Nice Balmorals

[Graham]

Mine arrived last week, good product, good price and good service (even to Australia).
Here is what I ordered.

[McClef]

And when you add a badge and hackle they look really good!

[Hamish]

Very similar, Gray, to my recently acquired Balmoral (as seen in my new avatar). Mine is their WWI Canadian Khaki - a more serviceable colour, I thought. I have to agree that, for the price and prompt service, it seems GlengarryHats.com cannot be beaten.

As you know I am NOT a hat wearer but, since growing the beard, I think I can (just) get away with the Balmoral - but not yet in public!!

PS: The 'badge' I wear on it is one of the first generation X Marks kilt pins!

[Dirk Skene]

looks good!

[PiobBear]

Wow; that's a great price for a balmoral, and kudo's for not getting a common black one; I like rifle green.

And when you add a badge and hackle they look really good!

If you're thinking of a feather hackle, you might want to carefully consider that "Hackles are generally awarded to regiments for battle honours or a special reason. Serious consideration and research should be given prior to being worn by a civilian..." (drummajor.net). For instance, the red hackle was awarded to the Black Watch as a battle honor commemorating their bravery on 4 January 1795, where during a rear guard action before Guildermalson, Holland, French cavalry routed the British picket line, capturing two field pieces. The 42nd Regiment immediately charged and retook the guns, dragging the cannon back to British lines by hand under heavy fire.
The Canadian Royal Highland Regiment was awarded their red hackle following the strategic victory at Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917 where the Canadian Expeditionary Force had captured more ground, more prisoners and more guns than any previous British offensive in two-and-a-half years of war, one of the most complete and decisive engagements of the First World War and the greatest Allied victory up to that time.
My band wears hackles as part of their uniform, but I choose not to wear one when I'm on my own. I simply don't feel that I've earned the right.

[macwilkin]

Wow; that's a great price for a balmoral, and kudo's for not getting a common black one; I like rifle green.

If you're thinking of a feather hackle, you might want to carefully consider that "Hackles are generally awarded to regiments for battle honours or a special reason. Serious consideration and research should be given prior to being worn by a civilian..." (drummajor.net). For instance, the red hackle was awarded to the Black Watch as a battle honor commemorating their bravery on 4 January 1795, where during a rear guard action before Guildermalson, Holland, French cavalry routed the British picket line, capturing two field pieces. The 42nd Regiment immediately charged and retook the guns, dragging the cannon back to British lines by hand under heavy fire.
The Canadian Royal Highland Regiment was awarded their red hackle following the strategic victory at Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917 where the Canadian Expeditionary Force had captured more ground, more prisoners and more guns than any previous British offensive in two-and-a-half years of war, one of the most complete and decisive engagements of the First World War and the greatest Allied victory up to that time.
My band wears hackles as part of their uniform, but I choose not to wear one when I'm on my own. I simply don't feel that I've earned the right.

Excellent point, Piobear. Hackles really are part of a uniform, and as you have pointed out, a particular colour of hackle, such as the Black Watch's red vulture feather or the Highlander's blue hackle, has a lot of powerful symbolism behind it.

The same could also be said for wearing any type of feather in general, since feathers behind a badge usually denote an armiger (one who bears a coat-of-arms granted by a heraldic authority) or a Chief of a Clan.

I think it's best to keep hackles to uniform kit, INMHO.

Cheers,

Todd

[McClef]

Whilst not wishing in any way to diminish the deserved military honours with which the hackle may be associated, there are many military items that are now commonly worn by civilians and providing they are worn with respect I see no reason why the hackle should be any different.

Of course it's down to individual choice etc but it really helps to set off a Balmoral or a Glengarry.

I wear mine with pride.

[PiobBear]

The same could also be said for wearing any type of feather in general, since feathers behind a badge usually denote an armiger (one who bears a coat-of-arms granted by a heraldic authority) or a Chief of a Clan.

One for an armiger, two for a chieftain, and three for a chief. Traditional for most folks is their clan's plant badge (provided you can find a sprig of it, of course).

[turpin]

If I could just find the plant badge in a nice silk version so it won't wither.

IRIC, the plant badge was worn in the cap as a means of identifying fellow clansmen before the clan tartan system came into being.

Graham, I also have one of those green balmorals. They are a great combination of quality and price. With cooler weather here I like to wear it (generally w/o a cap badge) out and about until temperatures dictate something more robust. And it works very well without the kilt (for those of us who haven't yet eschewed thr trousered look).

[davedove]

It must be a popular color. I also got one of their green balmorals. I also purchased a navy blue glengarry from them, but I asked them to replace the red toorie with a black one. The red just didn't coordinate properly.