Diced Glengarry.

[PatrickHughes123]

Hello all.

I have read some information about the origin of the diced trim in the Glengarry but there's a lot of different theories. Is there any accepted theory about when and why it's wear for the Scott's?
Why the solo pipers don't wear it?
Thanks to all.

A lot of people have said that the dicing shows allegiance to Britain. And I am beginning to believe that, that is why if I ever get another Balmoral, I will buy one with blue dicing, to signify allegiance to Scotland and Scotland only. But I came across an interesting picture, which is below, of Bonnie Prince Charlie wearing a diced bonnet with a white cockade which at the time was a Jacobite symbol. So surely that must mean the dicing is actually a Stewart symbol, but at the same time I can see why people believe the myth about it being a sign of allegiance to Britain.

[PIPER IÑAKI]

Hello
Yes, there's is a connection with the Stuart's and the diced trim, also with the just withe trim or withe feather..very Scottish indeed....
As I know English wear red and white trim in the times of the colonies around 1700...anyway nobody is here to tell something about.....for me it's a personal choice. For me black, red and white looks cool.
Piping is live

[Orvis]

I don't believe the dicing on Scottish bonnets was originally indicative of loyalty to anything, and that information to the contrary is probably some of the romantic balderdash that came out of the 19th century (or later).

Diced bonnets originally appeared in the late 1760's as an embellishment on the bonnets of the Scottish Highland regiments in the British Army. The bonnets of the original Highland regiments (1730s-1740s) were plain blue flat bonnets. The black cockade was worn as an indication of loyalty to the ruling House of Hanover (Jacobites adopted the French white cockade to indicate their loyalty to the House of Stuart). During the 1750's, military Highland flat bonnets were embellished with a red cloth band appliqued around the opening. By the late 1760's, Highland regimental bonnets were undergoing change - they had knitted diced bands (red/green/white) and were stiffer, standing up taller. They were embellished with black ostrich plumes held under the black cockades - regimental badges didn't exist yet. By the 1790's, this style had become popular with those Highland lairds and other civilians who liked to wear Highland bonnets. Regimental dicing styles on feather bonnets began to diverge (red/black/white, red/white, red/black/green) as regimental distinctions. Regimental badges began to be added over the cockade. The bonnet also underwent further metamophosis, with fore-and-aft creases being added to ultimately create the Glengarry style bonnet (as opposed to the Balmoral style).

[PatrickHughes123]

Well, if it was just a romantic notion, why would it be that? Because the 19th century romanticism in Scotland specifically was about Highland warriors. A new idea was coming about that Highlanders were brave, romantic warriors rather than clannish, unruly savages.

Surely the romanticism about dicing would be something like 'The red/white dicing represents a Scottish warrior's love for Scotland' or something like that.

Maybe I'm overthinking it.

[Jock Scot]

Well, if it was just a romantic notion, why would it be that? Because the 19th century romanticism in Scotland specifically was about Highland warriors. A new idea was coming about that Highlanders were brave, romantic warriors rather than clannish, unruly savages.

Surely the romanticism about dicing would be something like 'The red/white dicing represents a Scottish warrior's love for Scotland' or something like that.

Maybe I'm overthinking it.

I think that you probably are overthinking it. In a fairly long civilian diced bonnet(balmoral) wearing life, I have only ever been accosted once by anyone-------a local lady ----- for wearing a diced bonnet. The conversation went something like this.
" Why are you wearing a government bonnet?"
" What do yo mean?" Said I.
"That dicing around your bonnet means a government connection."
" Well, I do work for the govenment!" Said I, rather cleaverly. ( I actually did at that time)

It's the only time that I have ever heard any reference to civilian dicing having any meaning in the real world. It's up to you of course , but I wouldn't fuss over it if I were you.

[PatrickHughes123]

By the late 1760's, Highland regimental bonnets were undergoing change - they had knitted diced bands (red/green/white) and were stiffer, standing up taller. They were embellished with black ostrich plumes held under the black cockades - regimental badges didn't exist yet.

What you have just said has made me begin to worry. I have a balmoral which is plain, no dicing but it has a black cockade. Is this connected? Or is it just a coincidence? I think I may be walking around with a bonnet which has got a British allegiance symbol.

[OC Richard]

I do wonder when that illustration of Bonnie Prince Charlie was done. (The style of the painting suggests late 19th/early 20th century.)

It might have been painted a century after he died. It might be purely imaginary.

I'd wager it wasn't done from life, if so it would be a very famous and valuable painting indeed!

[Tarheel]

What you have just said has made me begin to worry. I have a balmoral which is plain, no dicing but it has a black cockade. Is this connected? Or is it just a coincidence? I think I may be walking around with a bonnet which has got a British allegiance symbol.

There is no need to worry. Your balmoral is just what it is, black cap with a black cockade. I have a plain black glengarry with a black cockade. I did not feel the need to get a diced border. I am a military veteran (US Army) and know other veterans that wear a diced glengarry and/or balmoral because they feel the dicing associates them to time served for their country of birth. Other folks don't put that much into the belief system.

[PatrickHughes123]

I don't believe the dicing on Scottish bonnets was originally indicative of loyalty to anything, and that information to the contrary is probably some of the romantic balderdash that came out of the 19th century (or later).

Diced bonnets originally appeared in the late 1760's as an embellishment on the bonnets of the Scottish Highland regiments in the British Army. The bonnets of the original Highland regiments (1730s-1740s) were plain blue flat bonnets. The black cockade was worn as an indication of loyalty to the ruling House of Hanover (Jacobites adopted the French white cockade to indicate their loyalty to the House of Stuart). During the 1750's, military Highland flat bonnets were embellished with a red cloth band appliqued around the opening. By the late 1760's, Highland regimental bonnets were undergoing change - they had knitted diced bands (red/green/white) and were stiffer, standing up taller. They were embellished with black ostrich plumes held under the black cockades - regimental badges didn't exist yet. By the 1790's, this style had become popular with those Highland lairds and other civilians who liked to wear Highland bonnets. Regimental dicing styles on feather bonnets began to diverge (red/black/white, red/white, red/black/green) as regimental distinctions. Regimental badges began to be added over the cockade. The bonnet also underwent further metamophosis, with fore-and-aft creases being added to ultimately create the Glengarry style bonnet (as opposed to the Balmoral style).

Yes, but there is something that I don't think is quite right. I get the impression that Glengarries were originally a civilian cap, and they were adopted into the army in the 1840s. Glengarry did have a regiment in the late 18th Century but they were disbanded. Yes, you are right about the formation, the blue bonnet cap was pushed into a sort of boat shape as it was seen as a better and more efficient shape.

Glengarry's regiment was called the Glengarry Fencibles.