Glengarries through the years

[OC Richard]

Did you notice the Watch piper and SG pipers wearing glengarries instead of the more recent feather bonnets ? I wonder what year they changed over for full-dress purposes ?

If I recall correctly, the Scots Guards pipers adopted the feather bonnet in 1928.

About that Black Watch piper, remember that that photo was taken on active duty in India and he is not wearing Full Dress. Look at his jacket: the Service Dress jacket of the time, not the Full Dress doublet.
Black Watch pipers, as far as I know, have always worn feather bonnets in Full Dress ever since that headgear evolved.

[longhuntr74]

Richard...I hope I'm not steering your thread OT here...I think this question fits here versus starting yet another thread about Glengarries...

When I first started considering buying a Glen or Balmoral, I posted a question...and the resounding advice was that Glens are reserved for military purposes and pipers. Civilians should wear a Balmoral. In looking through the many historical images posted on this forum recently, including this one, it would appear that Glengarry hats were worn by all starting at some point in the 1800s thru the present day. Is the Glengarry=Piper/Soldier a modern stigma?

[OC Richard]

About where the Glengarry came from, this is what the section on the dress of the pipers of the 79th Highlanders in the Queen's Own Highlanders book says:

"In the early years of the Regiment the dress of the pipers corresponded to that of the rank and file... but in 1841 Lieutenant Colonel Lauderdale Maule introduced green doublets for pipers, the first time in any Highland Regiment. He is also credited with devising the Glengarry cap..."

However there is a lovely painting of (civilian) piper Angus MacKay painted in 1837 which clearly shows a Glengarry being worn.

It seems that both the doublet and Glengarry first appeared in civilian Highland dress, perhaps in the 1800-1830 period, then were adopted by the 79th Foot (Cameron Highlanders) for its pipers in 1841, then later spread to the pipers in other Highland regiments.

In 1855 doublets were adopted for all ranks of all Highland regiments.

In The Highlanders of Scotland it can be seen that the Glengarry was a very popular form of headdress amongst civilians. Of the 56 kilted figures, 25 are wearing plain Glengarries, 22 plain Balmorals, and 3 diced Balmorals. Only three of the 56 men are in military uniform. Note that none of the Glengarries are diced. The Glengarries worn by the pipers of all the Highland regiments, and the Glengarries worn by all ranks of the Black Watch and Cameron Highlanders, were plain. Diced Glengarries were worn only by the non-pipers of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (red/white diced) and Gordon Highlanders and Seaforth Highlanders (red/white/green diced).

So plain Glengarries have always been popular amongst civilians and the notion that civilians shouldn't wear them is modern. But diced Glengarries do indeed look military.