Appropriateness of regimental brooch

[TravisMcGuire]

Howdy,
I've been reading this forum for years, but finally had a question for which I couldn't find an answer, so I joined up.
I've been wearing a great kilt regularly for nearly ten years now (by regularly, I mean on a weekly basis.) I know some on this forum are wary of the "costumey" aspect of the belted plaid, but I wear mine for specific reasons (It was a gift from an older relative. At 6' & 350lbs, it fits and looks better than anything I've ever tried on.), and have found that with practice, good folding, and secure belts and brooches, it is no more inconvenient than my tuxedos (which I also regularly wear). Plus, as a professional opera singer, people expect me to dress rather dramatically, and I find that the bp has greatly enhanced my public persona. But that's not really my question, so let's leave the discussions on bp and fp's to the many other places they're covered on the forum.
My question comes because I was in a junk shop the other day and came across a fantastic plaid brooch for just $7. A little research shows that it's a nearly century-old NCO's brooch from the Highland Light Infantry and worth around $200-300.
While I obstinately wear a bp in defiance of sanity and taste, I've always accessorized it very conservatively. Would it be appropriate to use this brooch? Keep in mind that my outfit is obviously not a military uniform and tha the regiment was absorbed into another and hasn't existed since 1959 (so even if I were the very last recruit they ever had, I'd be in my early seventies. I look old for my age of 30, but not that old.)
I guess what I'm saying is, would people see it as a beautiful brooch worn to show my respect for a regiment that fought at Waterloo and both World Wars, or as a pretentious and inappropriate appropriation of symbols not pertaining to myself?
I hope that my concern in this regard shows that I do take these matters very seriously.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and suggestions.

[Jock Scot]

Its a fair question and thank you for asking. I can only voice a British view. Until there are no longer any retired HLI left, then it would be best if it stayed in the drawer. If you did not serve in the Regiment then you do not wear the insignia is the general British view.

[ASinclair]

Hello, Travis!



And, yea, don't wear it.

[Downunder Kilt]

I hold the same view as the above posts, if you have no connection with the regiment, I think it is better not to wear it. Cheers

[TravisMcGuire]

That's what I suspected and why I asked. Looks like its the antiques display case for this one.
Thanks

[TravisMcGuire]

And at least my antiques display case is a better fate than the box of random bits of metal I found it in at the junk store.

[TravisMcGuire]

In case anyone's curious. The light in my apartment makes it look gold-toned, but it's white metal.
20140207_181459.jpg

[Nathan]

I agree with Jock and the others about wearing military kit one is not entitled to. It should certainly be avoided. Thanks for having the class to ask and care about the response. Also, welcome aboard.

[jetstar63]

Travis, In army basic training, I earned an EMT Basic pin. The certification was good for only two years. I did not wear it after that.

[JohntheBiker]

Hello Travis, and welcome. I agree with the others and think that you made the right choice.