Originally Posted by
svc40bt
As I said before, this topic seems to come up frequently here, and to bring out strong opinions, especially by those against. So I was thinking about it while doing other things. I came back to check on it, looked at the various pics posted, and thought that the one Ron posted with the tweed argyle looked good, but would look better with a crail.
So I was wondering to myself why I thought that. Started with the English vs. Scottish theory. The argyle looking more 'Scottish', but no that wasn't it. Then it occured to me that the argyle looked military, while the crail looked civilian. As far as I know, my comment about wearing TOS to resemble a flat cap notwithstanding, no military has ever used a flat cap as uniform headgear. This would apply to the bucket hat as well.
All the 'traditional' highland gear is derived from military uniforms; the jackets with gauntlet cuffs or whatever the extra material on the sleeve of a PC is called, the numerous buttons, the scalloped pocket flaps, are all derived from 19th century military uniform jackets. The balmoral is very military looking, even if it is not 'ironed and starched'. The flat cap, or bucket hat could not be made to look 'sharp' for a military review.
Not so: Some English regiments in the Great War (14-19) wore what was called a Gor Blimey which can be veiwed at http://www.kaisersbunker.com/ceftp/caps.htm was a flat cap. I can't find any pictures but locally produced Gor Blimeys where even more so:
The 'Eathen in his idleness bows down to wood and stone,
'E don't obey no orders unless they is his own,
He keeps his side arms awful,
And he leaves them all about,
Until up comes the Regiment and kicks the 'Eathen out.
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