which bonnet

[Leprechaun 91]

I wear my Bal often and like my Glengarry. (I do think of the Glengarry as being more military in appearance.)

I have albinism and am very sensitive to bright lights; as such I often opt for a hat with a proper brim. (My Indiana Jones hat.) This shields my eyes sufficiently when the sun is unbearable. (Like panache and his Pyth helmet.) I have, yes, been known to wear and Ivy cap as well. (gasp! )

I guess it is a result of the prevailing climate of the Highlands that there never was a hat adopted for Sun. That the weather is so cold and windy for the winters, it is equally surprising that no hat was adopted that might cover the ears.

You will have a hard time spotting me in a kilt with a ball cap however. Nothing aginst it on other gents but it is not my preference for myself.

I love the way the old Guard shaped their Balmoral Bonnets though. Once can see how they evolved into the Glengarry. It makes me think of the way US sailors shaped their "Dixie Cups" by putting "Wings" on them. Or how they wore them at Rakich angles. (STYLE) Knowing the rules but chosing to modify to personal taste.

WW2 sailors Hat Shape and Angle.jpg
Dixie Cup back of head.jpg

[ForresterModern]

If you have one, why not switch to the formal all purpose Argyll jacket and waistcoat, still formal enough but somewhat more comfortable going from inside to outside, and much more tolerant in appearence to wear with any headwear you choose.

If you are going to wear headwear (regardless of what jacket you choose) personally I default to a Balmoral or Tam in an attractive color, black would be appropriate given the black jackets requested.

[OC Richard]

I wear my Bal often and like my Glengarry.

I'm with you there, I have a nice Mackey of each style and I go back and forth. (Both are black, and I wear them with a black Argyll or Lovat Tweed Argyll equally.)

I have albinism and am very sensitive to bright lights; as such I often opt for a hat with a proper brim. (My Indiana Jones hat.)

My dermatologist is all over me about protection, and I've taken it to heart, wearing brimmed hats whenever I'm in the sun. Baseball hats don't protect the ears and back of the neck, so after a lifetime of wearing them I've switched to Tilley-style hats in hot weather and Trilby-style hats (Henry Jones Senior) the rest of the time.

Here are my tweed hats. I wear the one on the left, with the wide brim, every day. It's amazingly practical, keeping off rain and sun and keeping the head warm when it's chilly. The one with the narrow brim is pretty useless (I'm going to put it up on Ebay soon).

I guess it is a result of the prevailing climate of the Highlands that there never was a hat adopted for Sun.

Yes indeed, so when Highland soldiers went to sunny climes (beginning around 1800) they had to adapt, first by putting visors on their Feather Bonnets, then by adopting Pith Helmets, and later Bush Hats.

What I find amazing is that in the present day, when we have so much information about skin cancer, that current Highland soldiers are serving in very hot sunny climes wearing only their bonnets. Their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, if they were Highland soldiers from the 19th century up through the 1930s, would have worn pith helmets in these sunny places.

[Peter Crowe]

Yes indeed, so when Highland soldiers went to sunny climes (beginning around 1800) they had to adapt, first by putting visors on their Feather Bonnets, then by adopting Pith Helmets, and later Bush Hats.

What I find amazing is that in the present day, when we have so much information about skin cancer, that current Highland soldiers are serving in very hot sunny climes wearing only their bonnets. Their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, if they were Highland soldiers from the 19th century up through the 1930s, would have worn pith helmets in these sunny places.

These days they often wear MTP (Multi Terrain Pattern) bush hats with wide brims in theatre when not wearing their Kevlar helmets. They maybe wear the TOS on parade but footage I've seen of the Jocks in Helmand had them either in the bush hats or helmets when a potential existed for a contact with the Taliban.

[carlisle401]

OC Richard, I completely agree with your headdress for wearing with your tweed jacket, very stylist.

Because of the extreme heat here in Arizona especially in the summer, I find it better to wear a bush hat when wearing just a shirt and kilt for casual wear. My Hunting Stewart tartan patch is positioned in the same place as when wearing a TOS.
IMG_0874.JPG

Most times when you see a Scottish Infantry today in hot climates today, they are wearing their TOS or Glengarry. This is mostly for photos to show they are RRoS. On operations it is their helmet or depending on type of operation the Bush hat (recce etc). 1 RRS are in Cyprus on UN duties and they wear a blue beret for this duty.

All Scottish Infantry soldiers have been trained at the same place since 1969 and for the past 13 year all British Infantry soldiers are trained in England. In reality they are no Highland or Lowland soldiers, just Scottish Infantry soldiers.

[Lady Grey]

Since the thread has moved on to sun protection I thought I add this from the photos I took yesterday


They are Barmah hats, I think it would be rather simple to add a cockade and badge if that was your style.
Another pipe band had them worn 'slouch hat' style with the badge holding up the side (not great for sun protection) and a hat band of matching kilt tartan. (I think it was St Johns Ambulance )

[OC Richard]

These days they often wear MTP (Multi Terrain Pattern) bush hats with wide brims in theatre when not wearing their Kevlar helmets.

Very glad to hear that!

I've seen countless photos of Scottish soldiers in the desert war zone in the blazing sun wearing their TOS. Particularly useless in the sun are the tiny Black Watch pattern ones. Good to know they've moved on to more protection.

About the Barmah hats, I'd not heard of them. I have seen Scottish Aussies wearing these, which in my opinion look great with the kilt



Here are Scottish soldiers in the Boer War with various sorts of protection



Perhaps the most smart-looking is this sort of hat, which here in the USA we call the "Montana Peak". It has a long history with military, police, and Boy Scout use here in North America- our soldiers went off to war in 1917 wearing them, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police wear them, as do many police agencies in the USA.

This Kiwi looks like he means business.



BTW what is the name of the Aussie pipe band there? I notice that one piper is playing the piobaireachd High A fingering, interesting. That band's whole kit is a mix of military-ish and civilian things, which used to be very common with pipe bands here, but is fairly rare nowadays. I can make out "MacLeod" on their bass drum, and they appear to be wearing the Allen Brothers tartan they named that. Their sporrans are wonderfully retro, looking like something right out of the early-to-mid 19th century.

Here's a band here in the USA with hats not unlike your Barmah hats

[Lady Grey]

Barmah is the brand name
http://www.barmahhats.com.au

Bush hat would be another term, Barmah is well known for having different materials available in the same or similar style.
As opposed to the Akubra brand which is usually made of fur felt (rabbit) and is similar in style to a cowboy hat.
It's just one of those regional quirks in language and the usage of the item.

[OC Richard]

Barmah is the brand name
http://www.barmahhats.com.au

Bush hat would be another term, Barmah is well known for having different materials available in the same or similar style.
As opposed to the Akubra brand which is usually made of fur felt (rabbit) and is similar in style to a cowboy hat.
It's just one of those regional quirks in language and the usage of the item.

Thanks for the info!

It's like the sort of hat we here sometimes call a "Tilley hat". Tilley is just one company that makes a variety of hats, and we use the term out of convenience (because they're not really "Cowboy hats").

Here's the actual Tilley site where you can see the sorts of hats we might call that

http://www.tilley.com/us_en/men/hats

Here is Yours Truly (centre, in Tilley hat) and fellow XMarkers at the Sacramento Highland Games, showing the sort of Highland Dress we've adopted here due to the brutal sun

[Lady Grey]

OC Richard
Clan Mcleod pipe band Bendigo
A Google search shows their Facebook page, etc.
As to the pipes, tartan and other details I have noooooo idea but I'm sure if you contact them they will be happy to answer questions.
This may help
https://www.ourcommunity.com.au/dire...sting?id=36683