My new Scottish soldier postcard

[Michael Weatherhead]

I didn't realize that I could download the photos, straight from Ebay. Ok, super-sleuths, what regiment is this soldier from? I can ask the seller, but they may or may not know.

[Michael Weatherhead]

The yellow standard, on the bagpipe drone, looks similar the Gordon Highlanders, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, or the Highland Light Infantry standards. They're all yellow. It's hard to tell, though. What do you all think?

[blackwatch70]

I replied you in other thread.

it's pipe-major of 2nd Seaforth.

regards,
Mikhail

[Michael Weatherhead]

I replied you in other thread.

it's pipe-major of 2nd Seaforth.

regards,
Mikhail

Thanks for your info. I'll look them up. I don't know enough about the particulars, of the regiments (accessories, etc). I just enjoy learning about their development, and their place in history. Plus, their outfits look so cool. Not the usual British red coats. Hey, any idea why so many British/Scottish units wore such a tall hat, made from bearskin? What was the idea behind that, I wonder?

[terry m]

Bearskin hats were first worn by Napoleons' Imperial Guard. The idea being that they made the soldier appear tall and intimidating. They were first worn by British Guard regiments at the battle of Waterloo. They were taken from the heads of dead French Guards. In 1831 bearskins were permitted to be worn by the Scots Dragoon Guards and the Honourable Artillery Company.
Bearskins are not to be confused with the smaller fur busby as worn by Hussar Regiments and Royal Horse Artillery.
Incidentally bearskins could soon be phased out from Guards regiments as they are currently looking for a more "PC" replacement.

[Macman]

Also, bearskins should not be confused with the feather bonnets worn by many Highland regiments. They are quite a different piece of headgear. Here is our band wearing feather bonnets.

[Michael Weatherhead]

Thanks. How interesting. I was watching a youtube video once, about a regimental pipe band that wears white polar bear fur. During a visit from Pres Reagan, he presented them with a polar bear skin, to use, for more hats. I read about how the black bearskins are obtained. Through legal, controlled hunts, in Western Canada. But leave it to good ole PETA, along with their useful idiots (singers and actresses), to butt in, and tear down traditions. I wish they would, as author Laura Ingraham once said, "Shut up and sing." and, "Shut up and act." They always have something to say, don't they?

[OC Richard]

Yes that postcard shows the Pipe Major of the 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. The Seaforth Highlanders were formed in 1881 (as part of a major overhaul of the entire Army) by the amalgamation of the 72nd Highlanders (who wore Prince Charles Edward Stuart tartan trews) and the 78th Highlanders (who wore MacKenzie tartan kilts).

The new Seaforth Highlanders retained more of the kit of the parent regiments than did the other new Highland regiments, wearing both collar badges, and the Pipes & Drums of each battalion having somewhat different uniforms. The main differences was that the Pipers of the 1st battalion wore silver hardware and had white hair sporrans while the pipers of the 2nd battalion wore gilt hardware and had brown-grey sporrans.

Here are more pics of the Pipe Major of the 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders









Here are the two sets of collar badges:





Interesting is how the Pipe Major of the 2nd battalion wore an officer's sword belt plate on his crossbelt in addition to the normal crossbelt hardware.