess dress to the British forces (including RAF, Royal Marines, Royal Navy, the Royal Household, etc.), and examples can be seen on their website.

Thank you, that is very helpful.

[macwilkin]

It certainly looks like a mess jacket, and if it is and if the gent is still in the military, then it is not just appropriate to wear his rank on the mess jacket, it is a requirement.

Peter

Rank yes...trade badges, though, aren't usually worn with mess dress, are they? Does one wear a piper/signaller/musketry badge on their mess kit?

For example, I'm looking at present at a depiction of the RCMP officer's mess dress, and the only insignia being worn are rank badges (pips and crowns) and the buffalo head collar dogs of the RCMP on the collars.

Rathdown: did you notice that the waistcoat is tartan (Erskine, I believe, which would make this gentleman a member of the old RHF, an amalgamation of the old HLI and RSF) -- I can't remember seeing any of the Scottish regiments wearing a tartan waistcoat with mess dress.

Regards,

Todd

[Tim Little]

... did you notice that the waistcoat is tartan (Erskine, I believe, which would make this gentleman a member of the old RHF, an amalgamation of the old HLI and RSF)...

Sounds about right, Todd.

From http://www.coastalscottish.com/Great...ers%20Web1.htm:

In 1984 Gordon enlisted in the Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment) and started his training as a junior piper at Bridge of Don. He was a very successful competitor in Junior and Amateur solo piping competitions around Scotland and while training at Aberdeen, he won his first major piping competition and the same year his Silver Medal for Piobaireachd at The Argyllshire Gathering at Oban (the youngest ever at the age of 16)

After completing his training, Gordon was posted to the 1st Battalion in West Berlin in 1986. During steady progress through the piping ranks, Pipe Sergeant Walker was invited to attend the Pipe Major's Course at Edinburgh Castle under Major J M Allan and Major GNM Stoddard, BEM. Gordon achieving distinguished honours in both theoretical and practical piping.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Rank yes...trade badges, though, aren't usually worn with mess dress, are they? Does one wear a piper/signaller/musketry badge on their mess kit?

For example, I'm looking at present at a depiction of the RCMP officer's mess dress, and the only insignia being worn are rank badges (pips and crowns) and the buffalo head collar dogs of the RCMP on the collars.

Rathdown: did you notice that the waistcoat is tartan (Erskine, I believe, which would make this gentleman a member of the old RHF, an amalgamation of the old HLI and RSF) -- I can't remember seeing any of the Scottish regiments wearing a tartan waistcoat with mess dress.

Regards,

Todd

Hi Todd--

Yes, I noticed the waistcoat, but couldn't make out the tartan. Like yourself, I can't recall any regiments wearing a tartan waistcoat.

Given that the piper is wearing a costume, albeit with a nod to Scottish military fashion, I can certainly understand his wearing rank and trade designations-- it makes him more interesting to look at as he stands "stalk still" on stage.

It may be good showmanship, but it certainly isn't militarily correct, or acceptable as civilian formal attire.

Regards (and congratulations for a job well done as a moderator),
Scott

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Hi Paul,

You could be right, but isn't the mess dress (dress 10A) for the RRS red with blue facings and a black, four button waistcoat? I was under the impression that it was the same for officers and other ranks, but wasn't aware that it might vary from battalion to battalion.

The bottom line is that even if he was stark naked he's still a hellava piper!

[Dixiecat]

marching band in white tie and tails

A little off topic but:

http://www.tophats.org/