Pipe & Drum uniform

[drobin]

Greetings everybody...

Just a little question on the Tiger Skin I've seen draped over some tenor & bass drum players in some Pipe Bands i.e. 1st Battalion The Black Watch, and some other groups I've seen pictured on the forum. When the Black Watch was here in Phoenix, I did not get to ask them about that.

Tapadh leibh!
Tìoraidh an-dràsta

darren

[Fearnest]

Welcome to the fray!

Why do you sometimes see one or more of the Drummers wearing a leopard skin?
This is an old British Army tradition. Strictly speaking, the privilege of wearing the leopard skin was granted to specific Army regiments as a regimental honour for meritorious service, usually in Africa. Because of this background, the use of the leopard skin in civilian bands is in somewhat dubious taste. (Note that modern bands usually do not use real leopard skins but imitations, because of the endangered species acts).

[beloitpiper]

It came from the Zulu Wars. It is a mark of honor, and rarely seen in American pipe bands.

[drobin]

Thank you both for the information, very intresting.

[macwilkin]

To further the information already presented, in the British Army, certain insignia/regalia/kit tell the story of the history of the regiment and the campaigns that it served in; for example, many regiments who served in Egypt wear "collar dogs" with the Sphinx. Other regiments that served in India at the Battle of Assaye wear an elephant, regiments who served in China, such as the old Border Regiment, have a dragon.

The old Scots Greys have as their regimental cap badge, a Napoleonic Eagle, to commemorate with Charles Ewart captured the eagle of the 45th Regiment of Line at Waterloo.

A similar practice can be found in the Commonwealth forces, and even on the distinctive unit insignia of many US Army regiments, were a fluer-de-lis symbolizes service in France, a bolo for the Philippines, a tipi for the Indian Wars, etc.

Regards,

Todd