Highland regiments sporran chart

[OC Richard]

Thanks for that photo! I'd not seen that one.

Here's a pre-amalgamation photo, I'm supposing it's the Pipe Major of the 93rd Foot.



Here's the Pipe Major (far left) and pipers of the 91st Foot in 1872, which became 1st Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in 1881.

The PM looks like he's wearing the same crossbelt hardware as the 1st Battalion PM above.



I don't have a clear photo of the Pipers' sporran cantle, in this painting it just might be the same cantle which is later seen worn by the PM and DM of the 2nd Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.



It makes sense, to keep the same sporran but change from six short tassels to three long ones. (The holes would already be in the right places.)

Question is, when the rest of the 2nd Battalion pipers got the grey sporrans, were they two-tassel, or three? I've seen old photos of Argylls pipers wearing both sorts.

[blackwatch70]

Thanks for that photo! I'd not seen that one.

Here's a pre-amalgamation photo, I'm supposing it's the Pipe Major of the 93rd Foot.




I don't have a clear photo of the Pipers' sporran cantle, in this painting it just might be the same cantle which is later seen worn by the PM and DM of the 2nd Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.



It makes sense, to keep the same sporran but change from six short tassels to three long ones. (The holes would already be in the right places.)

Yes You are correct, this is pre-amalgamation photo of the Pipe Major of the 93rd Foot.

Here is detailed photo of Piper 1st A&SH some time after amalgamation, he's wearing new regimental collar dogs but old 91st pipers uniform.
Sure You have seen this photo...

[OC Richard]

Here is detailed photo of Piper 1st A&SH some time after amalgamation, he's wearing new regimental collar dogs but old 91st pipers uniform.
Sure You have seen this photo...

No I haven't seen that! Thanks!

I've seen photos of 1st Battalion A&SH enlisted men and officers wearing trews, which as you say is understandable because they were overseas at the time of amalgamation.

And likewise it makes total sense for the pipers to be in old 91st kit until they had a chance to change over.

Did the pipers of the 91st really have a red stripe in their tartan? Barnes gives "Campell tartan" for the 1864 granting of trews and plaids to the 91st (but he says the 72nd wore Dress Stuart, so who can say).

[blackwatch70]

Did the pipers of the 91st really have a red stripe in their tartan? Barnes gives "Campell tartan" for the 1864 granting of trews and plaids to the 91st (but he says the 72nd wore Dress Stuart, so who can say).

I think so, is there any doubt?

"The year 1864 was a landmark in the annals of the regiment. It was remembered by many others not connected with the regiment because of the newspaper correspondence that ensued in regard to the “Campbell tartan.” No one seemed to know exactly which was the set used by the original members of the 91st, although, as it turned out, the only one who was right was the Duke of Argyll. The consensus of opinion by those deemed most expert was in favour of the set showing the red stripe, which, though resembling too closely the tartan of the Atholls, the old enemy of the Campbells, was the tartan adopted and used by the 91st until their union with the 93rd."

https://electricscotland.com/history...seandwar17.htm

[figheadair]

Did the pipers of the 91st really have a red stripe in their tartan? Barnes gives "Campell tartan" for the 1864 granting of trews and plaids to the 91st (but he says the 72nd wore Dress Stuart, so who can say).

Richard, not specifically pipers but you'll recall that we discussed the 91st tartan in a previous thread - here.

[OC Richard]

Here's something that doesn't come up often, a Cameron Highlanders Officers undress sporran.

It's the same as the Other Ranks sporran but with a high-quality Sterling Silver badge.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/235671992859

[blackwatch70]

Question is, when the rest of the 2nd Battalion pipers got the grey sporrans, were they two-tassel, or three? I've seen old photos of Argylls pipers wearing both sorts.

I think pipers of both battalions were officially supplied grey sporrans with 3 black tassels just after amalgamation 1881 but as we can see pipers of the 1st Battalion still wore old pattern sporrans some time (I suppose because in 1881 the 1st Battalion served in South Africa whilst the 2nd Battalion remained in the UK until 1892 and it is obvious that in this case of abroad battalion changing small elements of the uniform could take a long time).

One more 1st Battn piper (ex 91st ) still wearing 91st pattern dirk but new sporran.


Pipers of 93rd probably wore 2 tassels sporrans before 1881 amalgamation




and changed to 3-tassels just after.