Highland Regiment Uniforms When Deployed...Then And Now

**TheOfficialBren** · 14th July 14, 02:48 AM

I saw @OC Richard post a neat thread about his new spats for his impression of a pipe major from the Black Watch (fabulous job, by the way, sir). It got me thinking.

What would a pipe major in the Highland regiments wear when deploying abroad through the years?
What would they wear now?
Would they defer to another MOS (military occupational specialty; I don't know the correct terminology used in the British or Commonwealth armed services) and lay down their pipes when deployed?

Thanks, gents.

**Jock Scot** · 14th July 14, 03:11 AM

Well this chap managed to wear this in the Western Desert, and very close to the action by the looks of it, probably in 1942. Look very closely at the men surrounding the piper, I find this picture to be one of the most telling war pictures that I have ever seen.

I think today, as then and before, pipers in particular and bandsmen of Scottish Regiments managed to get their kilts and instruments pretty near the front whenever possible.The kilt was foresaken, as battle dress, officialy by the War Office for Highland Regiments in 1940. The Cameron Highlanders were the last Regiment to wear the kilt in battle (France 1940). I do note though that these days the pipes seem to get through to the front , well if the photographs are anything to go by, but not the kilt. It is not forgotten by modern day Commanding Officers of Scots Regiments that the pipes have a huge morale boosting effect on their men.

**Ron Abbott** · 14th July 14, 04:05 AM

Pipers are soldiers first and foremost, unlike military bandsmen.

Depends on the regiment, but in one the Pipes & Drums may be the Fire Support Platoon (heavy machine gun platoon) and in another a Mortar Platoon. Some may be employed as drivers, others as combat medics.

They pretty much wear the same as everybody else, although when in ordinary headwear, the pipers will often wear their plain coloured glengarries.