Is the 78th Regiment tartan mystery finally solved?

[Jeffrey]

Fascinating research!

Isn't Red Fraser pretty much the Government Tartan with colour-changes?

Did that tartan exist in 1757?

Was there any tartan called "Fraser" at that time?

Great questions, Richard, and I will let the experts answer those.

There were three Highland Battalions sent to North America in 1757: the 42nd Regiment, 77th Regiment, and 78th Regiment. And while it is known the men of the 42nd and 77th wore the government tartan, questions arose about which plaid Colonel Fraser's 78th Regiment wore, because no official documentation has ever been uncovered stating either way. I do not know when those questions first started (again, the experts can probably answer), but I am aware of the plaid being questioned in J.R. Harper's book,The Fraser Highlanders, written in 1979.

In 2017, when I started my website dedicated to the 78th Regiment, I began receiving email questions from inquisitive researchers about which plaid was worn. Hence, in 2020, is when I knuckled down and started scouring the archives in London and Edinburgh for answers. The research finally led to the two letter snippets I received last week and provided in my post.

And with the research on this topic previously completed by Mr. Macdonald, I firmly believe all three Highland regiments wore the same government plaid.

Regards,
Jeffrey

[figheadair]

Great questions, Richard, and I will let the experts answer those.

There were three Highland Battalions sent to North America in 1757: the 42nd Regiment, 77th Regiment, and 78th Regiment. And while it is known the men of the 42nd and 77th wore the government tartan, questions arose about which plaid Colonel Fraser's 78th Regiment wore, because no official documentation has ever been uncovered stating either way. I do not know when those questions first started (again, the experts can probably answer), but I am aware of the plaid being questioned in J.R. Harper's book,The Fraser Highlanders, written in 1979.

In 2017, when I started my website dedicated to the 78th Regiment, I began receiving email questions from inquisitive researchers about which plaid was worn. Hence, in 2020, is when I knuckled down and started scouring the archives in London and Edinburgh for answers. The research finally led to the two letter snippets I received last week and provided in my post.

And with the research on this topic previously completed by Mr. Macdonald, I firmly believe all three Highland regiments wore the same government plaid.

Regards,
Jeffrey

Agreed. I have absolutely no doubt that they all wore the Government tartan.