My Caubeen Arrived From Ireland!

[MNlad]

Given its history, I wear a simple brass penannular on mine. (Sorry, no good pix at hand.)

[Mel1721L]

From what I remember, the pipers of The Irish Guards wore the cap badge over the right eye with the cloth pulled over to the left. In 70 something years, I cannot recall ever seeing a civilian wearing a caubeen, though.

That didn't sound right. In the British Army the badge is supposed to be worn over the left eye and beret pulled down to the right, though there does seem to be "fashion" variations. As tank crew I wore mine central with beret pulled down both sides to accomodate headphones. Anyway, I googled Irish Guards piper and looked at the images and you are right. however I see in the pictures posted, it is only the guards who wear it that way.

[Jock Scot]

That didn't sound right. In the British Army the badge is supposed to be worn over the left eye and beret pulled down to the right, though there does seem to be "fashion" variations. As tank crew I wore mine central with beret pulled down both sides to accomodate headphones. Anyway, I googled Irish Guards piper and looked at the images and you are right. however I see in the pictures posted, it is only the guards who wear it that way.

Without trying to be pedantic and to avoid future misunderstandings by those who do not understand the quirks of British Army uniforms, I think we need to be clear here. It is the Pipers of the Irish Guards who wear the caubeen with their Regimental badge over the right eye. Not The Guards as a whole. When The Guards wear their berets(including the Irish Guards) with their respective Regimental badges they are over their left eye.------------Although I note that these days the cap badge is now creeping, a wee tad, back towards the left ear!

[duke_19_62]

caubeen_black.jpgThe Caubeens from glengarryhats.com seem to have a rosette over the right eye that (to me anyway) seems to be where a badge would be pinned. I don't have one, yet, but have been thinking about it.

[Jock Scot]

caubeen_black.jpgThe Caubeens from glengarryhats.com seem to have a rosette over the right eye that (to me anyway) seems to be where a badge would be pinned. I don't have one, yet, but have been thinking about it.

The bonnet in the picture will put the badge over the wearers left eye. Just so know, so that we are all "reading from the same page" so to speak, it is how the chap wearing it, facing us, not us viewing it in the picture above, is how the position is judged.

[duke_19_62]

You are correct, Sir! I got confused for a second there. I stand corrected.

[Jock Scot]

You are correct, Sir! I got confused for a second there. I stand corrected.

Oh, confusion and me are well aquainted! By the way, "Jock" will do nicely.

[MacLowlife]

Hello Pleated One,

I find, especially with hats, that people fall into two major groups- those who like their hats looking crisp and new and those who prefer the 50 mission crush- that is, a hat that looks as if it has been around and seen a few things. If you poke around, you will find a thread here that discusses the proper way to break in a Balmoral. I think your Caubeen might benefit from similar initiation.

As for decoration, you have a wide array of options- a clan badge, any sort of pin, a cockade, either simple or elaborate, or a feather. The search feature will help you look at many options. In Scotland, eagle feathers are worn by clan chiefs. In the US, they are also popular with people threatened with Federal prison. If you have nothing to do while you wait for your kilt, you can study up on eagle feathers in various posts.

It is a good looking hat. May you wear it in good health.

[PleatedOne]

Given its history, I wear a simple brass penannular on mine. (Sorry, no good pix at hand.)

MNlad, Thanks for your suggestion. That is a look that I really like!
Bob

[PleatedOne]

Hello Pleated One,

I find, especially with hats, that people fall into two major groups- those who like their hats looking crisp and new and those who prefer the 50 mission crush- that is, a hat that looks as if it has been around and seen a few things. If you poke around, you will find a thread here that discusses the proper way to break in a Balmoral. I think your Caubeen might benefit from similar initiation.

As for decoration, you have a wide array of options- a clan badge, any sort of pin, a cockade, either simple or elaborate, or a feather. The search feature will help you look at many options. In Scotland, eagle feathers are worn by clan chiefs. In the US, they are also popular with people threatened with Federal prison. If you have nothing to do while you wait for your kilt, you can study up on eagle feathers in various posts.

It is a good looking hat. May you wear it in good health.

Hello MacLowlife, Thanks for your input/suggestions. They were informative and very helpful. I know now not to go near Eagle feathers! Some of the previous posts on the subject were quite "spirited"
Bob