Quote Originally Posted by puddlemuddle View Post
What I am wanting to do is to mold it (my family owns a jewlery store and can do this for me) and have a pair of them made slightly smaller and in silver (or a white metal) to match the rest of the buttons on my argyll jacket, and where them on the epaulettes, as a tribute. I would go with the Cap badge that I wear.


On a similer note, I also wear REPRODUCTIONS of both the WWI Victory medal and British War Medal that both of my uncles were awarded, once again in memory of them.
Chad,
First a disclaimer. I am an American and have no firsthand exposure to the customs regarding British military items. That being said, I am currently on active duty as a Marine and have given this some thought. Please take this as my musings in a constructive manner. it is not intended to give offense.

I think that wearing these insignia as you have described would be problematic. You would be mixing military and civilian dress and, respectfully, your link to your great-uncles is more distant than, for example, to a father or grandfather. So, I think that wearing military insignia to which you have no direct connection would likely lead to many embarrassing situations where you would have to explain both the peculiar manner of wearing these items and your reason for wearing them.

In my opinion, official uniform items should not be worn while in civilian clothing unless authorized by uniform regulations. That's why the USMC cap badge that I wear on my balmoral is a commercially produced "strap and buckle" style badge, vice an actual USMC officer's EGA insignia from my uniform. I'm not sure what the convention is in Scotland. Likewise, I only wear miniature medals (mine) that are authorized on civilian (Highland) clothing. I think the convention in Scotland is different for official veterans' observances.

Since you have the wonderful resource of a jewelry business int he family, why not cast some cuff-links to wear with French-cuffed shirts. That would be understated, classy, and shouldn't give offense where it is not intended.


Cordially,

David