Feather bonnet identification

[PIPER ERN]

Here's a close-up of the inside, showing the wear on the sweat band and the inner construction................

[OC Richard]

I'm often surprised by Canadian militaria, in that it so often differs from the way things are done in the Scottish regiments of Scotland.

With that caveat, you mention red and white dicing, which means, in Scotland, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.

There are Canadian regiments which have/had uniforms which are based on the uniform of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (the original, in Scotland).

These would have the two-colour red/white dicing.

At least in 1950 these were

1) The Cape Breton Highlanders
2) The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders of Canada
3) The Calgary Highlanders

The Essex Scottish is also mentioned as having red/white dicing.

There are Canadian regiments which have/had uniforms which are based on the uniform of the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders (the original, in Scotland).

These would have, if they follow the uniform of the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders (of Scotland) in detail, would have the Royal dicing of red/white/blue.

At least in 1950 these were

1) The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
2) The Queens Own Cameron Highlanders Of Canada

The photo you posted can't be used for such identification due to only the lowest row of dicing being visible. One would need to see the entire diced band to help identify the regiment.

The colour of the hackle can't be used as positive identification because the hackle can be easily switched out.

MODs: this is exactly the sort of thread which should be in the military forum.

[Father Bill]

MODs: this is exactly the sort of thread which should be in the military forum.

If that is the choice and wish of the OP, I'm sure that any of us would gladly move it.

[ThistleDown]

At least in the 1950s the red/white dicing was worn by the Lake Superior Scottish and the 48th Highlanders. It is still worn by the Seaforths.

[MacCathmhaoil]

There are a number of other Canadian regiments, although not Highland regiments, that have pipe bands who wear red/white dicing to further complicate matters.

[OC Richard]

At least in the 1950s the red/white dicing was worn by the Lake Superior Scottish and the 48th Highlanders. It is still worn by the Seaforths.

Yes that's the sort of confounding thing I was talking about. The Seaforth Highlanders Of Canada are said to wear a uniform based upon the Seaforth Highlanders of Scotland, who wear red/white/green dicing.

Trying to pin down Canadian uniform is like trying to herd cats on amphetamines.

Here's the red/white dicing of the Argylls



here worn by The Calgary Highlanders, who indeed follow the uniform of the Argylls of Scotland.



and here- to the point of the OP- worn by the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa! Where one would expect the sort of dicing worn by the Cameron Highlanders of Scotland. This al-la-carte mixing of kit from various Scottish regiments would be unimaginable in Scotland.



Now this photo of a member of the Seaforth Highlanders Of Canada (on the left) shows the dicing I would expect

[plaid preacher]

Richard, if you look carefully at the last picture on the first page of posts - the one showing the buckle on the side - you can see that this bonnet does indeed have blue and red dicing in the second row.

I do believe there are also difference in the number of tails from one regiment to another... but I will defer to someone with more knowledge than I

[ThistleDown]

The tradition was: Black Watch: four tails; Seaforth: five tails; Gordon: five tails; Camerons: five tails; Argyll and Sutherland: six tails. The hackle and the badge were exchangeable and sometimes the bonnets themselves were passed on from one regiment to another, further confusing the matter. In the case of the Canadian regiments their uniforms were 'based' on those Scottish regiments to which they were attached (tartan, facings and the like), but the local personality came to play and there were/are subtle differences, as we see.

[plaid preacher]

Thistledown, I knew someone would have that answer about the fingers. I note that in the picture of the Drum Major from the Seaforths he too has a band of blue and red dicing.

Ya gotta love the moustache!

[PIPER ERN]

Hello all:
Yes, to be clear, my feather bonnet does have red/white/blue dicing around the outer band (like the bonnet shown in the 'Seaforth' pic). If someone would like to move this thread to a military forum that's fine by me (the more exposure the better).