London Scottish: The Cockney Jocks Reenacting Group

**BobsYourUncle** · 9th May 14, 06:34 AM

The Cockney Jocks, The London Scottish Recreated is a newly formed reenacting group dedicated to that Regiment. We are based in East coast of the U.S. Our debut event will be the Fair Hill Scottish Games in Maryland on May 17th, 2014, where we will set up a period camp [1870's to 1890's]and represent the Regiment to the public.

The following photo series shows yours truly in the garb of the London Scottish circa early 1875. The kit and gear of the London Scottish has been quite thoroughly documented in J.O. Robson's The Uniform of the London Scottish 1859-1959, Ipswich, The London Scottish Regiment Ogilby Trust, 1960. We will present a timeline of the Regiment, and interpret original kit for the public. We will try to be as accurate as possible in our portrayal, keeping consistent in the use of the correct kit for the correct time period.

The London Scottish was formed in 1859 as part of the country-wide Volunteer movement, sponsored by fears and rumors of a possible French invasion. If you are looking for "Strike Sure" emblems in any of the photos below, you will not find them, as that motto did not come into use until 1908, when the London Scottish Volunteers [7th Middlesex Regiment at the time] was re-badged at the dissolution of the Volunteer units and the formation of the Territorial Army. Robson, page 39.

Those wishing to learn more about Scottish Volunteer units should look at Records of the Scottish Volunteer Force 1859-1908, by General Grierson--you can search that title online and find a PDF copy.

Cross Belt Badge Detail

London Scottish Volunteers Button Detail

Epaulette and Collar Detail

Cuff Detail

London Scottish Volunteers Sporran

London Scottish Volunteers Sporran Badge Detail

**Cecil** · 9th May 14, 06:38 AM

Well put together kit!

**ASinclair** · 9th May 14, 09:14 AM

Fascinating. Thanks for posting.

**Mael Coluim** · 9th May 14, 05:27 PM

Very smart!

**grizzbass** · 9th May 14, 09:03 PM

Very nicely attired.

**BoldHighlander** · 10th May 14, 01:17 AM

BRAVO!

I've always admired the hodden grey colored kilts.

**OC Richard** · 10th May 14, 06:11 AM

that's quite amazing.

I know from much hard experience how difficult it is to get everything just right. It seems so easy to get 90% of the kit together, but oh that last 10%!

Interesting about the footwear. Ankle boots with no spats, eh? I know that was very common with Highland Dress at that time, in the civilian world, but offhand I can't remember a military unit's Full Dress being like that. Of course the London Scottish's uniform was unique and quirky in just about every way, so I'm not surprised at the footwear.

No dicing on the Glengarry initially? When was the dicing introduced? Happily for reenactors, Glengarries with the distinctive London Scottish/Toronto Scottish dicing are being mass produced as we speak in India or Pakistan- I see them at the Games all the time.

See you at Fair Hill! I'm going to be visiting from California, my first times at those Games.

As a piper, I would love to have the time and money to put together this kit! (The last time one of those sporrans came up for sale it was around $1500.)

**McRoy** · 10th May 14, 07:01 PM

Great look although any unit not wearing Black Watch ain't worth S%$T IMHO. Lol

All kidding aside, from Wikipedia;

Hodden Grey is the name given to the tartan worn by members of the London Scottish Regiment, and the Toronto Scottish Regiment (Canada). It was chosen both to avoid inter-clan rivalry and also because, as Lord Elcho said, "A soldier is a man hunter. As a deer stalker chooses the least visible of colours, so ought a soldier to be clad."