Balmorals and Glengarrys

**svc40bt** · 20th October 09, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by davedove

Here's the cap badge as well as a belt buckle with the Army crest, shown against the Army tartan. (Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever worn the buckle

).

I also have a kilt pin with the same:

You can get these from Alexis Malcolm Kilts.

These are quite nice Dave. Does the cap badge have any inscription on the strap? Can't tell for sure from the pic.

**Paul** · 20th October 09, 02:40 PM

I love both hats... I don't really suit hats so I don't wear them often though!
I own both types... with dicing and plain. I think they can really add to a highland outfit

**thescot** · 20th October 09, 02:46 PM

Here is the EGA stylized clan type pin I have on my balmoral.

I also have one of these, but it's to heavy I don't wear it on my bonnet anymore. It kind of made the thing sag down in front.

I occassionally weat this one, too.

**thescot** · 20th October 09, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

COL . . .I have seen Glengarry caps and Balmoral Bonnets on the Scottish Tartans Museum Giftshop site in Airborne Maroon, SF Green, Ranger Tan, Black, and Navy. It's kind of a novel concept I think and definitely targeted towards us military types... .Thanks!

I don't know if anyone ever spoke about your original post.

I think many of the alternate colors of dicing were used by some of the Canadian regiments. I have a dark green glengarry which was worn by one of the Highland regiments before they were amalgamated, but I don't remember which one. I like to wear it on St. Patrick's Day with a Northern Ireland pin attached. It's kind of a private joke.

**Paul** · 20th October 09, 02:53 PM

That looks great!

**HarborSpringsPiper** · 20th October 09, 04:29 PM

I have always worn a Balmoral, never a Glengarry. Both have a military tradition but the Glen has been worn pretty exclusively over the Balmoral by Highland Regiment pipe bands since the mid to latter 19th century. Most pipe bands seem to wear the Glen now but bands in the 70s in the US and Canada when I started mostly wore Balmorals. The Balmoral obviously has the longer tradition as a "bunnet" of the two, pre-dating any formal military association when it was a knitted broad bonnet. Glens just seem more of a military-style hat to me, part of a uniform more than just a hat to wear but maybe that's just me.

I have two classic Balmorals, one black and the other Navy, both with black Petersham cockades and with these I do wear a clan cap badge (MacRae, my adopted clan).

A few years back I purchased a third, little different style Balmoral from Mossie Croft in navy, though their's is a lighter blue than the black/blue my other one is. It is actually pieced together along the lines of a WWII style military Balmoral but not exactly. I traded a couple of emails with the gal there (I think they are in Northen Ireland) and she had designed this herself, inspired by military versions, as it is a little more versatile in how you can wear it. They will add a cockade and/or a sewn bow if you like, and whatever color toorie you like as well. They got rid of the gross grain ribbon around the headband, so it is very comfortable to wear. I didn't put the cockade on this one, so don't wear any bling on it and it looks very civil.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BALMORAL-BONNET-...item518d89c93f

BTW, I do tie my ribbons into a bow on the back, except for the one that I ordered with the sewn bow. Surprised nobody has mentioned the tradition associated with that.

**PneumoniaHawk** · 30th October 09, 10:20 AM

Would wearing a Poppy instead of clan or other cap badges be looked upon in bad taste?

**Jock719** · 30th October 09, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by PneumoniaHawk

Would wearing a Poppy instead of clan or other cap badges be looked upon in bad taste?

my poppy is beside the clan basge on my balmoral,looks fine. Im an ex serviceman and its quite common to see a poppy behind or beside a clan or regimental badge. Might look a little bare just on its own though

**Jock Scot** · 30th October 09, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by PneumoniaHawk

Would wearing a Poppy instead of clan or other cap badges be looked upon in bad taste?

I am quite sure that no one could even consider that as bad taste. I have also seen the poppy worn behind a clan badge, above a clan badge and alongside a clan badge and no one has even mentioned bad taste. Me? I still prefer the button hole in my lapel. More important than where the poppy is worn, is the fact that we take the time and as much expense as we possibly can afford to buy a poppy, to help and remember all those that allow us the freedoms that we enjoy today.

"Lest we forget."

**Jock719** · 30th October 09, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I am quite sure that no one could even consider that as bad taste. I have also seen the poppy worn behind a clan badge, above a clan badge and alongside a clan badge and no one has even mentioned bad taste. Me? I still prefer the button hole in my lapel. More important than where the poppy is worn, is the fact that we take the time and as much expense as we possibly can afford to buy a poppy, to help and remember all those that allow us the freedoms that we enjoy today.

"Lest we forget."

Beautifully put.

"For our tomorrows they gave their today"