Glengarry Question

[OC Richard]

I had always heard that pipers were often hired for the regiments, which is why they (sometimes) wear different kilts (usually Royal Stewart) and plain glengarries

Yes indeed. In the 1670s Sir James Turner, an officer in The Scots Guards, wrote:

"With us any Captain may keep a piper in his Company and maintain him, too, for no pay is allowed him, perhaps just as much as he deserveth."

These pipers would sometimes be dressed in livery, as they would be in civilian employ.

As late as 1845 the pipers of the 93rd Highlanders were dressed in Rob Roy tartan coatees, kilts, plaids, and full hose.

But this is all before Glengarries were worn in the military.

In the 1840s the 79th Highlanders came up with a new costume for their pipers: a dark green doublet (the entire army wore coatees at this time, and this was the first time the military had used doublets, being a civilian thing at the time), a Glengarry (which was supposedly designed by an officer of the regiment, but was in fact already worn by civilians), and black waistbelt and crossbelt with silver fittings. The Cameron of Erracht kilt and long plaid were the same as worn by the regiment.

From being a civilian thing to the exclusive dress of the pipers of a single regiment to becoming standard headdress for the entire Scottish infantry, thus was the path of the Glengarry.

Anyhow the Scottish regiments weren't allowed pipers on the official establishment until 1852, when each regiment was allowed one Pipe Major and five pipers.

the Black Watch precedent of plain glengarries for pipers and red and white diced for drummers.

This is not correct. In the Black Watch and the Cameron Highlanders the entire regiment, riflemen, officers, pipers, drummers, everyone entire wore plain navy blue Glengarries. (Black Glengarries were never worn in the Army; they were always extremely dark blue.)

Red and white diced Glengarries were worn only by the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, by the entire regiment, except by the pipers. The pipers of all regiments wore plain navy blue Glengarries.

Many Police pipe bands wear "Police Dice" Glengarries, black and white diced, the dicing smaller/finer than the dicing on Army Glengarries.

In many Police pipe bands, unlike military pipe bands, the pipers wear diced Glengarries just like the drummers.