Highlanders Discuss Highland Attire

[JSFMACLJR]

Lost the bl**dy ferrule from my cromach this past Sunday!

[BoldHighlander]

IMHO, it's a beauty Jock!

[Jock Scot]

Lost the bl**dy ferrule from my cromach this past Sunday!

Oh dear! A bit(about an inch in length) of brass pipe will help it to hold the tip together until a new one can be found.

I think that I will want a new one soon too.

[BoldHighlander]

Lost the bl**dy ferrule from my cromach this past Sunday!

Oh dear! A bit(about an inch in length) of brass pipe will help it to hold the tip together until a new one can be found.

I think that I will want a new one soon too.

It wasn't that long ago someone posted this link Stickmaking Shop which I bookmarked

[creagdhubh]

Although there is no official "regimental-style" civilian neckwear for Marines (just as the Leatherneck tartan is not officially recognized), there are several nice alternatives out there. Ben Silver offers a green/scarlet/gold striped necktie and gold "EGA" crested neckties in scarlet and green. The Marine Corps Association and the Marine Corps Historical Foundation both offer various Marine-themed neckties, including a crested necktie featuring the original Marine Corps emblem on navy blue.

I've got a couple of these and find they go well with my kilt, etc.

Cordially,

David

Yes I understand. I have the Ben Silver USMC necktie and that is where I order all of my authentic Regimental stripe neckties. I have seen the crested as well, quite smart.

[creagdhubh]

Off topic, but you did bring it up. If you really want to honour them, you would not be wearing their Regt. ties, as you did not earn the right to wear them.

Frank

Frank,

That's your opinion mate and you are most certainly entitled to it. I was deployed alongside units from the UK, back in 2002, 2003 and 2004, during my years on active duty. I am a former Marine "grunt," and have indeed seen combat, as I was attached to the 24th MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit), II MEF (Marine Expeditionary Force), and 2d Battalion, 2d Marines, all from MCB (Marine Corps Base) Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, USA. I fought with the "Brits" as we affectionately called them and we both admired each another as fellow warriors immensely-a bond that can really only be formed in combat situations, as well as by living relatively close together very long periods of time in that ghastly, arid, dirty, and friggin hot place!!! A fine clothier company named Ben Silver, as well as many other companies (Brooks Brothers for one), offer many different Regimental neckties that vary in selection from regiment to regiment. I am quite sure that men may purchase them simply because they "like" the colors, and not necessarily because they served with that specific regiment. Ben Silver is an American company out of Charleston, South Carolina, and their selection of Regimental neckties (as well as many others to include "The Old Boys," "Crested neckwear," "Gentlemen's Clubs," "British Universities," etc.) are numerous. Again, I am quite sure that many men who regularly purchase neckties from Ben Silver, and other companies who sell similar authentic, quality neckwear, and that are fond of the "Corps and Regiments" selection, more than likely have no affiliation with them whatsoever. Yes, it is true that I have never served in a Scottish Regiment, that is extremely obvious, however, I have served alongside them; in the accompany of them; and I have gotten to know many of those brave lads personally-back when I was an active duty, Marine infantryman, an NCO (a Corporal at the time; a non-commissioned officer) deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. I think that with my decision to honor such regiments by deciding to wear their regimental colors in a necktie, would most certainly not offend them. If the reverse was done, and a Scottish, Welsh, Irish, or English soldier decided to wear a necktie, done in the regimental stripe fashion, complete with the Marine Corps colors (even if the wearing of them has a different bearing or tradition in the UK-it's irrelavant anyhow given this particular situation), because he was deployed with U.S. Marines, got to know them as warriors, as allies, as friends...I would be honored, pleased, and extremely flattered at the act-not offended or pissed off! Please do not lecture me on what I can and can not wear. I believe that I have earned the "right" to wear "their" colors when I see fit, especially with my Highland attire. Not only am I obviously honoring my heritage, my Highland ancestors, and my immediate family, but I am also honoring the brave Scots who I had the pleasure of fighting with whilst deployed in that friggin hellhole! By no means am I simply saying, "hey, that necktie depicts the colors of a Scottish Regiment, that will look great with my kilt," no way! I carfeully chose certain regimental neckties of the lads that I came to know over there, despite the fact that some of them knew that they possibly were heading for amalgamation (eventually in 2006). These regiments consist of the Black Watch (to whom my unit had the main contact with), the Royal Highland Fusiliers, and the First Battalion, Argyll-Sutherland Highlanders. To conclude, I would, and actually I have worn the neckties proudly in Scotland-specifically at gatherings, Highland games, and association meetings located within the Inverness-shire and Perthshire area (as well as in Edinburgh).

My clan chief, Sir William Alan Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie, TD, wears a King's Own Scottish Borderer necktie with his Highland attire at times (to whom he served with), and I recall on one occassion during the summer of 2007, whilst in Newtonmore, Inverness-shire, Scotland, for the Clan Macpherson annual gathering (first weekend every August), commenting me on my Black Watch regimental necktie. He jokingly asked if I served with the Black Watch, (he already knew me pretty well, as we have met and have been in attendance at clan association/branch meetings many times before), knowing that I was a former Marine. I explained to him that I served with the Black Watch while deployed to Iraq in 2002, 2003, and 2004, and that the U.S. Marines, especially my unit, 2d Battalion, 2d Marines, out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, thought so highly of the Black Watch-and with me being of Highland Scot descent, it was so awesome, and an immense honor, to get to know some of the Black Watch OR's and officers, yet ultimately, to defend freedom with them. "Cluny," as we affectionately and correctly call our chief, admired what I spoke of as I went into somewhat greater detail, as I only really feel comfortable discussing my experiences as a deployed Marine "03" to a certain point. My point is, that my own clan chief, was by no means offended or upset in any way with me wearing the Black Watch regimental necktie, and I would think many others in Scotland, given that they know of my military background and my shared experiences with a few Scottish Regiments 6-8 years ago, would feel just the same as he.

Have you served in the military Frank? Just curious.

Cheers,

The official website of my former Marine unit I served with in 03-04'. I was with the MEU in 02'.
http://http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/2dMarDiv

Ben Silver
www.bensilver.com

Brooks Brothers
www.brooksbrothers.com

[creagdhubh]

But Kyle, you wouldn't wear them in Scotland, I am sure.

I would and I have. Read my lengthy post above. It explains the reason.

[creagdhubh]

I suppose I may be the only Highlander still awake on this forum since it is now 4 in the morning. In the Highlands we rarely wear head gear with Highland dress so his isn't an issue today. Never, ever, ever would we wear head gear within doors, so that part isn't at issue, either. But if we do wear head gear with Highland dress it will always be a Balmoral, so I can answer that part of your question specifically. On the hat rack or on the hall table. Never under your epaulet if you have one, never stuffed in your jacket pocket (inside or outside), never in your waist band or in your sporran. For you Americans think cowboy hat -- where do you put it indoors? On the hat rack, right? Oh oh, I have just heard you say "no, on my head." Shudder.

Not every American wears a cowboy hat. I understand your point though. I set mine down very close to me, as I own several Mackie bonnets!

[creagdhubh]

I have only just spotted this and you are quite right to point it out, Frank. As we are talking "Traditional Highland Dress" and as we are discussing how the present day Highlanders wear the kilt and attire in Scotland you are not off topic one bit. Wearing Regimental ties that you have not earned the right to, is not done with Highland attire. Kyle you are a Marine(Rtd), what is the matter with your unit tie? As you are so keen and enthusiastic about Highland attire and there is no doubting that you are, then may I respectfully ask you to follow Frank's sage advice.

There's more to the story Jock. I appreciate your honest and sincere advice. Read my post above-that should clarify my reasoning for wearing certain regimental neckties, and I do wear my own colors (USMC) as well.

[creagdhubh]

Eagle JCS.

As a rough guide the cromach needs to about at your nipple height. A wee bit higher is OK a wee bit lower is fine. Too short, too high is just plain uncomfortable if the cromach it to be used in the terrain that they are designed for.

My cromach is, near as damn, 50 years old and with a few minor bits of surgery it has been in almost daily use.






In action.

Gorgeous cromach Jock! Ramhorn handle I presume? Love it!