what do you make of this vintage photo?

**OC Richard** · 25th April 14, 06:51 AM

Ha! We crossposted. Good eye there!

BTW here's the plaid brooch he's wearing, a very nice vintage Black Watch officers' pattern

and at first I thought that he was wearing a Gordons officers cap badge, but I'm not so sure

and here's the sporran he's wearing, a Black Watch (non-pipers) Other Ranks'.

**plaid preacher** · 25th April 14, 07:01 AM

Ha! Isn't that funny. The first time I looked at the picture I didn't see anything wrong with the brooch, then I went back and sure enough, saw the smiley face, and then went back again, and thought, how did I ever see a smiley face in that! The power of the human brain. A good argument against anyone who ever wants to tell you there is such a thing as objective proof and that you can learn what anything you need by simple observation.... and now.... back your your regularly scheduled programming. (with apologies for the digression)

**Father Bill** · 25th April 14, 07:06 AM

Okay... so much for the Smiley! Thanks for the lesson, Richard!

**Bareknees1** · 25th April 14, 02:42 PM

Dang! I had Bing Crosby, "Road to Edinburgh". Way off. Still on the steep part of the learning curve. All kidding aside, I really enjoy these posts, OC, thanks for sharing your marvelous breadth of knowledge.

**ctbuchanan** · 25th April 14, 05:10 PM

Not so way off. That was my first impression as well. He looks a young Bing Crosby to me as well.

**Sean D** · 25th April 14, 11:23 PM

I noticed that his plaid is not a full piper's plaid whichis usually the norm with full military dress not what appears to be a drummers's plaid or am I wrong ?

**MacGumerait** · 25th April 14, 11:43 PM

Richard , in addition to everything you have said and others , there is also one other thing that strikes me odd about this pic and adds to the head scratching .

If this person is supposed to be a military piper from a vintage time period ... why the fly plaid instead of a piper's plaid ?

**MacGumerait** · 25th April 14, 11:46 PM

Sean D , you beat me to the question . Good eye !

**OC Richard** · 26th April 14, 06:23 AM

These plaid things would make sense if there existed in the military such a thing as a "piper's plaid" which was worn only by pipers and a "drummer's plaid" which was worn only by drummers...

but there wasn't.

Rather, there were "full plaids" or "long plaids" which were worn by officers in certain forms of dress (especially with trews or tartan riding breeches), certain senior NCOs, and, yes, pipers.

And there were "belted plaids" (so called because they were secured around the waist with a narrow cloth belt) which were worn by officers in certain forms of dress, all NCOs and privates in Full Dress, and, yes, by drummers (due to their being soldiers, not because they were drummers).

Indeed it's rare to see a military piper wearing a belted plaid but here it is! a piper of The Cameron Highlanders. Note that he's wearing the simpler form of jacket that the Highland regiments wore on active service in the latter half of the 19th century

And here's a piper of The Cameron Highlanders in the usual Full Dress, for comparison

**MacLowlife** · 29th April 14, 04:44 AM

Originally Posted by Bareknees1

Dang! I had Bing Crosby, "Road to Edinburgh". Way off. Still on the steep part of the learning curve. All kidding aside, I really enjoy these posts, OC, thanks for sharing your marvelous breadth of knowledge.

I was thinking it might be Bing, too, which would explain the smile on his face and any unfamiliarity with the kit, but here is an old thread where Bing DOES appear...
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...16/index5.html