Scottish Regiment Tartan Badge Backings
 

I am not aware of a book or source for what regiments wore a tartan backing to their cap badges, so have gone through my Copy of Doyle and Foster "British Army Cap Badges of the Second World War" and using this book I created a list of those mentioned. Not the expert, but this might give a start, as I am sure those more knowledgeable can add to or amend the list. I also am not listing the cut of the tartan or how it is positioned behind the badge.

WW2 SCOTTISH CAP BADGE BACKING from Doyle and Foster

London Scottish – Hodden Grey Square
Liverpool Scottish Queen’s Own Highlanders – Forbes Tartan Square
Glasgow Highlanders Highland Light Infantry – Government Tartan Square
5th (Caithness & Sutherland) Battalion Seaforth – Government Tartan Square
Tyneside Scottish, the Black Watch – Government Tartan Square
Argyle & Sutherland (Badge Voided after 1913) – Government Tartan Square
Cameron, Queen’s Own Highlanders – Cameron of Erracht Tartan Square
Gordon Highlanders – Gordon Tartan Square
Seaforth Highlanders – Mackenzie Tartan Square
Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow) – Mackenzie Tartan Square
Black Watch – Government tartan Square
Cameronians – Douglas Tartan Square
Kings Own Scottish Borders – Lesley Tartan Square
Royal Scots Fusiliers – Government Tartan Square
Royal Scots (1st Btn Red Center, 2nd Btn Green Center) – Hunting Stewart Tartan Square
Scots Guards – Royal Stewart Tartan Square
The Highland Regiment –
Lowland regiment –
Lovat Scouts -
Caithness & Sutherland Home Guard – Sutherland Tartan Square

Terry

5th Bn Parachute Regiment - Hunting Stewart tartan to Para Regt beret badge - diamond shape (Also used post WWII by 15 PARA (SV). )

Not sure the Black Watch ever wore a tartan square on the Tam. Always the red hackle to my knowledge.

CB

Thanks Colin and CB. I am not just interested in WW2 as I collect all periods if I can in my areas.

Colin, would it be the para cap badge worn on the diamond Hunting Stewart then? Would that be correct for an A/A cap badge?

Thanks again,

Terry

5 Para Bn originally wore the first pattern AAC badge with the Hunting Stewart tartan backing on a Tam-O-Shanter and then on a maroon beret. The AAC cap badge was then replaced by the Parachute Regiment cap badge after 1943.

The Territorial Army 15 PARA (SV) wore a Parachute Regiment cap badge (in anodised aluminium ‘Staybrite’ as soon as that form was adopted after WWII) with a Hunting Stewart tartan backing on their maroon berets 1947-93, with 15 (Scottish) Company of 4 PARA(V) wearing the backing for a period after that.

Excellent Colin, many thanks! A war time badge is out of my range, but a nice A/A one will do nicely.

Was it worn as a square or some other shape?

Terry

Both 5th Bn and 15 PARA(SV) wore the backing as a diamond. 15 PARA(SV) wore it aligned so the red stripe ran from from the midpoint of the right upper edge to the midpoint of the left lower edge. (I attach a photo but note that the tips of the badge should be aligned with the tips of the backing, unlike whoever fitted the badge in the photo.)

Colin, My very sincere thanks! As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!!! One I hope to add now.

Terry

That would be the case. Red Hackle on the khaki ToS or blue Balmoral. Cap badge without cockade on the plain blue Glengarry.