"Rules" for wearing family tartan

[davidlpope]

The Gordon Highlanders P&D all wear eagles feathers, any idea what that's all about?

Those are blackcock feathers, not eagle feathers.

Cordially,

David

[Andrew M. Stewart]

Those are blackcock feathers, not eagle feathers.

Cordially,

David

Are you sure? I noticed the feathers in a video of some of the guys from our pipe band, The 48th Highlanders of Canada, in Aberdeen last spring on Tartan day playing with the Gordons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkQI_...eature=related

[Andrew M. Stewart]

I'm sure of it, They are eagles feathers!

[Tim P]

My take on it is that there are a number of tartans that are not clan tartans which, due to that fact, cannot offend any pretender to a clan.
I am a strong believer (my own value system and without prejudice to anyone who disagrees) in a degree of entitlement in your choice even if that is tenuous.

I can only find one tartan I can lay a claim to and it just so happens that I like it.

I can understand people getting precious about it but I also think that the Victorians have a lot to answer for with their gross and misplaced 'propriety'.

[davidlpope]

I'm sure of it, They are eagles feathers!

My filter doesn't allow me to access Youtube right now, so I can't watch the movie you are referencing, but in the meantime, this may help:


Here is a photo of a Gordon Highlander glengarry with blackcock feathers.



Here is a photo of the same type of glengarry, but seen from the reverse side. The "white below/ black above" coloring of the blackcock feathers may be what you're interpreting as "eagle feathers".



For comparison, here is a photo of the Royal Company of Archers. You'll see they are wearing eagle feathers, which look quite different from the blackcock feathers.



I'll watch the Youtube video tonight when I have a chance and see if I can see what you're seeing.

Cordially,

David

[BoldHighlander]

Are you sure? I noticed the feathers in a video of some of the guys from our pipe band, The 48th Highlanders of Canada, in Aberdeen last spring on Tartan day playing with the Gordons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkQI_...eature=related

My filter doesn't allow me to access Youtube right now, so I can't watch the movie you are referencing, but in the meantime, this may help:

Here is a photo of a Gordon Highlander glengarry with blackcock feathers.


For comparison, here is a photo of the Royal Company of Archers. You'll see they are wearing eagle feathers, which look quite different from the blackcock feathers.


I'll watch the Youtube video tonight when I have a chance and see if I can see what you're seeing.

Hi David,

I just watched the video in question & while some individuals are defintly wearing blackcock feathers, about 30 seconds into it you can see what appears to be cut-down eagle feathers (42 seconds into it you get a rather good view of the feathers). The camera jogs around a bit, but at about 2:07 into it you get a fairly decent view of the back of one of these feathers too.

[Andrew M. Stewart]

I'm well aware of what blackcock feathers are, these are definetly eagle feathers. I may have the regiment wrong though. It was a massed band of various regimental pipe bands from Australia, Canada, England (I Think the London Scots were there) and Scotland. In the video is the Toronto Scottish( Hodden gray Like the London Scots), 48th Highlanders (Stewart of Fingask for Pipers and Davidson tartan for drummers), Gordon's as well as some others. The Gordon's no longer exist as a regiment but there still is a pipe band association of the ex members that get together for ceremonial purposes.

[OC Richard]

The pipers of the Cameron Highlanders > Queens Own Highlanders > The Highlanders wore/wear an eagle feather in the Glengarry:



Notice the differing colouring between this and the North American eagle feather which is white with a black tip.