Question concerning regimental cap badge mounting

[Warhoover]

Greetings all,

I recently recieved several items from a distant cousin of mine. He is a member of the Black Watch and since the amalgomation into the 3rd Batallion Royal Regiment of Scotland, he has sent me several regimental items that are not used any longer. One of which is a Glengarry Badge. It uses the lugs and pin mounting system. I have not been able to get in touch with him to find out how to mount it on a glen.

My question is how do they mount items like this? Do regimental glangarries have grommeted holes for the mounting or do they just create holes as needed.

[thescot]

They simply cut small holes through the cockade and glengarry, and punch the lugs (the little round mounts) through the material and punch the "cotter pin" through the holes of the lugs.

The only trick is to get the thing lined up to start with.

Use a very sharp, pointed knife or maybe an Exacto knife.

[PiobBear]

I like to use an awl, rather than a blade. A bit more difficult, but once the holes are big enough to push the lugs through, with wear they close up a bit again, making a snug fit.
As Jim pointed out, the trick is getting them properly aligned first; you really want to do this only once.

[Nanook]

My question is how do they mount items like this? Do regimental glangarries have grommeted holes for the mounting or do they just create holes as needed.

To add.. holes are sometimes punched just into a backing but often through the whole cap. Some people add a bit of leather support to the back but its a bit more complicated since different regiments/divisions have different backings on cap and bonnets and there seems to be many different styles and traditions. While it seems that most cap badges have very large split pins to keep them in place some don't. We need also recall that many items would not issued but purchased at an officers own expense. Patterns have also changed so if one wants to keep to period its not that easy. There are also differences at different times betweens between Glengarry cap and Balmoral bonets. There are also some conventions. The BW, for instance, has no tartan backing and only the Glengarry has a badge but both have a red hackle.. so now the quiz questions of the day: "If the BW have no tartan backing on their Balmoral bonnets and have no badge then how do they mount their famous red hackles?" :-)

[Warlock]

I use several large safety pins through each lug. That way I don't have to punch holes in my Glengarry.

[Warhoover]

I don't have a red hackle for it yet. But, when I get one, will I need to make another hole to get the pin through the hackle loop to secure it. Since the pin and lugs will be inside the glen? Or, is there a different way of securing the hackle. I know my cousin would be able to clear up all the little things for me, but I have a feeling he may be deployed right now since I have not heard back from him.
He also sent me a new glen badge for the new regiment. Its huge! It came with a backing plate that I am sure makes it easier to position the badge when your first making the holes.

Beuth, I tried using safety pins as you suggested but the lugs make the badge stand out from the cockade and it tends to flop around. I am just going to go the route of the awl and mount it.

Nanook, As a note I don't think it is a balmorral that you are thinking of, it is a khaki Tam o shanter. It was standard issue, but you are correct no regimental badge was worn with it. But, That seems to have changed, I have recently seen a photo of a khaki TOS from the Royal Highland Fuseliers on Wikipedia. It shows the khaki TOS with the new Royal Regiment of Scotland badge mounted on the Black Watch (Government) Tartan with the white hackle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tam_o'shanter_(hat)

[Macman]

Our cap badges sound similar to what you're describing. The balmorals and glens that were issued to us had grommetted holes.

[thescot]

I don't have a red hackle for it yet. But, when I get one, will I need to make another hole to get the pin through the hackle loop to secure it. Since the pin and lugs will be inside the glen?

I have an old Highland Fusiliers Tam-o-shanter (I think that's what it is, but can't remember. has a whilte plume), and I'll be darned if I know how the hackle is fastened. It's behind the tartan backer, but not through the bonnet itself, and I'm not about to take it apart to find out.

I think, if you're putting it on a glengarry, you'll fasten the red hackle behind the black cockade, but not through the hat. And the lugs will go through the hat and cockade.

In the old regiments, each one had its own style of headwear, even the khaki tams (one of which I wear daily in the fall and winter), so if you want yours to look authentic, you'll have to chech the exact regiment.

Your are correct that the Black Watch wore nothing but the red hackle on their tams, but who knows with the new amalgamation! Maybe they all wear that new lion rampant thing on everything. I suspect they are working out small ways to remain distictive in their batallions so as to preserve some pride and history.

One final note: I often wear an old WW II Scottish Reserve Regiment cap badge--it's simply a thistle--on a glengarry, and I have used straight pins through the cockade to fasten it rather than punch holes in the glen. It sticks out just a little, but you can bend the lugs a bit to minimize that.

[macwilkin]

Nanook, As a note I don't think it is a balmorral that you are thinking of, it is a khaki Tam o shanter. It was standard issue, but you are correct no regimental badge was worn with it. But, That seems to have changed, I have recently seen a photo of a khaki TOS from the Royal Highland Fuseliers on Wikipedia. It shows the khaki TOS with the new Royal Regiment of Scotland badge mounted on the Black Watch (Government) Tartan with the white hackle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tam_o'shanter_(hat)

The BW didn't wear cap badges on their balmorals either:

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/T...41/Qmph2a1.jpg

These gents are BW of Canada, but I have photos of the BW and there are no cap badges on the balmorals.

So you have one of the new "crucified cats", eh? I would love to see one "in person" -- the nickname comes from the old Highland Brigade badge the MoD tried to force on the regiments in the 1960's, the "crucified moose".

Did he send you a "jimmy" for your sporran?

T.

[Warhoover]

Cajun,
I have read before about the "Crucified Moose" and from what my cousin has told me it has recieved just as cold if not more bitter reception as the "moose" did. Its funny though. Its the same basic design. Makes you wonder. He uses a different term than "crucified cat" though , I will leave that to your imagination. Propieties of "good form" and all that.

I have only recieved a few things from him. I have vaguely heard the term "Jimmy" before but I don't know the meaning. If it is referring to a regimental sporran badge , then no I have not recieved one from him.

Slainte,