Regimental Nicknames and Traditions of the British Army

by Anonymous

PIPERS' PECULIARITIES

Regarding pipers it is a curious fact that the Regulations provide for an issue of fifes to Scottish regiments but not bagpipes, which have to be provided regimentally, although with the exception of the Scots Guards, the fifes are never drawn from stores. In the Royal Scots, Royal Scots Fusiliers, King's Own Scottish Borderers and Scottish Rifles, pipers are officially borne on the strength, but no clothing allowed for them, which has to be provided regimentally. The sergeant-pipers of the Scots Guards alone wear a crown and silver chevrons on their doublet sleeves, all other sergeant-pipers wearing gold chevrons without a crown.

There are many interesting peculiarities connected with uniforms or accoutrements. The Kilmarnock bonnets worn by the Royal Scots and King's Own Scottish Borderers, which were designed and issued for wear after the South African War, are quite distinctive, as also are the chacos of the Scottish Rifles and Highland Light Infantry, the former having a plume in front and the latter a ball. The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment is the only regiment in the Army wearing a sacred emblem as a badge, while the Buffs (East Kent Regiment) claim to have a far more ancient lineage than any other English regiment.