Tartan jackets in the Army

**OC Richard** · 9th May 20, 08:27 PM

In looking over imagery depicting Highland regimental pipers from the 1830s through the 1850s I was surprised to see how many regiments were putting their pipers into tartan jackets.

42nd Highlanders, c1850, piper in Black Watch tartan jacket and Black Watch Music Tartan kilt and plaid

The 74th Highlanders, probably c1845, piper in Lamont tartan jacket, kilt, and plaid

However this painting shows a piper wearing the ordinary Other Ranks coatee

93rd Highlanders, 1845, Rob Roy tartan jacket, kilt and plaid

I do wonder what the provenance is for the 93rd pipers wearing this costume. The drawing is from the 1950s by R M Barnes.

Images of 93rd pipers earlier (1825) and later (1852) show scarlet jackets.

93rd piper in a contemporary 1852 drawing showing a scarlet doublet (at a time before scarlet doublets were introduced for all Highland soldiers)

**figheadair** · 10th May 20, 12:38 AM

Richard,

A couple more. You may already be familiar with one or more.

Piper McLeod, 42nd by Cannon 1836

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72nd Piper c1847

Piper Rory McKay, 93rd from the Sword Dance by David Cunliffe, 1853. This one intrigues me as he's obvously wearing Hunting Stewart. Perhaps be was borrowed from another regiment that was also there.

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**OC Richard** · 10th May 20, 12:34 PM

Thanks!

That's strange about the piper in Hunting Stewart. His crossbelt hardware does seem to be similar to what the 93rd pipers wore.

About Richard Cannon's Historical Records, there must have been different editions.

Just today I was on a library site where you can read scans of entire books, virtually flipping them page by page, from cover to cover, including the endpapers.

I went through every page of his book on the 42nd and it had no colour plates, just two black and white illustrations, and no piper shown.

Likewise the 74th piper in my post above is an illustration said to have come from Cannon, but it didn't appear in his book on the 74th in possession of that library. It had a colour plate showing only a soldier from 1787.

The library had number books of the Historical Records series, from the covers quite old, including the Highland regiments the 42nd, 71st, 72nd, 73rd, and 74th. None had an illustration of a piper. Usually they had one colour plate showing the regimental flags, and a second colour plate showing an Officer and an Other Ranks.

**blackwatch70** · 13th July 20, 03:09 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Thanks!

That's strange about the piper in Hunting Stewart. His crossbelt hardware does seem to be similar to what the 93rd pipers wore.

Dear OC Richard,
are you sure that is it Hunting Stewart tartan?
It looks like regular Black Watch tartan, worn by A&SH.
and in general he looks like a piper of 2nd Battn A&SH (ex-93rd Sutherland Highlanders) with correct belt, crossbelt and sporran, but he wears not-piper glengarry and diced hoses???
Very strange...

**figheadair** · 13th July 20, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by blackwatch70

Dear OC Richard,
are you sure that is it Hunting Stewart tartan?
It looks like regular Black Watch tartan, worn by A&SH.
and in general he looks like a piper of 2nd Battn A&SH (ex-93rd Sutherland Highlanders) with correct belt, crossbelt and sporran, but he wears not-piper glengarry and diced hoses???
Very strange...

Agreed, this is Government tartan, not Hunting Stewart.

**OC Richard** · 15th July 20, 05:44 AM

Originally Posted by blackwatch70

are you sure that is it Hunting Stewart tartan?
It looks like regular Black Watch tartan, worn by A&SH.

Sorry I was referring to the image Peter posted, a painting of a 93rd piper apparently wearing Hunting Stewart.

**Shinenotburn** · 15th July 20, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by figheadair

Richard,

A couple more. You may already be familiar with one or more.

Piper McLeod, 42nd by Cannon 1836

Does that tartan McLeod is wearing not look like the Murray of Tullibardine tartan?

72nd Piper c1847

Piper Rory McKay, 93rd from the Sword Dance by David Cunliffe, 1853. This one intrigues me as he's obvously wearing Hunting Stewart. Perhaps be was borrowed from another regiment that was also there.

Does that tartan McLeod is wearing not look like the Murray of Tullibardine tartan? If not what do you think it is?

**blackwatch70** · 15th July 20, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by Shinenotburn

Does that tartan McLeod is wearing not look like the Murray of Tullibardine tartan? If not what do you think it is?

Could I reply?
of course, it is 42nd Band (or Music) tartan.

https://www.scottishtartans.co.uk/42nd_Band_Tartan.pdf

**figheadair** · 15th July 20, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by blackwatch70

Could I reply?
of course, it is 42nd Band (or Music) tartan.

https://www.scottishtartans.co.uk/42nd_Band_Tartan.pdf

I don't believe that the 72nd ever wore the 42nd Music sett. This is the PCES tartan. In the image the light blue is more obvious.

72nd (c1847) Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders (Pipe Cpl) in Gibraltar by F. D. Breciano 1847

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**blackwatch70** · 21st July 20, 03:01 AM

Originally Posted by figheadair

I don't believe that the 72nd ever wore the 42nd Music sett. This is the PCES tartan. In the image the light blue is more obvious.

72nd (c1847) Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders (Pipe Cpl) in Gibraltar by F. D. Breciano 1847

I replied about Piper McLeod, 42nd by Cannon 1836.
Definitely he wears 42nd Music tartan.