TheGlengarrybonnetis a traditional Scots cap made of thick-milledwoollenmaterial, decorated with atoorieon top, frequently a rosettecockadeon the left side, and ribbons hanging behind. It is normally worn as part ofScottishmilitary or civilianHighland dress,either formal or informal, as an alternative to theBalmoral bonnetorTam o' Shanter.
History
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Traditionally, the Glengarry bonnet is said to have first appeared as the head dress of theGlengarry Fencibleswhen they were formed in 1794 byAlexander Ranaldson MacDonell of Glengarry,ofClan MacDonell of Glengarry.MacDonell, therefore, is sometimes said to have invented the Glengarry – but it is not clear whether early pictures of civilians orFencibleinfantry show a true glengarry, capable of being folded flat, or the standard military bonnet of the period merely cocked into a more "fore-and-aft" shape.[1]The first use of the classic, military glengarry may not have been until 1841, when it is said to have been introduced for the pipers of the 79th Foot by the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Lauderdale Maule.[2]
It was only in the 1850s that the Glengarry became characteristic undress headgear of the Scottish regiments of theBritish Army.By 1860, the Glengarry without a diced border and usually with a feather had been adopted by pipers in all regiments except the 42nd (Black Watch), whose pipers wore the full dressfeather bonnet.In 1914, all Scottish infantry regiments were wearing dark blue Glengarries in non-ceremonial orders of dress, except for theCameronians(Scottish Rifles) who wore them inrifle green,and theScots Guards,who wore peakedforage capsor khakiservice dresscaps.
The diced bands on Glengarries were either in red, white and blue for royal regiments or red, white and green for others. The toories on top could be red, royal blue or black, according to regiment. The Black Watch and Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, however, wore Glengarries without dicing andThe 93rd (Sutherland) Highlanderswere unique in wearing a simple red and white chequer pattern. This was said to commemorate the stand of the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders at theBattle of Balaclavaimmortalized asthe Thin Red Line.[citation needed]
Between 1868 and 1897, the Glengarry was also worn as an undress cap for mostBritish soldiersuntil replaced by the short-livedAustrian cap,replaced in turn in 1902 by theBrodrick cap(to which a peak was added to produce the design of cap worn in regimental colours with undress and in khaki withService Dressat the start of theFirst World War). When the Austrian-styleside capwas revived in 1937 as theUniversal Pattern Field Service Cap(used by theBritish Armyin theSecond World War), theDress Regulations for the Army,described it as "similar in shape to the Glengarry".
Modern wear
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The Glengarry continued to be worn in dark blue by all regiments of theScottish Divisionup to their final amalgamation into theRoyal Regiment of Scotlandin 2006. In parade dress, it was worn by all regiments except theBlack Watch,who wore the blueBalmoral bonnet,and musicians of some regiments, who wore feather bonnets in full dress. The Black Watch, however, wore a plain blue Glengarry in some orders of dress with trews. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) wore a plain rifle green Glengarry up until their disbandment in 1968. The blue Glengarry currently worn by the Royal Regiment of Scotland has red, green and white dicing, a redtoorie,black silk cockade and the regimental cap badge surmounted by ablackcock(Tetrao tetrix) feather. This last is a tradition taken from theRoyal ScotsandKing's Own Scottish Borderers.OtherCommonwealthmilitary forces that have Scottish and Highland regiments also make use of the Glengarry.[3]
Irish Army
editThe headdress worn byIrish Army's Cavalry Corps is called a Glengarry but is more similar to thecaubeen[4]in appearance,[5]than to the Scottish headdress of the same name. It was designed in 1934 for theCavalry Corpsas a more practical headdress than the standard peaked cap in the confines of their armoured cars and tanks. The Glengarry is the same colour as the army's service dress uniform with a black band and two black swallow-tail ribbons at the rear. The cap badge is worn over the left eye. Officers in theRDFwear a similar Glengarry but with green band and ribbons as part of their service dress uniform. Army pipers and drummers wear a black Glengarry with a saffron band and ribbons and a dark green feather hackle.
Civilian wear
editThe Glengarry is worn by male members of staff at thePalace of Holyroodhouse,the King's Official residence in Scotland.
The Glengarry is also commonly worn by civilians, notably civilian pipe bands, but can be considered an appropriate hat worn by any man with Highland casual dress or day wear. In this context, it most often has a red toorie. In pipe bands, women often also wear the Glengarry.
The Glengarry is the headdress stipulated in Dress Regulations for Officers of theBoys' Brigade;namely Warrant Officers, Lieutenants and Brevet Captains.
Police use of diced band
editIn 1932Percy Sillitoe,the Chief Constable of theCity of Glasgow Police,abolished the traditionalcustodian helmetand added a new feature to thepeaked capsworn by his police officers. This new feature was a black and white chequered cap band based on the dicings seen on the Glengarry headdress of the Scottish regiments. The diced band, popularly known as theSillitoe tartan,later spread to police forces in Australia,New Zealand,and the rest of the United Kingdom, as well as to some other parts of the world, notably Chicago.
Method of wearing
editThe correct method of wearing the Glengarry has changed since the end of theSecond World War.Prior to 1945, Glengarries were generally worn steeply angled, with the right side of the cap worn low, often touching the ear, and the side with the capbadge higher on the head. The trend since the end of the war has been to wear the Glengarry level on the head, with the point directly over the right eye.
References
edit- ^The King's Jaunt,John Prebble, Birlinn Limited, Edinburgh 2000,ISBN1-84158-068-6,states that MacDonell invented the cap. However,"Glengarry Cap – Diced".Scots Connection.Archived fromthe originalon 3 November 2013.Retrieved1 February2009.This claims that the idea came from Balmoral bonnet wearers who bent and creased their bonnets and then was popularised by MacDonell. In the late 18th century, however, the term Balmoral bonnet had yet to be coined.
- ^[1][dead link]
- ^"Army Standing Orders for Dress".Archived fromthe originalon 31 July 2009.Retrieved4 April2010.[clarification needed]
- ^"How army's new chief brings fresh focus on army's Glengarry cap".Heral.ie.
The Glengarry differs from its Scottish counterpart by being more of a caubeen with tails, experts say.
- ^MacCarron, Donal (2004).Irish Defence Forces since 1922.Osprey Publishing Ltd. p.43.ISBN1-84176-742-5.
The cap was called in the Irish Army a 'Glengarry' – confusing for the British, for whom a glengarry is a decorated scottish sidecap, while the Irish beret is known as a Caubeen
- British Glengarries –British Army Uniforms and Equipment of World War Two.Brian L. Davis, Arms and Armour Press, London 1983ISBN0-85368-609-2
- Canadian Glengarries in the First World War –Khaki.Clive M. Law, Service Publications, OttawaISBN0-9699845-4-5
- Canadian Glengarries in the Second World War –Dressed to Kill.Michael A. Dorosh, CD, Service Publications, Ottawa, 2001ISBN1-894581-07-5
- A Dictionary of Military Uniform.W.Y. Carman.ISBN0-684-15130-8
- The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments.R. M. Barnes.