In the summer of 86 when I was "GULP" 15, I was working the summer at the Fort on the Isle of St. Helen with the 78th Fraser youth squad. I was fortunate enough to (I wonder how many AMericans have had this privilege) to compete with the Black Watch at MAxville and to march in the Canada Day parade and at Ft.Ticonderoga. the spat thing was something that I asked since I had been used to wearing rounded spats in my band in Atlanta. i was told by everyone including the Pipe Major that it was a DISHONOR for breaking ranks at some battle.