Balmorals and Glengarrys

**auld argonian** · 14th April 10, 09:59 AM

In Flanders fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

....always gets me tearing up...

Best

AA

**davidlpope** · 14th April 10, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

How many of you own or wear one with your kilt? I know that it's common on these hats to wear your clan crest, etc....but what if you don't have one? Do any of you wear rank, Airborne wings, regimental crests, etc? I'm curious on your thoughts?

I know this is potentially opening up a can of worms and a debate about how military insignia should only be worn on the uniform, etc. I would ask up front that it not get into a debate about proper or improper according to regulations. Please limit your feedback to what you do or have seen done.

I'm a Marine, but do not wear any uniform items (except those authorized under the uniform regs- All Weather Coat, black leather gloves, etc.) with civilian clothing. I have miniature medals which I wear with black tie when the occasion calls for it and a silver "clan-badge" style USMC hat badge that I wear sometimes on my balmoral, if I'm not wearing my actual clan badge. It's one of these: http://www.celticjackalope.com/produ...products_id=60

I do see lots of folks "decked out" at local Highland Games, but in my opinion it seems pretty over the top. Additionally, I think there are a lot of fakers out there who are just looking for attention. I think it's in better taste to be more discreet- a simple badge, a service-connected necktie, etc. than all sorts of berets, patches, gongs, fourrageres, pins, trinkets, do-dads, etc. Then again, that may be the Marine thing coming out...

Cordially,

David

**Jock Scot** · 14th April 10, 12:14 PM

If I may chip in here Brian, you do most certainly have a clan connection! Alright it does not come from your father's ancestors, but it does come down your mother's line apparently.You are more connected to Scotland than many; wear your mother's tartan and badge. There is absolutely no question that you should not, if that is what you wish.

**Brian K** · 14th April 10, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

If I may chip in here Brian, you do most certainly have a clan connection! Alright it does not come from your father's ancestors, but it does come down your mother's line apparently.You are more connected to Scotland than many; wear your mother's tartan and badge. There is absolutely no question that you should not, if that is what you wish.

Thanks, Jock, I have always felt that way, but there are so many who seem to feel that clan affiliation is only valid with the correct surname that I have wondered about it a little. My mother's father was a McConnell (MacConnell) which apparently is/was a sept of Clan Donald, which, I suppose might mean it is OK for me to wear a MacDonald cap badge. There is a MacConnell tartan that was registered in the 80s and is a variation of the MacDonald hunting, if I recall correctly.

On the Anderson (her mother, of course) side, the family of the much admired great-grandfather I have mentioned here several times, it seems to be a bit murkier. There is an Anderson tartan (actually many of them) and clan badge, but there is no Anderson chief and I have seen things that have indicated that the Andersons were actually a very large family with various parts as septs of clans Ross or Donald, OR as many unrelated groups who happened to have the same surname. St. Andrew being the patron of Scotland I suppose it would be natural for there to be be many sons of Andrew.

Can anyone sort this out for me?

Sorry, Jeff, I didn't not mean to hijack this thread, but this is where it came up.

Regards,

Brian

**longhuntr74** · 14th April 10, 03:00 PM

Well considering the thread had last been posted on back in October 2009...I'd say it was already dead...you can have the corpse! LOL

**n5rmj** · 14th April 10, 04:07 PM

I just ordered my first Balmoral (black wool with a red pom torrie on top) last week. But I have been wearing a Glengarry (also black wool with a red pom torrie on top) for years, long before I got my first kilt. I sport a clan crest badge, which for the last few weeks happens to have been MacLaren, and on veteran's and patriotic holidays I sometimes were minimedals or miniribbons on the side opposite the clan badge, much like others might do on their VFW or American Legion garrison caps. I never wear rank insignia on my bonnet as that is illegal in the US (though I have never seen anyone actually be arrested for it). I don't see much of a point of wearing other kinds of unit or service insignia on my bonnet but that would be less or an issue than rank insignia.

I find the Glengarry easier to tote around and generally more comfortable than a Balmoral, despite the sometimes annoying free-hanging ribbons. But once my Balmoral arrives, I will jock it and wear it around for a couple of weeks. If I like it, I will get a few additional Balmorals in other solid colors to have a better selection for daily wear.

-Mark

**Steve Ashton** · 14th April 10, 05:05 PM

BrianK,

Sir, You do have a Clan. You do have a Crest and a Tartan too.

As a member of this forum you are fully authorized to wear the crest of this forum.

And as the head bottlewasher around her you have my full permission to wear the Tartan.

**Brian K** · 14th April 10, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Ashton

BrianK,

Sir, You do have a Clan. You do have a Crest and a Tartan too.

As a member of this forum you are fully authorized to wear the crest of this forum.

And as the head bottlewasher around her you have my full permission to wear the Tartan.

Thank you, Your Wizardship. I have, of course, come to think of this forum as my clan and would love to have a kilt in the XMTS tartan someday.

Since Jock's generous gift of his retired Balmoral I have pondered the question of how to decorate it and one of the possible choices I listed in the thread about his new bonnet was the XMTS cap badge. I was pleased to see that you had ordered a new stock.

When I questioned my right to a clan I was merely going the conventional route concerning whether you are connected to a certain "family" clan whether or not you bear the correct surname.

Obviously, I have rights, more or less, in three families or clans and am heartily pleased with my membership in this, my newest, clan

Regards,

Brian

**LANCER1562** · 14th April 10, 03:50 PM

I have a tan TOS that I got from Alexis Malcolm and I wear the clan badge that davedove posted pictures of along with the matching kilt pin and buckle on my USAK Army tartan kilt. No pictures yet but I'm working on it.

**Good Egg** · 15th April 10, 05:27 AM

I'm afraid I'm guilty of wearing Regimental insignia of regiments/corps that I've served in when wearing my kilt. So in this I don't agree with KDB above. What I object to is when people wear military (or police or other emergency service) insignia with the intent to give the impression that they were in that unit. Its almost as bad as wearing medals that are not yours.

BTB If out and about at the moment I don't wear anything that might look even a bit military - it may not be too healthy in N'orn Iron