Mackie balmoral frae Dunadd Trading Co.

**Jock Scot** · 14th July 10, 02:09 PM

I know it is a dangerous thing to start comparing uniforms, as many watering holes around the world can testify, but I really think the dress uniform of the"Gin and Tonics" takes some beating!

Nice bonnet by the way, is that the large(normal) crown version , or the small(bespoke) crown version?

**macwilkin** · 14th July 10, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I know it is a dangerous thing to start comparing uniforms, as many watering holes around the world can testify, but I really think the dress uniform of the"Gin and Tonics" takes some beating!

Nice bonnet by the way, is that the large(normal) crown version , or the small(bespoke) crown version?

I went with the normal crown, Jock.

Tell us more about the "Gin and Tonics", though -- enquiring minds want to know!

T.

**berserkbishop** · 14th July 10, 02:34 PM

Congrats on the purchase Todd, looks great. . . Maybe I can make it to the Highland Games in St. Louis this year and see it in person!

Cheers!
Bishop

**creagdhubh** · 14th July 10, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

I went with the normal crown, Jock.

Tell us more about the "Gin and Tonics", though -- enquiring minds want to know!

T.

As did I Jock-normal crown size. I have recently enlisted in the Queen's Own Neeps and Tatties Highlanders, where our main objective is to locate the elusive Highland Haggis, which according to eyewitness accounts, runs rampant throughout the purple moors.

Slainte,

**Standard** · 14th July 10, 06:25 PM

Great looking bonnet. I'll bet it would look good with the Queen's Own Black and Tan's uniform too.

**Jock Scot** · 15th July 10, 03:25 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

I went with the normal crown, Jock.

Tell us more about the "Gin and Tonics", though -- enquiring minds want to know!

T.

Aha! The Gin and Tonics! Now there is a grand and moderately honourable bunch. The requirements of this august unit, are shiny brown country shoes, brown chord trousers, tattersall shirt , tie, a well worn(worn out!) sports jacket, tweed cap of outlandish diameter and a large(bucket sized) glass of gin and tonic! Military service is assumed, although not necessary, a loud voice, and every sentence ends in: "What?". Qualifying age is vague, but the average age would be about 75.

A bit like "the Calcutta Light horse"of the film "Sea wolves" fame and their TRUE raid, only in the G&T's case completely useless, yet from the comfort of the arm chair, after a days huntin', shootin', or fishin' they would pontificate on the latest news of the current military goings on. Otherwise known as; Arm Chair Generals.The thing is, many of them were!

We had a large, charming, modest and thoroughly well meaning unit of them up here for years and we christened them the "Gin and Tonics"! Actually the exploits of their earlier years were mind boggling awsome and most of them had a chest full of medals for doing seriously brave deeds. I miss that generation of G&T's very much.

**macwilkin** · 15th July 10, 03:42 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Aha! The Gin and Tonics! Now there is a grand and moderately honourable bunch. The requirements of this august unit, are shiny brown country shoes, brown chord trousers, tattersall shirt , tie, a well worn(worn out!) sports jacket, tweed cap of outlandish diameter and a large(bucket sized) glass of gin and tonic! Military service is assumed, although not necessary, a loud voice, and every sentence ends in: "What?". Qualifying age is vague, but the average age would be about 75.

A bit like "the Calcutta Light horse"of the film "Sea wolves" fame and their TRUE raid, only in the G&T's case completely useless, yet from the comfort of the arm chair, after a days huntin', shootin', or fishin' they would pontificate on the latest news of the current military goings on. Otherwise known as; Arm Chair Generals.

We had a large, charming and thoroughly well meaning unit of them up here for years and we christened them the "Gin and Tonics"!

The Calcutta "Tight-Horse" immediately came to mind when I read your post, Jock. I highly recommend the book "Boarding Party", on which the movie is based. Note that the movie does not mention that members of the Calcutta Scottish accompanied the CLH on "Operation Creek".

During the 1916 Easter Rebellion, a group of retired army officers in Dublin that wore an armband with GR - Georgius Rex - were called the "Gorgeous Wrecks".

Here in the colonies, such units were called "chum & chowder societies". My chief ranger belonged to an Indian War reenacting group called the "Gen. (Nelson) Miles Marching & Chowder Society", made up of ex-servicemen & park rangers. Sadly, their annual deployment usually falls on the same weekend as my wedding anniversary, so I never got the chance to enlist in "The Regular Army, O!"

T.

**Redshank** · 15th July 10, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

The requirements of this august unit, .

Ah, but let me point out to you good sir it's still only July

Jock, are you going to tthe Inveraray Highland Games on Tues 20th, I will be there at the Redshank stand if you do.

**Jock Scot** · 15th July 10, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by Redshank

Ah, but let me point out to you good sir it's still only July

Jock, are you going to tthe Inveraray Highland Games on Tues 20th, I will be there at the Redshank stand if you do.

I had not even thought about it until now, but after consultation with the Memsahib it seems that we will be the other side of the country. Still, it was a good thought though!