Nice Balmorals

[Graham]

Mine arrived last week, good product, good price and good service (even to Australia).
Here is what I ordered.

[McClef]

And when you add a badge and hackle they look really good!

[Hamish]

Very similar, Gray, to my recently acquired Balmoral (as seen in my new avatar). Mine is their WWI Canadian Khaki - a more serviceable colour, I thought. I have to agree that, for the price and prompt service, it seems GlengarryHats.com cannot be beaten.

As you know I am NOT a hat wearer but, since growing the beard, I think I can (just) get away with the Balmoral - but not yet in public!!

PS: The 'badge' I wear on it is one of the first generation X Marks kilt pins!

[Graham]

Very similar, Gray, to my recently acquired Balmoral (as seen in my new avatar). Mine is their WWI Canadian Khaki - a more serviceable colour, I thought. I have to agree that, for the price and prompt service, it seems GlengarryHats.com cannot be beaten.

As you know I am NOT a hat wearer but, since growing the beard, I think I can (just) get away with the Balmoral - but not yet in public!!

PS: The 'badge' I wear on it is one of the first generation X Marks kilt pins!

Yes Hamish, I was aware of the similarity to yours, you probably influenced me!!
I've had a black one for ages but it was always a wee bit small and tight (it's all the nice comments I get about the kilt, made my head swell).

I don't wear it casually, more for celtic events.

Hamish, you are full of surprises, first the beard, then a hat!! Glad you're not stuck in a rut
btw, that hat looks great on you

[Nanook]

Following a link here I ended up seeing this on scottishkilts.net :confused:


its direct from their sales catalogue for a solid glengarry bonnet.

(I'd hate to see what they send customers out the door with)

[Cawdorian]

I can identify with the Balmoral that is too small. Can any one tell us how and where to measure our head for a correctly fitting Balmoral? I am considering purchasing a new one in Lovat Green.

[MacWage]

Something to consider in wearing battle honors and awards.

While not EXACTLY the same thing, this may reflect some of the feeling.
Imagine someone wearing a Purple Heart as a brooch, pin, or hat badge (because they like the color), though they, their significant other, etc has not served.

How would a veteran who has earned one or has a close friend who lost a major body part in battle feel?


In the case of a hackle, I was not aware of the reasons and emotion behind them, but have not worn them.
Now, I doubt I ever will.

[Dirk Skene]

looks good!

[PiobBear]

Wow; that's a great price for a balmoral, and kudo's for not getting a common black one; I like rifle green.

And when you add a badge and hackle they look really good!

If you're thinking of a feather hackle, you might want to carefully consider that "Hackles are generally awarded to regiments for battle honours or a special reason. Serious consideration and research should be given prior to being worn by a civilian..." (drummajor.net). For instance, the red hackle was awarded to the Black Watch as a battle honor commemorating their bravery on 4 January 1795, where during a rear guard action before Guildermalson, Holland, French cavalry routed the British picket line, capturing two field pieces. The 42nd Regiment immediately charged and retook the guns, dragging the cannon back to British lines by hand under heavy fire.
The Canadian Royal Highland Regiment was awarded their red hackle following the strategic victory at Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917 where the Canadian Expeditionary Force had captured more ground, more prisoners and more guns than any previous British offensive in two-and-a-half years of war, one of the most complete and decisive engagements of the First World War and the greatest Allied victory up to that time.
My band wears hackles as part of their uniform, but I choose not to wear one when I'm on my own. I simply don't feel that I've earned the right.

[macwilkin]

Wow; that's a great price for a balmoral, and kudo's for not getting a common black one; I like rifle green.

If you're thinking of a feather hackle, you might want to carefully consider that "Hackles are generally awarded to regiments for battle honours or a special reason. Serious consideration and research should be given prior to being worn by a civilian..." (drummajor.net). For instance, the red hackle was awarded to the Black Watch as a battle honor commemorating their bravery on 4 January 1795, where during a rear guard action before Guildermalson, Holland, French cavalry routed the British picket line, capturing two field pieces. The 42nd Regiment immediately charged and retook the guns, dragging the cannon back to British lines by hand under heavy fire.
The Canadian Royal Highland Regiment was awarded their red hackle following the strategic victory at Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917 where the Canadian Expeditionary Force had captured more ground, more prisoners and more guns than any previous British offensive in two-and-a-half years of war, one of the most complete and decisive engagements of the First World War and the greatest Allied victory up to that time.
My band wears hackles as part of their uniform, but I choose not to wear one when I'm on my own. I simply don't feel that I've earned the right.

Excellent point, Piobear. Hackles really are part of a uniform, and as you have pointed out, a particular colour of hackle, such as the Black Watch's red vulture feather or the Highlander's blue hackle, has a lot of powerful symbolism behind it.

The same could also be said for wearing any type of feather in general, since feathers behind a badge usually denote an armiger (one who bears a coat-of-arms granted by a heraldic authority) or a Chief of a Clan.

I think it's best to keep hackles to uniform kit, INMHO.

Cheers,

Todd