Help identifying a Regiment please

**Jock Scot** · 23rd August 17, 07:13 AM

My old eyes are struggling with the picture and if the kilts have no tartan pattern, then I wonder whether the London Scottish might be a thought?

**MacRob** · 23rd August 17, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

My old eyes are struggling with the picture and if the kilts have no tartan pattern, then I wonder whether the London Scottish might be a thought?

There is a sett in the tartan so it is not hodden grey. I tried to scope out the badge but there is no detail, of course. So, got out John Gaylor's book on badge collecting and leafed through some of the Scottish regimental badges. It may be Liverpool Scottish, if that is the badge on the cantle of the sporran. It was the only one which seemed like it would resemble what is in the photo, with limited detail. But they did wear diced bonnets and these chaps do not.

**figheadair** · 23rd August 17, 09:56 AM

I've enhanced the image as best I can. The kilts are deinitely tartan which looks to have the Government 2/4 arrangement, I don't see any evidence of lighter stripes so that would rule out Gordons, Seaforths, Liverpool Scottish (wore Forbes) and the like. So, more likely undifference Government tartan. The other elements may help identify the regiment.

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**figheadair** · 23rd August 17, 10:55 AM

Found it - 5th (Deeside) Volunteer Battalion Gordon Highlanders which was renumbered as the 7th Bn under the Haldane Reforms of 1908.

I'm still not sure what tartan they are wearing. One would automatically assume it woud be Gordon but in this picture of an officer from the 3rd (The Buchan) Bn he is wearing a plaid of Gordon but his trews are Government/Black Watch tartan.

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**OC Richard** · 24th August 17, 05:39 AM

Here's the photo cropped in order to make it larger, and the values enhanced a bit.

It's very interesting, the round badges (like clan crest badges, note the thing sticking out on the bottom) on sporran and Glengarries.

Note that the trim and the buttons on the doublets are dark, and the waistbelt buckles are subdued. My guess would be that these doublets are made in the style of Rifles regiments, in Rifles green. Or perhaps the doublets are drab like those of The Liverpool Scottish. Also note that there is no dicing on the Glengarries, another Rifles style thing.

I found this photo online of a "Scottish Rifles" doublet. To me it appears to be similar to the ones above, though this is an officer's doublet with more trim:

This picture is inscribed "H Coy 7th G. H. leaving for war 6/8/14". Note that the uniform appears to be like The Gordon Highlanders in most/all visible respects: standard Gordon sporrans, Gordon diced Glengarries, Gordon (or Gordon-like) cap badges

**MacRob** · 24th August 17, 07:48 AM

The badges on the sporrans are much clearer with the enhancements to the photo and I can see the device now, that of the Gordon Highlanders. Excellent work to get the question answered.

**48HofC** · 24th August 17, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by MacRob

The badges on the sporrans are much clearer with the enhancements to the photo and I can see the device now, that of the Gordon Highlanders. Excellent work to get the question answered.

I agree with you they are Gordon's. I actually have both versions of that badge, one is a relief cut out stags head, and the other is solid. It is pre ww1 when there was more independence for volunteer battalions from the parent regiments. The rifle regiments similarities could come from the fact they were raised as a independent rifle company before falling under the Gordon's.