Tartan
Tartan was first worn in the British Army when the Highland regiments were raised. The normal uniform was the Government or 42nd tartan (Black Watch). But as the Highland regiments proliferated, they sought to encourage their individual identities by introducing differences into the Government tartan. The Regiment wears the Government 1A tartan.
Tartan Belt
The Regimental tartan belt is worn with Combat 95. The buckle is worn to the left and rear. The lighter green stripe is central as with the kilt.
The Black Cock Feather
There is evidence of pipers of the 25th Regiment wearing Black cock feathers in Minorca in 1771. The majority of Regimental pipers wore the Black cock feather with the exception of the 79th Regiment, who wore an Eagle feather, from the end of the Crimean war. The Black cock feather was worn by all ranks of The Royal Scots and The Kings Own Scottish Borderers in ceremonial orders of dress. Pipers in the Gordon’s and Argyll’s also wore it in ceremonial dress.
58 Tactical Recognition Flash (TRF) (This does not concern the JFPB)
The tactical recognition flash worn on the upper right arm of combat shirts and jackets is based on the cap badge and consists of the Lion Rampant superimposed on the Saltire.
The Kilt
The Highland regiments wore the kilt when they were initially raised. However, the 71st, 72nd, 73rd, 74th, 75th and 91st were removed from the Highland establishment in 1809 and did not become kilted again until 1881. The 71st and 74th did not resume wearing the kilt until it was returned to the Highland Light Infantry in 1948. The Royal Regiment of Scotland wears the kilt as its principal form of barrack and ceremonial dress.
Trews
Tartan trews (from the Gaelic ‘triubhas’) were first authorised for use in undress uniform by kilted regiments in 1830. Trews were worn as the principal dress of lowland regiments from the 19th century. Trews have always been treated as a convenient and comfortable form of barrack dress. The Regiment wears trews as an undress uniform and after Retreat when on duty.
Sporrans
In the early days of the Highland regiments, the sporran was a simple and useful purse (‘sporran’ is Gaelic for purse) made of goatskin or leather. After the Napoleonic Wars the sporran became more elaborate with metal top (cantle) and decorative tassels. The sporran worn by the Regiment has origins in sporrans worn by a number of our antecedent regiments.
Diced Hose
Red and white diced hose were worn by highland regiments since their earliest days. The Regiment wears red and black diced hose which were first worn by the 42nd and 92nd in the mid 19th century.
Lovat Hose
In the First World War khaki hose tops were introduced to replace the diced hose which were difficult to keep clean in the trenches. They continued to be worn by Highland regiments until after the second World War when hose of Lovat green were adopted for wear with the kilt in non-ceremonial dress.
Spats
Gaiters were originally called “Spatterdash” a name which was shortened over the centuries to the now familiar “Spats”. They were worn by all infantry regiments from the 17th century onwards and were designed to protect the soldier’s hose and to prevent stones and mud getting into the shoes. The original shoes were not made for left and right feet but designed for either feet. Spats were variously white, black, grey and khaki. White linen spats were issued in 1818 and have changed little since then. The Regiment wears spats with black buttons, which originate from the 92nd Highlanders.
Sgian Dubh
The sgian dubh (Gaelic for black knife) is not a weapon. It came into fashion with civilian Highland dress in about 1820. Officers and pipers of Highland regiments started wearing the sgian dubh from about 1840 when uniforms were becoming increasingly ornamental. It is worn by all officers, warrant officers and pipers of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Dirk
Dirk is an old Scottish name for a short dagger. It was originally made from the blade of an old or broken sword which was sharpened and fitted to a dagger hilt. In Medieval times it was carried in the hand of the arm holding the shield and was used in conjunction with the sword. Over the years Dirks have become extremely ornate and are treasured family heirlooms.
Head Dress
Pipers and Drummers
The Pipers Glengarry is to be worn by all Pipers and Drummers in No.8 and No.13 Dress when in barracks. The Glengarry should be worn at a jaunty angle tilted to the right. They are to wear the Tam O Shanter when in an operational theatre or taking part in field training.
Glengarry
The Glengarry was introduced to the British Army by Lieutenant Colonel The Hon Lauderdale Maule as Commanding Officer of the 79th. It was a practical and popular form of bonnet which soon became the undress wear in the Highland Regiments and by the 1870s was worn by all the Lowland and many English and Welsh line regiments. The Regiment wears the green, white and red dicing previously worn by the Royal Scots, Kings Own Scottish Borderers, Royal Scots Fusiliers, Royal Highland Fusiliers, Seaforth Highlanders and Gordon Highlanders. It is worn at an angle slightly down on the right.
Tam O’Shanter
When the Scottish regiments went to war in 1914 they wore the Glengarry, but it was found to be so impractical for trench warfare that many soldiers took to wearing a balaclava instead. In 1915 a flat highland bonnet was introduced to replace the Glengarry. At first there was a wide variety of styles and colours. The term Tam O’Shanter was introduced by the War Office for the older term Balmoral and the two are synonymous. The Regiment wears the khaki Tam O’Shanter with a square patch of Government 1A tartan, the Regimental badge and a battalion hackle. The badge and hackle can be removed on training or operations, if demanded by camouflage.
Capbadge
The capbadge is made up of the Saltire (silver diagonal cross taken from the National Arms of Scotland) the Lion Rampant (from the Royal Arms of Scotland) the Crown of Scotland (as housed in Edinburgh Castle) and the Regimental Motto: ‘Nemo Me Impune Lacessit’ (Latin for ‘No one molests me with impunity’).
Hackles
The hackle (or “Vulture’s feather” as it was termed) was originally an aid to identification in battle. Different coloured hackles were used to identify different companies: white hackle for right of the line, green for light infantry company, red and white for companies in the centre of the line. There were many Regimental variations. The red hackle worn by SCOTS originates from an action of the 42nd at Geldermalsen on 5th January 1795. Later that year, on the King’s Birthday, there was a parade at Royston, Hertfordshire, when a Red Hackle was distributed to every man on parade. But it was not until 1822 that an order from the Adjutant-General confirmed that only the 42nd would have the privilege of wearing the Red Vulture feather in their bonnets. Red Hackle Day is still celebrated by 3 SCOTS. The blue hackle worn by 4 SCOTS originates from a visit to the 1st Camerons in France in December 1939 by King George VI when he gave permission to wear a royal blue hackle in their bonnets. The white hackle worn by 2 SCOTS originates from permission granted to the Royal Scots Fusiliers for their services in the South African War of 1899 – 1902. 1 SCOTS and 5 SCOTS were granted permission to wear the black hackle and green hackle on formation of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The hackles identify the battalion in which an officer or soldier is serving or last served.
Pipers and Drummers
Pipers and Drummers are to wear antecedent uniform in No.1 and No.2 Dress but are to comply with these Regulations in all other orders of dress. They are to wear Regimental stable belt and tartan patch on Tam O Shanter.