Zulu Dawn and Glengarries

[Benning Boy]

I stayed up late last night to watch Zulu Dawn on TCM. I'm a Peter O'Toole fan, and try to watch everything he's been in, even an peculiar one or two.

In the movie buglers and other musicians are shown wearing Glengarries. In fact, buglers seem to be wearing black glens, and musicians briefly seen on a bandstand are wearing red ones with white ribbons. The 24th Foot, later to become the South Wales Borderers, are the key unit portrayed in the film, and they have no historical connection to Scotland, so why were the musicians wearing glens?

An online search turned up a few pics of members of the 24th wearing the bonnets, but none had the musicians shells on their shoulders.

Whazupwitdat?

[StevieR]

The glengarry was typical of the undress uniform of the British infantryman at that time, as illustrated by this picture of some of the survivors of Rourke's Drift:

survivors.jpg

[Tarheel]

Glengarrys and garrison caps were the "service/field" headdress of the times for many off duty military services. Thanks Steve for the photo.

[Cardinal]

"I'm Jack."

If you like black humor, put O'Toole's"The Ruling Class" into your queue.

VERY dark, but fun for somebody like you. And, as always Coral Browne looks amazing, despite advancing years.

Regards,
Cardinal