Balmorals and Contemporary kilts

[HarborSpringsPiper]

I'm not sure if I can produce any images but should be able to produce some credible sources. I'll take a look in a couple of books I have later that I believe make mention of this.

A quick google produced this:From "84th REGIMENT OF FOOT
2nd BATTALION
ROYAL HIGHLAND EMIGRANTS
1775-1783" p. 2: http://www.kingsorangerangers.org/im...84_history.pdf

I found this in 18th Century Highlanders by Stuart Reid and Mike Chappell, which is part of Osprey Military's "Men-At-Arms" series, p. 16.

The bonnet was invariably knitted and felted, using a heavy blue wool. In the 1740s is was quite flat, with the edge of the crown overhanging and largely obscuring the headband. The loose tufts of wool left sticking up in the centre were twisted into a tiny ball, but at a fairly early stage an entirely decorative ball or tourie was added. Normally this was made from red wool, which contrasted well with the blue bonnet; but during the American War the practice was instituted of distinguishing the bonnets worn by flank company men by using white touries for grenadiers and green for light infantry.

I don't know if the colors show up very well, but this is not a period print anyway. The Highlander on the left has a blue toorie and the interior plate describes him as "Pte., North Carolina Highlanders, 1780".

If I run across any other references, I'll post them.

[Jock719]

Chop off the toorie thing, and the tails and give it a good soaking then wear it as long as you can, it'll look good then.

[Kilted Rogue]

in this case though a red torrie looks fine...it's balanced by the shirt color

I thought the same thing, while i was out walking, i considered red flashes, to break the black up.

No i am not going for a trad look, I just want to wear my bonnet.

And at 24 dollars i may pass on the stretcher. See if a local hat shop can do it,

[Macnut42]

It's a hat. Have fun with it. And for the follicly challenged, such as myself, H.A.T. stands for Hair Alternative Treatment.

Cheers!

Sean

[OC Richard]

OK I see that the tourie colour was used as one of the distinctions between the various sorts of companies that used to exist in Highland regiments.

I'm guessing that the Highland regiments were following the variously coloured pompoms used on the headgear of English regiments to distinguish the ordinary companies from the "flank companies".

Where this distinction usually shows up is in the wings/shells worn on the shoulders of the "flank companies".

As I recall these distinctions were done away with in the early 19th century.

For all intents and purposes all Scottish regimental touries have been red for around 200 years save for the London Scottish (and Dominion regiments which follow their uniform such as the Toronto Scottish) which wear a bright mid-blue and the Cameronians, who, being Rifles, wore dark green uniforms with full black trim and buttons. I think the Cameronian touries were black.

[HarborSpringsPiper]

For all intents and purposes all Scottish regimental touries have been red for around 200 years

That would be my understanding as well.

[NewEnglander]

Chop off the toorie thing, and the tails and give it a good soaking then wear it as long as you can, it'll look good then.

Is there anything you need to be careful of (ie how to NOT make a big hole) when removing the toorie?
The pom-pom on the top of the bonnet has been one of the reasons I've never bought one. That's why I prefer a <shhhh!> flat cap...

[HarborSpringsPiper]

Is there anything you need to be careful of (ie how to NOT make a big hole) when removing the toorie?
The pom-pom on the top of the bonnet has been one of the reasons I've never bought one. That's why I prefer a <shhhh!> flat cap...

The last Balmoral I bought had the toorie tied on with a simple thread. Just be careful what you are cutting.

[Kilted Rogue]

If you pick up the book "So your going o wear the kilt"
it has a bit in the back about replacing your Toorie with a new one of what ever color you wish.