Re-Direction of my Highland Regiment Persona and Uniform

[RattlesnakeJack]

Greetings, All:

Thought I would post an announcement of something which has been coming together for me over the past month or so .....

As many of you know, one of my Victorian-era military impressions has been the British Army "Royal Highland Regiment" (i.e. The Black Watch).  Actually, what I would have preferred to depict, from the outset, is a Canadian Active Militia unit: The 5th Battalion, Royal Scots of Canada - which was the predecessor of the present-day "The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada". 

Here is an artist's representation of a Major of the 5th Royal Scots of Canada, circa 1890 -


Those who have seen my Black Watch dress uniform will note the similarity - all Highland Regiments in fact used standard patterns of Scottish Doublet and other accoutrements, but differed in many details, such as the facing colour (i.e. colour of collar and cuffs), the regimental tartan worn, pattern of sporran, pattern of dicing on the hose (i.e. stockings) and so on.  After a short initial period wearing the family tartan of the then-Governor-General of Canada (the Marquis of Lorne) the 5th Royal Scots adopted the Black Watch tartan (as seen above) and have worn that sett ever since ..... and, as a "Royal" regiment, they always had the same dark blue facing colour as the Black Watch.  There were the rather significant other differences however - unit insignia was completely distinct, of course.   Also, until after the end of the 19th Century the Royal Scots wore a different pattern of hose (i.e. red/white diced, rather than the red/black of the Black Watch) and a different pattern of horsehair sporran (two long black tassels  on white, rather than five shorter black tassels on white ....) 

Nevertheless, it has always remained in the back of my mind that I'd gladly incur the not inconsiderable expense of new horsehair sporran and other different accoutrements if a "switchover" to the 5th Royal Scots of Canada ever became practicable.    However, suitable reproduction insignia (the most important requirement, really) was never available ..... and, with a single original glengarry badge costing as much as $200-$300, using the "real thing" simply wasn't a viable option.   

That has remained the stumbling block ..... until recently!           

A month or so ago, a Highland accoutrements dealer up here in Canada (who quite some time ago arranged for reproduction of the metal badges of all of Canada's WWI Highland Overseas Battalions) listed on his eBay store three reproduction glengarry badges for the 5th Royal Scots of Canada.  I suppose I could have tried to win them by auction, but he had a "Buy It Now" price on each badge that wasn't exactly cheap.  Well, I wasn't about to let this opportunity pass,  so I immediately purchased all three - and have since acquired two more from him.  (Turns out these badges were prototypes and, unless he decides to go ahead with having more made, the five I got will be the only ones in existence!)  Two of them are silver-plated Officer's pattern, and three are brass, which is "Other Ranks" (i.e. enlisted) pattern -


You may be wondering why on earth I would need five such badges!  Well ......... almost all of the unit-specific accoutrements of the 5th Royal Scots of Canada (in particular the sporran badge, sword cross-belt plate, waist-belt plate, and British Pattern 1881 helmet plate) incorporate the same design - either complete with the scroll at the bottom, or utilizing just the "boar's head over 5" device.  For example here is a detail enlarged from the the above picture of the circa-1890 officer, showing the unit's helmet plate - a standard pattern in the British and Colonial forces of that time-frame, with just the unit-specific center differing ....  Although image quality leaves much to be desired, you can see that the Royal Scots helmet plate has a silver "boar's head over 5" device in the center -


Also, here is an original officer's pattern waist-belt plate, incorporating one of the known variations of the unit badge -


Indeed, the sporran badge used by the unit was the same glengarry badge, as can be seen in this period photo of a Royal Scots of Canada Private (taken during the short initial period when the 5th wore Lorne tartan, rather than Black Watch) -


In other words, in addition to properly badging my new glengarry cap (which has red/white dicing, rather than no dicing like the version worn by the Black Watch) the badges I have obtained will enable me to also make up appropriate additional accoutrements. To that end, I have already bought a new two-tassel sporran in appropriate late-Victorian styling, a new glengarry, red/white diced hosetops, and even the appropriate gold-plated helmet badge body ..... seen here with one of the silvered glengarry badges, from which I will cut (very carefully!) the boar's head/5 device for use as the center -


I have pretty much decided that, rather than a commissioned officer, my 5th Royal Scots of Canada impression will be that of  Regimental Sergeant-Major ..... such as the fellow standing in the middle of this group photo of the Senior Sergeants of the Battalion dating from 1898 -


The reason for that decision is that the RSM, as the highest ranking non-commissioned officer of a British regiment, was the only NCO who wore many accoutrements otherwise reserved for commissioned officers - such as the officer's pattern sash, worn across the left shoulder to the right hip, instead of the sergeant's pattern sash you see crossing over the right shoulder of all of the other Sergeants in the above photograph - and the sword-baldric (crossbelt) for the highland pattern sword.  I wanted to get away from depicting a commissioned officer, yet my "advanced age" calls out for me to at least be a senior NCO ..... and since I already have these various officer's accoutrements, Regimental Sergeant-Major seemed to be the best choice! 

Actually, the RSM, and the other fellows, in the above photo appear rather disgustingly young from my perspective ...... However, another group photo I have of all of the Officers and NCO's of the 5th Royal Scots reveals some Sergeants who are obviously quite well along in age, which is more encouraging to this "old fart"  -
   

Well, back to my "switching over" duties ......     

[Professor Marvel]

My Dear Jack -
a fascinating and thorough posting, sir, my  thanks. I have a question, however -
With such a plethora of accouterments, where (how ) will you carry your revolver(s) ?

yhs
Prof Marvel

[Colonel Buckshot]

They are all a lot of work getting the uniforms right but well worth the effort. 

[Advertising]

[RattlesnakeJack]

a fascinating and thorough posting, sir, my  thanks. I have a question, however -
With such a plethora of accouterments, where (how ) will you carry your revolver(s) ?

Thank you, indeed, Professor!  (As you can likely tell, I am quite excited about this opportunity finally emerging ....)

After once trying to wear the sword while shooting (in my Black Watch persona) at a GAF Muster,  I very soon discarded the bloody thing (.... thereafter reserving it only for the Dress uniform, with which firearms are not worn/carried, of course.)  That permits me to easily wear a holster and revolver cartridge pouch on one side,  and the "ball bag" for rifle cartridges (as seen on the waistbelt in the photo of the Private) on the other side .....

Indeed, one of my ulterior motives in deciding to keep myself at the Senior NCO level is the type of holster I can wear.  Instead of the rather inconvenient full-flap officer's pattern holster I have hitherto used, the NCO pattern holster in the British Army was a relatively simple open-top pattern, like this:


Mind you, I honestly don't know how much I gain by "leaving the sword in camp", as it were.   To be fully and "properly" equipped for the field as a Sergeant, rather than the standard  triangular-bladed socket bayonet I would have to tote the bloody great "yataghan" Sergeants- and Rifles-pattern sword bayonet that I am wearing here in my c-1885 Queen's Own Rifles of Canada getup -
 

[Texas Lawdog]

RSJ, I look forward to seeing the new uniform at the Muster this fall. My Scottish ancestors are ones I am proud of.

[Pitspitr]

Oh, sure! I see where this is going!

All your old uniforms have won and are therefore no longer eligible to win a uniform competition and you want to win a second bauble to where around your neck!   

Congratulations on your find!

[Cowtown Scout]

Rattlesnake Jack
Congratulations Sir on finally being able to depict The 5th Battalion, Royal Scots of Canada that you have desired for some time.  Thank you for the detailed explaination of the uniform and how you plan to put yours togeather.  I'm sure you will look smashing in the completed uniform.
Scout

[Texas Lawdog]

Scout, I noticed that you're havin' a birthday this month.

[Charlie Bowdre]

RSJ
What a great post . Love the info on one of 'our' Regiments. Thanks for the photos and the lesson.
Dutchy

[Dr. Bob]

RJR,

It is as usual, you are doing it right!  Very impressive.  Looking forward to the pictures when you have it all together!!

[US Scout]

I've always enjoyed your Royal Highland Regiment portrayal and look forward to seeing this one when it is complete.

Bill Johnson
aka US Scout
Bvt Brig Gen, GAF