Tyneside Scottish piper uniform 1914-18

[OC Richard]

Going down the rabbithole a bit, looking over whatever photos and information I can find on the Great War battalions of the Tyneside Scottish.

From what I read (I'm no military history expert) four battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers were raised as part of "Kitchener's Army" in 1914 designated

20th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Scottish)
21st (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Scottish)
22nd (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (3rd Tyneside Scottish)
23rd (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (4th Tyneside Scottish)

The request to be kilted battalions was refused, however each battalion was allowed a Pipes & Drums.

Here are five pipers showing that the sporran, crossbelt, waistbelt, and plaid brooch remained the same through the battalions but that at least three different tartans were used:

-Shepherd Check
-Campbell of Loudoun
-a bespoke tartan, now known as "Tyneside".

This last was Black Watch with these colour-changes:

Black > khaki drab, tan, or mid-brown
Blue > left blue, or changed to deep walnut brown
Green > left green but sometimes a lighter shade not unlike Sutherland.

From what I can find out the colours varied, perhaps from bolt to bolt.

Here the centre piper appears to be wearing the bespoke "Tyneside" tartan, while the piper 2nd from right appears to be wearing Campbell of Loudoun.

The others as you see are wearing Shepherds Check. Note that the hose-tops vary according to the tartan.

Also note that four of the five have tunics with a wide cutaway in front like officer's tunics, and that most of the tunics have musician's shells, which is unusual for the khaki drab Service Dress tunic.



The question is, which battalion's pipers wore which tartan, and when?

I've read that the "Tyneside" tartan was created in 1914.

I've also read that it was created in 1916, the pipers wearing either Shepherds Check or Campbell of Loudoun from 1914 until the new kilts and plaids (and hosetops) were issued.

One source stated

1st: Shepherds Check
2nd: Campbell of Loudoun
3rd: unknown
4th: Cambell of Loudoun.

In any case here's a Tyneside Scottish plaid brooch (1st battalion), Pipes & Drums (3rd battalion) apparently wearing the Tyneside tartan, a piper (unknown battalion) apparently wearing the Tyneside tartan, and an image I found online of that tartan.



Here's the Tyneside Scottish tartan image (which I cannot vouch for the accuracy of) compared to Black Watch (in "ancient colours" the better to see the sett)



This kilt certainly appears to be the Tyneside Scottish tartan. What's interesting is that it bears the full Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders kilt panel and rosettes.



Here's a photo Peter posted, said to be a Tyneside Scottish kilt. I don't know what to make of the areas which would be green- are they the same blue as the blue areas? Or a dark green?