Appropriateness of regimental brooch

[BobsYourUncle]

You may already have the information, but your Highland Light Infantry plaid brooch can be dated based upon the configuration of the crown at the top of the design. The crown is known as a "King's Crown", signifying King Edward, who succeeded Queen Victoria January 22, 1901, and for purposes of certain Regimental insignia, the "King's Crown" continued in wear through the reigns of Kings George V and VI, until the accession of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952.

Accordingly, your HLI plaid brooch is of the design in wear from 1902 to 1952, through both World Wars. Further dating could be accomplished by reference to the battle honours set forth in the scrolls around the inner ring.

See Badges of the Highland and Lowland Regiments (Including Volunteer and Territorial Battalions), Bloomer, East Dulwich, 1982, pp. 51-63.

The approximate value you state is fairly accurate, but it could fetch higher at auction depending on current demand.

As to the question of wearing it, you have a sampling of opinion here already.

As a piper, and reenactor of Scottish regiments, I wear Regimental insignia while portraying a particular regiment.

I take meticulous care that all elements of material culture are correctly represented, that things from other regiments are not mixed in, and that the articles included all are appropriate to the same time period--in other words, no Edwardian, or King's Crown belt locket set when portraying a Victorian soldier, whose locket set would have a "Queens' Crown", no buttons from the French and Indian era on kit worn representing the American Revolutionary War time period, and so on for EVERY bit of kit. In a reenacting context, wearing your brooch in a pattern that pertained from 1902 to 1952 with an 18th century style Great Kilt would cause the TARDIS to spew...

That being said, there are a number of vendors that sell wonderful, and not very expensive, plaid brooches that would be wonderful with a Great Kilt. And generally a lot less expensive than an original Regimental pattern....

Whatever you decide to do with your HLI brooch, start a collection of HLI brooches and badges, heave it in a drawer...enjoy! Be well!

[RLDaily]

This has been accepted as official badge/brooch and Regimental Colors of the Highland Cavalry Regiment that I belong to.

[BBNC]

The only military-related items I might wear are my US Navy Veteran pin, the miniature decorations authorized for civilian dress wear, or a Navy Regimental tie which is unofficial anyway. Actually when wearing any tie, I often use the veteran's pin as a tie tack.

BBNC

[creagdhubh]

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.

This should be a general American view as well, but sadly in some cases, it is not. As a U.S. Marine, I take great offence when an individual wears on their person, the Eagle, Globe and Anchor (EGA) insignia and is not a U.S. Marine.

[RLDaily]

As a US Marine I get a tad upset as well when a non-Marine wears something I earned for all eternity

[BBNC]

This should be a general American view as well, but sadly in some cases, it is not. As a U.S. Marine, I take great offence when an individual wears on their person, the Eagle, Globe and Anchor (EGA) insignia and is not a U.S. Marine.

Unfortunately, parents aren't teaching their kids what is and isn't proper, and apparently most don't seem to care. Case in point: I was a scout leader for many years, and was appalled at how many scouts were wearing camouflage clothing with US Military insignia and badges of rank at campouts. The cammies were less of an issue, because few of our scouts had sufficient uniforms to wear both at home and at camp.


BBNC

[jhockin]

Whatever the OP decides to do, I have a related "issue" to ask about: I made a RCAF tartan kilt, in part, to honour my identical twin uncles, who were Spitfire pilots ( mostly flew in RAF squadrons ), and bought an RCAF cap badge, that I use as a kilt pin, on this kilt. I checked the RCAF website, which states that any family member is OK to wear the tartan.
What is the rabbles opinion, about using the cap badge, as a kilt pin?
100_1049.jpg

[ThistleDown]

Jerry, I think you should proudly wear the RCAF tartan, but put the cap badge in a display case with its own swatch of tartan and not on your kilt. The tartan is not an 'owned' symbol, as is so often discussed here, but things such as badges and medals are best left to those who have earned them. We had a lengthy discussion on regimental ties on the forum a few years ago when there were a few members wearing them 'in honour of' regiments. There were members then who actually were or had been in those regiments and did not consider it an 'honour' but an affront that others were wearing them.

So we don't go too far off-topic here, if you have pics of your twin uncles it would be fantastic to see them in a separate thread in Miscellaneous. The connection between the RCAF and the RAF is deserving of a shelfful of books and not just a sentence or two in passing.

Rex.ThistleDown