Colonel in a Highland Regiment

**Liam** · 28th June 13, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by JohntheBiker

I have seen the Colonel's clan badge on the Pipe Major's pipe banner - former C.O. of the 48th Highlanders, Lt. Col. MacEwen - recognized the MacEwen badge (married one of those).

Whew... had to quickly check your profile to see if you married either a Colonel or a Badge. Great looking picture of you and the Colonel! I actually like your Maple Leaf Tartan kilt. I have one as well. Hopefully it isn't too hot to wear on July 1.

Cheers from the current flood capital of Canada!

Bill

**Lon Scot Reg Secretary** · 30th June 13, 07:02 AM

Gents,

Chas is correct. All British and Commonwealth Army officers hold the Queen's commission and are therefore gentlemen by right (And an act of parliament, unlike Naval Officers). The status of an Armiger is also a 'noble' one and therefore as 'a gentleman'. Wearing feathers is a tradition in Scottish law and, as Chas says, "The rules (are clear) Three feathers for The Chief; two feathers for a Chieftain; one feather for an armiger". This has nothing to do with Army dress regulations.

Having said that, I am sure that if the Colonel or any other Officer of a Highland Regiment were to apply to The Lord Lyon for a Grant of Arms, I am sure that their status would be taken into consideration.

In days of old, and we are talking 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries, most Colonels of Scottish regiments WERE Clan Chiefs in their own right, and therefore had the right anyway. Maybe this is where the confusion has started.

Any Commissioned officer who has a grant of Arms can have a pipe banner made and presented to his piper or to the pipe band depending on the regimental tradition. We have many pipers who fly such banners. One side would be the Officer's Arms, and on the other the Regimental badge or crest.

I have heard someone talk about this exact same subject previously, and I was able to put him right. This chap does, however, live in a rather strange, small world of his own with a purple sky and three moons, and dreams up all sorts of stuff like this without any substance.

**Nathan** · 2nd July 13, 09:03 PM

So the article I linked talks about "gentlemen of the Clan" being able to wear one feather. Although most "gentlemen" are armigers, could an officer be considered a Gentleman of the clan in this case?

**BCAC** · 3rd July 13, 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by Nathan

So the article I linked talks about "gentlemen of the Clan" being able to wear one feather. Although most "gentlemen" are armigers, could an officer be considered a Gentleman of the clan in this case?

No, he isn't considered that way. His position in the Clan is independant of his position in the British Army.

**Chas** · 3rd July 13, 05:13 AM

I think that it all depends on what each Clan considers to be a "gentlemen of the Clan". Is it enough to be a recognised gentleman or would the Clan require that the person be a land owner (in a designated area) in their own right. Or maybe even a second generation land owner, to prevent incomers having too much influence.

An Army Officer, by virtue of their holding the Queen's/King's commission, is considered by Lord Lyon and the College to be a gentleman and would in the normal course of events be granted arms if they applied.

**JohntheBiker** · 3rd July 13, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by Liam

Whew... had to quickly check your profile to see if you married either a Colonel or a Badge. Great looking picture of you and the Colonel! I actually like your Maple Leaf Tartan kilt. I have one as well. Hopefully it isn't too hot to wear on July 1.

Cheers from the current flood capital of Canada!

Bill

I'll give my regards to the Colonel for you! I did wear my Maple Leaf Tartan to work on the Friday before as well as on Canada Day. Positive comments, as usual.

Hope you came through the flooding alright.

Cheers,

John

**creagdhubh** · 3rd July 13, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by Chas

I think that it all depends on what each Clan considers to be a "gentlemen of the Clan". Is it enough to be a recognised gentleman or would the Clan require that the person be a land owner (in a designated area) in their own right. Or maybe even a second generation land owner, to prevent incomers having too much influence.

An Army Officer, by virtue of their holding the Queen's/King's commission, is considered by Lord Lyon and the College to be a gentleman and would in the normal course of events be granted arms if they applied.

I can speak for the Clan Macpherson Association in saying that our "gentlemen of the clan" are indeed all armigerous and their ensigns armorial are displayed at the Clan Macpherson Museum and House in Newtonmore, Inverness-shire, Scotland. We adhere to the rules set forth by the Lord Lyon: 3 feathers for the chief (Sir William Alan Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie, TD) 2 feathers for chieftains (Lachlan Macpherson of Glentruim and Alastair Macpherson of Pitmean) and 1 feather for armigers (various members of the Clan Macpherson).

As a highly organised, international association with by-laws and officers, we do have an active chairman of both regional and worldwide branches, as well as an international chairman that overseas each individual branch of the Clan Macpherson Association under the direction and guidance of our chief. Each chairman is not entitled to wear a single eagle feather in their bonnet. Once a Macpherson is elected as chairman, they are presented a cromach that is representative of their respected office. Once they have moved on and are no longer in office, the cromach is then passed to the next chairman, and so and so forth.

See the links below:

http://www.clan-macpherson.org/museum/mem/panelh01.html

http://www.clan-macpherson.org/museum/mem/panelh03.html

Various photos of Cluny, Glentruim and Pitmean wearing their eagle feathers at our annual gathering and rally in Badenoch.