Again I take some issue with what you have to say and you need to go back to your history books and check your facts. However I also owe an apology for one thing.....

When I originally read your thread you seemed to be claiming that the Phillabeg only dated back to 1800, on reflection I realise that infact you were simply quoting another user who incorrectly stated that the Belted Plaid was abandoned in 1800 and the army 1st started wearing phillabegs then. I was pointing out that whatever the dispute of the origin stories the Phillabeg was definitely around in the early part of the 18thC. That the illustrations of it which are known to be authentic of the time are of captured Jacobites is irrelevant, it is pictorial evidence of the existence of the Phillabeg at least at 1745. And that is has a far longer use in a military context.

However I wasn't talking to only you but responding to a couple of points made throughout the thread. And I note that you didn't correct the incorrect belief that somehow the highland regiments only started wearing the phillabeg in 1800.

In my case your highly abreviated history of the Black Watch was superfluous to requirements as I already familiar with the history of the Regiment, I was also at one point acquainted with the curator of the regimental museum, and have family connections to the regiment (as with all the other Scottish Regiments), and at one point was invited to try for commissioning in the regiment which I stupidly did not pursue until such a point as health problems put paid to it. I've read widely on many history books regarding the history of the British Army and in particular the Highland regiments, and had information from what I would class as credible and none romanticised reliable sources.

However some points to ponder - the Black Watch wasn't founded in 1743, it became a Line Regiment then (after Royal inspection and mutiny), eligible for Foreign Service rather than continuing as the paramilitary policeforce it was founded as by Marshal Wade in 1725 which is early enough in the 18thC for me. This Watch was founded mainly using men who were already part of local pro government militias formed from mainly progovernment clans who had been serving since at least 1715.

If we consider that prior to the restoration and the formation of the standing army bodies of men were raised for crown service and following service disbanded then the history of bodies of men in Highland clothes in the service of the 'British' (post union) and joint Scottish English Monarch (post James VI/I taking the English as well as the Scottish Crown) is significantly longer. (let's not get into the history of highlanders serving the Stuarts when they were the monarchs of just Scotland as that goes back to at least Bannockburn....and the Scottish Monarchy before them too),,,,,

In the 'English' (British) Civil war/war of the three kingdoms bodies of Highlanders served with Montrose in Charles I forces, and also fought for Charles II. Given that the Guards Regiments and the 1st of Foot can lay claim to histories predating service for the British Crown then although not generally acknowledged then we can say that men in Highland Clothing (as opposed to Highlanders serving in 'lowland' attire) serving the crown also have a history going back well before the 43rd/42nd (also a lot of Montrose's men were also veterans of Adolphus who used Highland as well as Lowland Scottish Mercenaries. Indeed I can't recall off the top of my head where but I have a memory of reading of some men who joined the 1st of Foot who were Highlanders who initially began their service in their Highland clothing until issues with their proper uniform.

You seem to have a different definition of a fly plaid to me. You claim a fly plaid is a specific garment made with a belt etc to resemble a belted plaid ignoring the fact that the flyplaid takes many different forms. However I would argue that a fly plaid is any type of plaid worn as a mantle, cloak or otherwise which is separate from a Phillabeg to give the appearance of a belted plaid (and I'd go as far as extrapolating that to say that any tartan plaid worn regardless of phillabeg or trews could come under this classification regardless of dimensions).

I would argue that what you describe as a Fly Plaid is simply an evolution of a separate plaid in much the same way that Bonnets grew with Ostrich Feathers to Grenadier proportions, Sporrans became longer and Coatees replaced short cut jackets, etc, etc. Especially as there's multiple ways to wear a fly plaid..... You illustrations clearly show that.... It is interesting to see the sample garment you have.

There's plenty of records of Highland Regiments in the early to middle of the 18thC cutting down plaids and stitching them base of them together to form phillabegs as fatigue garments. You're not honestly telling me that an army which has men with the skills to make new Justacorps, cut down and restitch old ones to make waistcoats, breeks, caps etc doesn't within its highland regiments have tailors who have the skills to cut down, pleat up and stitch up old plaids to form phillabegs? The records are there at least in the 7 years war of this having happened to make a more practical campaign dress where often the phillabegs were teamed up with mitasses, mocasins, hachets and sleeved waistcoats with extra pockets added on to allow for better service in the backwoods. There's also earlier mentions of 'fatigue garments'.

So if you accept my definition of a Fly Plaid being a plaid which is worn as part of Highland military or civilian costume regardless of whether trews or phillabeg is worn at that point (and what you describe is purely an evolution of it) with no set dimensions to define its size and no one set way to wear then actually it's arguable that in military service Tartan 'Fly Plaids' predate even the establishment of the Black Watch....

The Early of Argyll's Regiment of Foot (1689- 1697) was a Highland Regiment (ie it was raised in the Highlands, it's Colonel was a Highlander, the vast majority of its men were Highlanders and it was initially garrisoned in Perth and then Fort William) which although conventionally attired in Red Justacorps and Breeches as per other regiments wore Bonnets and a tartan plaid for the purpose of protection against the elements. obviously this was generally worn trews 'sash' fashion (and I would guess as a cloak should the weather require it) and not as a Belted Plaid.


You do seem well informed and I found your illustrations very interesting. But that also made me feel more strongly that appearing well informed to my eyes you seemed to have ignored the much longer history of the Phillabeg in 18th C military service - I recognise now that was not your error but another users. But you must understand my issues with that error as we all know when 'informed experts' on highland dress (ie Soseboskie Stuart) make errors and stand unchallenged then that's how all manner of myth and fallacy develops.

Hmmm looking at your illustration here's another topic.....Spats.... Highland regiments not wearing Gaiters when everyone else did in the 18thC (except for indian service with Linen Trousers or in the American Revolution with integral Gaiter Trousers), then starting wearing them when pretty much everyone else stops wearing then at the beginning of the 19thC..... so they become part of 'Highland Costume' to this day?........ discuss....