42nd Band Tartan

[figheadair]

Some thoughts on the 42nd Band Tartan.

[blackwatch70]

Thank you very much, figheadair, for so informative, interesting and long-awaited article!

In the light of your article, maybe the famous pictures of Piper Muir of 42nd do show him wearing a tartan plaid and kilt of Band tartan??





regards, Mikhail

[Orvis]

Thank you, Peter, for an excellent paper! It provided me with new information (about the Music Tartan's wear by the A&SH) and how long it lasted into the 19th c. I have no doubt there will be AWI (and earlier) 42nd Regt reenactment groups in North America that will be disappointed that the 42nd Music Tartan cannot be documented earlier than 1780, but that may not stop them from re-dressing their pipers/drummers in Music Tartan if they can afford it, and damn the documentary torpedoes!

As to the feasibility of the Music Tartan's existence/use before 1780, the only thing I can think of that might support its earlier use would be the British Army's Royal Clothing Warrants that mandated infantry field musicians (fifers/drummers - which may have included pipers in Highland regiments that were enlisted as drummers since pipers were not authorized "on the strength" until the 1850s) be dressed in "reversed" regimental coats. The exception were field musicians of Royal regiments of foot, who were dressed in royal livery coats (scarlet with blue facings and royal lace). Since the 42nd was a Royal Regiment (from 1758), I speculate that the Colonel (Lord John Murray) may have wanted to show a "reversal" in the tartan, which led to Stewart of Garth's remarks about the red Music Tartan having been in use before 1780. Regimental Colonels in the 18th century had great lattitude to dress their musicians "as they thought best" within the minimal uniform regulations, and my speculation is based on that. Unfortunately, it cannot be proven and must remain speculation. None of the pre-1780 42nd order books or inspection returns that I've examined have mentioned the dress of field musicks/pipers.

Thanks to your good offices, I was able to acquire Dalgliesh-woven 42nd Music Tartan in WofB shades some years ago and had it made into a box-pleated kilt by New House Highland. Perhaps that is my kilt in the photo at the end of your essay. I like to think so.

[IsaacW]

Yeah!!!!

[figheadair]

In the light of your article, maybe the famous pictures of Piper Muir of 42nd do show him wearing a tartan plaid and kilt of Band tartan??

I've examined these photographs and cannot see much shade difference in the coat, plaid and kilt; although the sett sizes differ, and therefore am fairly certain that he's wearing the standard Government sett in these.

Thanks to your good offices, I was able to acquire Dalgliesh-woven 42nd Music Tartan in WofB shades some years ago and had it made into a box-pleated kilt by New House Highland. Perhaps that is my kilt in the photo at the end of your essay. I like to think so.

It is indeed your kilt.

[Orvis]

Peter,

Since writing my above post, I came across a copy of a painting (artist unknown, but now in the Black Watch Regimental Museum, according to the picture credit) depicting the 42nd Highland Regiment carrying out the maneuver known as "street firing" on Glasgow Green in 1756. The painting is fairly detailed and depicts the Regiment wearing red coats with buff facings, government sett belted plaids, with a buff Regimental (or 2nd) Colour. Of interest are the two drummers (depicted standing next to a mounted officer in the lower left of the painting. They are clearly wearing buff regimental coats and philabegs of government sett. This painting undermines my theory concerning Colonel Lord John Murray coming up with the Musicians' Tartan (at least at this early date) for the field musicians of his Regiment.

For those interested, the picture can be seen at Wikipedia Commons at https://upload.wikipedia.org/wikiped...)_detail_1.JPG.

The above picture has been mis-labeled, since the 42nd Highland Regiment was in North America in 1758 (having arrived in 1756); this painting depicts them carrying out maneuvers as part of a General Officer's review on Glasgow Green before their departure.

[figheadair]

Gerry,

Can't get th elink to open but I know the picture you mean. Must admit I'd never really looked at the drummers in detail but it doesn't surprise me to learn that they wore the standard Government sett in the early days.

[blackwatch70]

The above picture has been mis-labeled, since the 42nd Highland Regiment was in North America in 1758 (having arrived in 1756); this painting depicts them carrying out maneuvers as part of a General Officer's review on Glasgow Green before their departure.

Hi!
To be more correct, this painting depicts training of 2nd Battalion of 42nd before departure to North America. You are correct, 1st Battalion of the regiment already was in NA from 1756.






regards, Mikhail

[OC Richard]

As to the feasibility of the Music Tartan's existence/use before 1780, the only thing I can think of that might support its earlier use would be the British Army's Royal Clothing Warrants that mandated infantry field musicians (fifers/drummers - which may have included pipers in Highland regiments that were enlisted as drummers since pipers were not authorized "on the strength" until the 1850s) be dressed in "reversed" regimental coats. The exception were field musicians of Royal regiments of foot, who were dressed in royal livery coats (scarlet with blue facings and royal lace).

Thing is, there seems to be little or no consistency in the dress of pipers up until the 1870s or so, with every Battalion being a law unto itself. You'll see pipers dressed as other soldiers are, pipers dressed in reversed colours, pipers dressed in colourful livery including tartan jackets, and so forth.

In 1670 an officer in a Scottish battalion wrote "with us any Captain may keep a Piper and maintain him too, for no pay is allowed him, perhaps just as much as he deserveth". These pipers would be dressed as they would be outwith the army, in the livery of their employer, and this can be seen well into the 19th century.

[KD Burke]

"..,,no pay is allowed him, perhaps just as much as he deserveth".

So they were complaining about gig fees back then too?