WWII-ERA Officer Tam O'Shanter with Strange Badge Holes
 

I recently acquired a WWII-era Officer Tam O'Shanter. The TOS was made by William Anderson & Sons Ltd with King George VI's Royal Warrant of Appointment, for a manufacturing date of 1936-1952, give or take a few years depending upon when the warrant expired. The label has an almost illegible name written on it. The only thing I can make out is the rank (Major) and an "R" for the first name.

Based on the badge backing, I thought at first it was for an officer in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regiment. However, the badge holes are not horizontal. (I will let the pictures explain.)

Can anyone help to identify the badge that may have been on this TOS, and thereby the Regiment? Because there are two holes that are vertical to each other, I thought at first it was for the Royal Scots Fusiliers. However, it has three holes total and two of those are horizontal to each other! Whichever badge goes with the TOS, because it is an officer version it will be expensive, so the TOS may stay unbadged for a long time!

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this mystery TOS!

Reid

I can’t think off the top of my head a Scottish regiments badge worn then with 3 fixings maybe an officer from a non Scottish regiment attached to one ? Also is it just me or does the government tartan backing look a little out of place on the tam, very neat and tidy and clean considering it’s age , I’d of expected the backing to be more worn and frayed at the edges as jocks tended to do then ? may just be me :)

Gerard

The badge of the Highland Brigade / 51st Highland Volunteers has three lugs arranged two over one. Worn from the early 1960s to the 1990s. Also by Army Cadet Force.
The officers version (front) is shown in first photo, other ranks (back) in second photo.

Tim

When the A&SH were in Aden in 1967 the CO Lt Col Colin “Mad Mitch” Mitchell reintroduced the regimental cap badge (worn in the Glengarry) refusing to wear the ‘crucified moose’ of the Highland Brigade.

Tim

Thanks Tim, I knew there’d be one just couldn’t think of it .

Gerard

Photos

Tim

Gentlemen, I think the Highland Brigade badge makes the most sense. I was trying to look for WWII-era badges.

One thought is that the TOS was purchased prior to 1952 and never worn, or it was made by Wm & Sons and not purchased. It was then sold after 1958 to an officer of the A&S. So, a WWII-era TOS, with a post-1958 badge. Better is if it was a father's TOS passed down and rebadged. Final thought is the Royal Warrant from George VI did not expire for some time (5 years?) and was still being put on the labels at the time, or just prior, to the Highland and Lowland Brigade badges being made mandatory for wear. I wish I had more of the name than just the rank and an "R".

I collect primarily post-1952 Scottish headgear, so it appears I was actually sticking with my focus and didn't know it!

I have a Highland Brigade cap badge somewhere in my collection. I will see if it fits. If we have a match, then I will look for an officer's badge for the TOS. I assume they are not as expensive as a WWII-era A&S officer badge. At least I hope not.

Reid

The lugs for the Highland Brigade cab badge pretty much line up with the holes in the TOS. However, the anodized OR cap badge is too flimsy to force through the badge backing, which is probably backed by jute, and through the holes in the interior.

I have to start looking for the officer version, which will likely have stronger lugs.

Thanks again for all of the help figuring out this anomaly!

Reid

The only other badge that had a 2 over 1 arrangement was that of the OR Seaforth Hldrs. However, it was only found on earlier make badges and the spread of the holes would have been wider on the top than that of the TOS shown, so Highland Brigade it must be.

CB

Royal Warrants

“Kinloch Anderson Ltd holds 3 Royal Warrants of Appointment as Tailors and Kiltmakers to HM the Queen since 1955, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh since 1960 and HRH the Prince of Wales since 1980."

.

Thank you, Mike. That brings the date the TOS may have been made closer to 1958, when the Lowland and Highland Brigade cap badges became required for the line units.

The pictures of the officers wearing the badge are very valuable. I will put them into my files for the time when I can afford to buy the officer version of the HB cap badge.

It is too bad the name is so illegible. It would have been nice to confirm who wore the TOS.

I want to thank everyone for their expertise and input in support of solving this mystery.

Reid