Natal Mounted Rifles tartan? - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

iaindh · #1 06-11-11, 02:44 PM

Hi All,

according to this Scottish website on regimental tartans, the NMR wear a Douglas tartan:

http://www.scotclans.com/whats_my_cl...ental_tartans/

However, I've tried googling NMR sites and there's nothing to suggest that they wear a tartan and Owen's, as far I can see, does not show a piper's badge.

Can anyone clarify this for me?

Many thanks,

Iain

Traist · #2 06-11-11, 02:59 PM

Hi Iain, the NMR had a pipe band. I have looked in the NMR history now, but can not make out what badges and plaid brooch they are wearing. They are all wearing kilts in the photograph (dated 1962). Regards Andrew

iaindh · #3 06-11-11, 03:44 PM

Hi Andrew,

thanks, so Owens may just be missing the Piper's badges. Was it a book you referred to or is there a website?

regards,

Iain

Traist · #4 06-11-11, 04:39 PM

Hi Iain, it is a book. "The Official Natal Mounted Rifles History 1854-1969" by Eric Goetzsche. Regards Andrew

Alex Rice · #5 06-11-11, 07:34 PM

Hi Iain
I used to play for the NMR Pipe Band so I can state catagorically that it was the Douglas tartan

We used to just wear the regular NMR badge with 2 squares of douglas tartan behind it to form a star shape.
Cheers,
Alex

iaindh · #6 07-11-11, 02:49 AM

Hi Andrew, Alex,

thanks for the further info.
That's very interesting Alex, not only the fact that you played in the NMR band but that the regular badge with the 2 piece tartan backing, formed a star shape like the majority of Scottish military badges.

regards,

Iain

Alex Rice · #7 07-11-11, 08:54 AM

Hi Iain
More info: for a plaid brooch we just used to wear a commercially available plain brooch, a ring with a thistle pattern on it with a cairn-gorm stone in the centre. If the stone fell out they used to have an NMR collar badge soldered into the middle.
Cheers,
Alex

iaindh · #8 07-11-11, 10:12 PM

Hi Alex,

so no expense was spared!

but then necessity is the mother of invention.

Do you happen to have an original "Plaid brooch" by any chance?

regards,

Iain

Alex Rice · #9 08-11-11, 08:50 AM

hi Iain
I might have one knocking around, but with the cairn gorm, not the badge. Not sure where it is though... I have been trying to get one with the badge but no luck yet.
Cheers,
Alex