Canadian Company

[macwilkin]

I don't know how many times I've seen this particular story about dicing, especially on the Internet, yet I have never found any evidence for it -- no documentation at all.

Look at the Black Watch -- the old Independent Highland Companies organized in 1723 -- if this really were the case, then you would think that they would have diced headgear.

Also, I don't buy the "loyalty to Protestantism" business, since a fair number (but not all) Highlanders were Roman Catholic (or Episcopalian). Yes, some of the Lowland Regiments do wear diced glengarries -- but by that logic, the old Cameronians, the most militant "Protestant" Lowland regiment (raised by the followers of the Covenanter Richard Cameron) would be decked out in dicing!

And as far as commissioned officers not wearing dicing, The officers of the Argylls certainly do, the most famous being Col. "Mad Mitch" Mitchell who fought in Aden in the 1960's -- and if you look through the photo gallery of the various uniforms of the new Royal Regiment of Scotland, you'll see a number of officers wearing diced glengarries:

http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regt...ss_details.htm

Same with the Calgary Highlanders, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, the Royal Scots, etc.

Regards,

Todd

Thanks for the site lising. Also, it may be an additional source for future kilts. I've now learned what a caubeen is.

I have a navy balmoral without dicing, since commissioned officers apparently don't wear the dicing. I may purchase a non-diced glengarry or two from this site as well.

Historical note re: dicing: is that it represents support for England. What's your historical take on diced balmorals and glengarries?

"Opinion: The "Orange" in William of Orange represents Williams origins (Dutch "Orange" party, eventually to become the house of Hanover), and any Scot who wears the "diced" Balmoral hat with red checkered pattern, is saying essentially that they, support William's British (now more English than Scottish) government -- English domination of their own Scottish traditions. Most think it means a loyalty to Protestanism. "
http://www.scottish-history.com/glencoe.shtml