Colonel in a Highland Regiment

[JSFMACLJR]

Perhaps, Nathan, you are referring to the Colonel of a Highland regiment having his ensigns armorial ( if he indeed he is armigerous ) borne by the Pipe Major on a pipe banner.

[JohntheBiker]

Perhaps, Nathan, you are referring to the Colonel of a Highland regiment having his ensigns armorial ( if he indeed he is armigerous ) borne by the Pipe Major on a pipe banner.

I have seen the Colonel's clan badge on the Pipe Major's pipe banner - former C.O. of the 48th Highlanders, Lt. Col. MacEwen - recognized the MacEwen badge (married one of those).

[Nathan]

I think I was told Colonels could wear a single eagle feather in their bonnet due to the fact that their command of a certain number of Highlanders was similar to an armiger or perhaps even a chieftain. Again, I'm vague on the details and was hoping someone else may be familiar with this convention.

[Chas]

I think someone has been pulling your leg, Nathan. Uniform is after all uniform and Queens Regulations, like US Army Regulations cover it.

Not all Peers and children of Peers in the British forces become officers.

I was in basic training with a Right Honourable James Golding (son of a Peer); was 'walking out' with a WRAF who was a Right Honourable Lady Jane (but was known as Bubbles); I was in-charge of training a SAC who was a Viscount (in his own right, not a curtsey title). None of them were accorded any exception to the uniform regulations.

[Nathan]

I think someone has been pulling your leg, Nathan. Uniform is after all uniform and Queens Regulations, like US Army Regulations cover it.

Not all Peers and children of Peers in the British forces become officers.

I was in basic training with a Right Honourable James Golding (son of a Peer); was 'walking out' with a WRAF who was a Right Honourable Lady Jane (but was known as Bubbles); I was in-charge of training a SAC who was a Viscount (in his own right, not a curtsey title). None of them were accorded any exception to the uniform regulations.

Fair point, but the people I heard this from weren't talking about uniform regulations. They were talking about individuals who have achieved the rank of Colonel in a Highland Regiments being entitled to a similar feathers with their civilian Highland attire. The idea being that the Colonel of a Highland Regiment earned similar status to that which a Scottish chieftain inherits.

[figheadair]

Fair point, but the people I heard this from weren't talking about uniform regulations. They were talking about individuals who have achieved the rank of Colonel in a Highland Regiments being entitled to a similar feathers with their civilian Highland attire. The idea being that the Colonel of a Highland Regiment earned similar status to that which a Scottish chieftain inherits.

I've never heard of it and I was one. But then again, I don't wear a bonnet unless it rains and I certainly woudn't wear eagle feathers which are a post-Culloden adoption/affectation.

[Nathan]

I've never heard of it and I was one. But then again, I don't wear a bonnet unless it rains and I certainly woudn't wear eagle feathers which are a post-Culloden adoption/affectation.

This is a really interesting article about feathers in bonnets that I found online. It doesn't mention Colonels, however, it does mention Clan society commissioners in their own jurisdiction which I had not seen.

http://www.clanstrachan.org/trust/li...hers_Agnew.pdf

[SlackerDrummer]

I've never heard of it and I was one. But then again, I don't wear a bonnet unless it rains and I certainly woudn't wear eagle feathers which are a post-Culloden adoption/affectation.

But isn't all traditional highland attire a post-Culloden adoption?

[Chas]

Thanks for clarifying. But I still think it is fantasy rather than fact. There is no entitlement, only convention and accepted manner of behaviour.

If for no other reason that we are talking about career soldiers, who know 'The Rules'. Three feathers for The Chief; two feathers for a Chieftain; one feather for an armiger. If they were not a Chief, Chieftain nor Armiger, I cannot see them being crass enough to wear feathers.

[Lon Scot Reg Secretary]

Gents,

Chas is correct. All British and Commonwealth Army officers hold the Queen's commission and are therefore gentlemen by right (And an act of parliament, unlike Naval Officers). The status of an Armiger is also a 'noble' one and therefore as 'a gentleman'. Wearing feathers is a tradition in Scottish law and, as Chas says, "The rules (are clear) Three feathers for The Chief; two feathers for a Chieftain; one feather for an armiger". This has nothing to do with Army dress regulations.

Having said that, I am sure that if the Colonel or any other Officer of a Highland Regiment were to apply to The Lord Lyon for a Grant of Arms, I am sure that their status would be taken into consideration.

In days of old, and we are talking 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries, most Colonels of Scottish regiments WERE Clan Chiefs in their own right, and therefore had the right anyway. Maybe this is where the confusion has started.

Any Commissioned officer who has a grant of Arms can have a pipe banner made and presented to his piper or to the pipe band depending on the regimental tradition. We have many pipers who fly such banners. One side would be the Officer's Arms, and on the other the Regimental badge or crest.

I have heard someone talk about this exact same subject previously, and I was able to put him right. This chap does, however, live in a rather strange, small world of his own with a purple sky and three moons, and dreams up all sorts of stuff like this without any substance.