Advice from servicemen and women?

**Arlen** · 26th March 07, 04:35 AM

Originally Posted by scoutniagara

I totally agree with BEEDEE.

It really is a beautiful tartan, no?

**macwilkin** · 26th March 07, 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by Arlen

Thank you for the advice.
I think I'll be wearing the Gordon tartan with my cadet badge as a kilt pin and the Cameronians cap badge on my Glengarry and a REME belt buckle.

Thanks to your advice I've just ordered a copy of that on Amazon. I've read all the Flashman books and loved the sarcasm in them, so I think this'll be a good serious work.

Arlen,

Very good then. Were you with the OTC, btw?

If you like Flashman, you'll love The MacAuslan series, also by GMF; "The General Danced at Dawn", "MacAuslan in the Rough" and "The Shiek and the Dustbin". Fraser based these works on his time in the Gordons.

Cheers,

Todd

**thescot** · 26th March 07, 05:52 AM

Arlen, as a former U.S. Marine, I am always happy to see someone who wears the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor (EGA) with pride. I would not want to see someone decked out in the uniform proper with unearned medalss and all that, but I myself wear the EGA within a strap like a clan badge. In the US, they recently arrested a fellow who showed up at a funeral in full dress blues with ribbons, officer's rank insignia, etc.--he wore his sword in the wrong side, a mistake no Marine would ever make. He belongs in jail.

Since the Cameronians are no more, I don't see a problem with your wearing the badge any place you like. It's not like you're trying to fool anyone; a person your age could not possibly have been a Cameronian! Wearing the medals is another story--they are personal devices.

So wear the tartan--it's a clan tartan, not uniquely military--and the badge if you like. If you are afraid of offending someone, then by all means turn the badge into a kilt pin. (Might be a little heavy . . .) And, as stated, you can always wear the cadet badge since that particular branch of cadets is no longer active--are they? The main thing is, as I see it, that you don't try to look like something you aren't.

Good show for knowing the value of the service your grandfather and others gave. We all live good lives because many of our grandfathers made sure we could.

**Arlen** · 26th March 07, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by thescot

Good show for knowing the value of the service your grandfather and others gave. We all live good lives because many of our grandfathers made sure we could.

Thank you for the support and advice, and for your service.
I think the consensus is that I can wear the kilt and my Cadet badge and show my pride without coming across as if I'm trying to be a soldier.

These things are all the more important to me now because of the regiments being dispanded and the amount of friends I have serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Even on of my Fiance's friends in the US coast guard is about to be sent to Bahrain.
These people all deserve out honour and respect.

Jus as an aside, why on earth was he trying to pass himself off as a marine? Aside from being grossly disrespectful, it's also plain stupid.
In my experience, anyone can tell the difference between someone who has served and hasn't just by their bearing.

**David Dalglish** · 26th March 07, 07:56 AM

I e-mail the Cameronian Scottish Rifles, My father served with them during the war, I asked if I could wear the cap badge on my Balmoral , I recieved a nice e-mail from the Secertery saying that I can wear the badge no problem to honour him. So wear the cap badge with pride

**macwilkin** · 26th March 07, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by David Dalglish

I e-mail the Cameronian Scottish Rifles, My father served with them during the war, I asked if I could wear the cap badge on my Balmoral , I recieved a nice e-mail from the Secertery saying that I can wear the badge no problem to honour him. So wear the cap badge with pride

Arlen: There you are: wear the badge. I would recommend getting a rifle green glengarry, though, since that's what the Cameronians wore.

Cheers,

Todd

**Julie** · 26th March 07, 08:12 AM

Arlen, obviously you were very fond of your grandfather and great uncle,I think this would be a very fitting tribute to both of them. I admire your attitude that shows such respect for the people who fought in the wars
Julian

**flairball** · 26th March 07, 09:15 AM

Arlen, You seem to have some good ideas going. As you put your outfit together don't feel like you have to wear all of your badges at the same time. If things become too confusing tone it down, and keep it simple. You can always wear one badge today, and another tomorrow. The important thing is the respect your showing.

**cessna152towser** · 26th March 07, 09:22 AM

I've been through this, Arlen, in honouring my late father who died three years ago at the age of 85, having served in the RAF from 1940 to 1946. I was only ever in the Air Training Corps in my youth and never joined the full-time RAF.
The Royal Air Force now have a tartan and following enquiries I was eventually able to buy a kilt through their official kiltmaker. The kiltmaker said that while these kilts were normally pleated to the stripe as military kilts for servicemen and ex-servicemen he would pleat mine to the sett. I wear it when I'm on duty at Solway Aviation Museum, summer weekends. The kilt pin which I originally attached was my family crest but I have recently replaced this with a simple thistle motif from KiltGoodies. I wear it with my official museum uniform sweatshirt, to which I have attached an Air Training Corps badge, as well as my own Private Pilot wings badge and my airport security tag, as may be seen in the photo below. I wouldn't wear any of my father's badges or medals and in fact I have placed all these on display in the museum. So I'd say go for it and get a kilt to honour your relative and wear your cadet badge either on your shirt or as a kilt pin.

**Peter C.** · 26th March 07, 11:32 AM

Hi Arlen,

I served with the REME for 25 years. I think what you are thinking of doing to honour your relatives is great.

I was taught the pipes very early in my army career, in a military pipe band. My teacher was a Gordon Highlander Pipe Major. He was my mentor - he died a long time ago. I wear Gordon Highlander badges and pins in his honour, with whatever kilt I am wearing.

With your reasons, the wearing of the tartan and badges as worn by the Cameronians and REME, would be acceptable to everyone. Rather than take offence, I think anyone who served in those units would be proud to think that you hold their units in high enough esteem to use them to honour your relatives.

That is a very old REME badge, it must date from the very early days of the REME. I would like to have met them.

If you didn`t mind something more modern from the REME, the stable belt buckle would make a great kilt belt if the canvas was removed and replaced with leather. It is about two and a half inches wide.

I wouldn`t have thought of that but for your thread. Maybe I`ll make another kilt belt.

Peter C