Odd UK military Tam

[Ron Abbott]

The London Scottish used to wear a TOS with a patch in hodden grey so it almost looked as if there was no patch at all. It blended in with the TOS.

I've got no idea what they wear nowadays, but they used to be affiliated to the Gordons and were part of the 2/51 Highland Volunteers. They were 'G Coy.' Pipers had Gordon tartan covers and ribbons.

(The late) Steve McVeigh who was a friend of mine and who was a member of this forum had served as a piper in the London Scottish.

I recall playing in a '2/51 massed bands' event at Elgin circa 1983 and what a uniforms there were just in that one battalion.

Some of the pipers in Gordon affiliated companies wore the uniform of that regiment, some were in Queen's Own Highlanders affiliated companies and wore that uniform with the Cameron of Erracht tartan, some wore the hodden gray of the London Scottish and there was even one piper in Hunting Fraser tartan....wearing the uniform of the Lovat Scouts.

The Aberdeen University Officers' Training Corps were also part of 51 Highland Brigade and wore a uniform based on that of the Gordons....and still do.

The Liverpool Scottish had a tartan patch and I don't think the Tyneside Scottish is a possibility given the dates concerned.

However, a number of Scottish based units in the various Corps have also worn the TOS over the years, although again I can't recall any that did not have a tartan patch.

As for the TOS, again; styles have changed in the past couple of decades. The rank and file of different regiments wore them in different ways but nowadays the current issued TOS seems to have a smaller crown and wearing them down to the side seems to be de rigueur.

Back in the 1980s, the ones issued however were not worn for long after issue. Tailored TOS were purchased and worn instead.

Officers purchased their own tailored ones made from old army great coats and they were worn to the side like a balmoral. However, the officers would also have the same ones as rank and file which were kept for genuine conflict, so as they wouldn't stand out to an enemy as....officers!

Other headwear that is slightly unusual included the kilmarnock bonnets worn by the drum major of the KOSB and the RSDG (when in trews). If you go back further to the 50s/60s you'll find a bigger variety of headwear including Tam O Shanters that looked more similar to balmorals.