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[Arlen]

I have just been informed that officers in the Royal Navy,with Scottish connections, may now wear the kilt under certain conditions whilst in the Mess.Is this true and how long has this been allowed?

It is true, although I am not sure exactly when this started.
As far as I am aware it is only on very restricted occasions that they are allowed to wear kilts while in the mess.


As for your questions, Grant, I would say remove the insignia, switch to some nice silver buttons with no Scottish theme (may I reccomend these Queen's Jubilee buttons or these nice Tudor rose buttons for an English Canadian such as yourself?)


Whichever way you go, you will look more than dapper.
And get all the Kilt Checks.

[James MacMillan]

Does anybody seriously think, that the long golden locks of our Grant could be confused for an Officer in the Navy?

Rock stars and other famous people have long worn pieces of uniforms. It's not right, but they aren't impersonating anybody.

We don't even know if removing the sleeve stripes will be feasible.

Impersonate an officer? not without a haircut first!

[Chef]

I have just been informed that officers in the Royal Navy,with Scottish connections, may now wear the kilt under certain conditions whilst in the Mess.Is this true and how long has this been allowed?

It is true, although I am not sure exactly when this started. As far as I am aware it is only on very restricted occasions that they are allowed to wear kilts while in the mess.

I'm pretty sure Queen Elizabeth granted the the right for members of the Royal Navy, who were Scots, to wear the kilt for Mess dinners in 1996. One of the high ranking admirals was a Scot at the time. They wear it with the Mess jacket.

[McMurdo]

I would say remove them, with one caveat, it is possible with a jacket of that vintage to have discoloured over the years, if so then your black sleve under the gold will be darker than the rest, if that is the case then I would leave it.

[Alan H]

I would say remove them, with one caveat, it is possible with a jacket of that vintage to have discoloured over the years, if so then your black sleve under the gold will be darker than the rest, if that is the case then I would leave it.

My thoughts, exactly....

[ccga3359]

My thoughts, exactly....

There in lies the problem I wish to remove the top stripe (the one that identifies it as RN). this would leave me with the single bar that does denote my current rank. Although from what I've lifted so far it looks alright. I figure a mess jacket wouldn't actually see the light of day much luckily, so should fade much if at all.

[McMurdo]

There in lies the problem I wish to remove the top stripe (the one that identifies it as RN). this would leave me with the single bar that does denote my current rank. Although from what I've lifted so far it looks alright. I figure a mess jacket wouldn't actually see the light of day much luckily, so should fade much if at all.

Cool I can not wait to see it, as for the hole, you might just take it to a tailor to fix. As far as the buttons I'm not sure if I would switch them or leave them, I think that is your call.

[ccga3359]

Cool I can not wait to see it, as for the hole, you might just take it to a tailor to fix. As far as the buttons I'm not sure if I would switch them or leave them, I think that is your call.

I kinda like the buttons. Perhaps I shall wear it one time with rank and buttons and get opinions. As for the hole it looks like a cigarette burn, saves me from doing it (not than I'm lazy or anything). Honestly I don't think the hole can be fixed but will check it out.

[Alan H]

With *extreme* care.. I've done this, but it's picayunish detail work in the extreme...you can open up a hidden part of the jacket under the lining somewhere and extract a foot or two of thread, unravel it... and use that to re-weave a cigarette burn hole, or other damage about that size.

If you like the look of brass buttons but the service connotations ren't quite appropriate, are there Canadian Coast Guard brass button you can buy from somewhere, to go there instead?

[Alan H]

Lookie what I found.....

http://www.ccga-gcac.org/publications/uniform_e.asp

Note that the Auxiliary bling is supposed to be silver, as opposed to gold for the Coast Guard. I bet anything you can buy silver or pewter CCGA buttons from somewhere.