Saw Pipe Major insignia on Prince Charlie Jacket

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

If this is the video that you are talking about, that is a British Army Mess Dress Uniform, which looks much like a PC jacket. He is wearing regimental badges, and Mess Minature Medals.

IMHO....I would not wear Drum/Pipe Major badges on a PC jacket..

Cheers!

Paul
Captain, (Ret)
Canadian Forces - Air Reserve

Paul,
That is the video I was talking about in my previous post, and while the jacket he's wearing does look like a mess jacket, for the life of me I couldn't figure out what regiment it was supposed to be. The jacket appears to black with black facings-- not worn by any Scottish regiment that I am familiar with, nor does his kilt seem to be of any regimental pattern. This (along with the civilian sporran), added to the fact that he's piping on stage, led me to assume that he's in a costume. He looks good on stage, isn't wearing anything he isn't entitled to (I guess??), and delivers visually (as well as audibly) exactly what the audience wants and expects.

I think this underscores both of our opinions that band or military trade insignia has no place on civilian attire-- unless, of course, one is a world class piper performing on stage!

Best regards,
Scott

[planemaker]

Paul,
That is the video I was talking about in my previous post, and while the jacket he's wearing does look like a mess jacket, for the life of me I couldn't figure out what regiment it was supposed to be. The jacket appears to black with black facings-- not worn by any Scottish regiment that I am familiar with, nor does his kilt seem to be of any regimental pattern. This (along with the civilian sporran), added to the fact that he's piping on stage, led me to assume that he's in a costume. He looks good on stage, isn't wearing anything he isn't entitled to (I guess??), and delivers visually (as well as audibly) exactly what the audience wants and expects.

I think this underscores both of our opinions that band or military trade insignia has no place on civilian attire-- unless, of course, one is a world class piper performing on stage!

Best regards,
Scott

Hi Scott,

I looked at the website for the "The Royal Regiment of Scotland" and I think that he is wearing mess kit for the 1st Battalion.

There are several different classes of badges in the "British/Canadian/Commonwealth armies". Rank, Appointment, Trade, and Qualification Badges.

1. Rank Badges denote rank......obviously.
2. Appointment denotes an appointment that the person holds.....MP Brassards, Aide-de-camp badges/braid, Drum and Pipe Majors. The person can wear that insignia as long as they hold the appointment.
3. Trade badges are to indicate your military trade. Infantryman, Band, Piper, Mechanic, Artificer, etc. They are worn on the lower cuff of the dress uniform.
4. Qualification badges denote a qualification, ie Parachutist, Pilot, Diver, EOD, etc. Usually the most senior badge is worn over the Left Breast.

It looks like he was wearing the following: Piper (trade), Crown (British Army (Staff Sergeant/Platoon Sergeant, although it is normally worn with three cheverons, so that is a 80% sure guess. In the Canadian Army that rank would be Warrant Officer) and Pipe Major (Appointment).