40 Signal Regiment (V) Tara (Plaid) Brooch

[Chris Walker]

Dear Pretoni, Faugh-A-Ballagh, Irishorse, Mike 2817, Signalman, John Mulcahy, Servicepub, Blackie131 and Quicksilver.
You have all been absolutely brilliant.
Quicksilver who produced two photographs of sufficent clarity to be able to identify that the badge was indeed a Tara and not a Plaid Brooch.
Irishhorse for coming up with a photograph of what I believe the two members are wearing a Royal Irish Regiment Tara brooch.
Faugh-A-Ballagh for throwing the fisrt light for me any way on the ebay Tara that is up for sale, all beit a UDR badge.
Pretani for producing the Officer's caubeen with the original three colouired
hackel and although it has a metal"Jimmy" at present, you can quite clearly see the outline of where an Officer's bullion badge was once sewn.
I will eventually use this badge in my little web site.
Last question for you all
How do I find out what the Tartan is???? Spent the morning checking but difficult with only black and white photoes. Any ideas please.
Best wishes to you all
Chris Walker

[Chris Walker]

Dear All

Havejust looked at the Drum Majors Association under the heading of Royal Irish Rangers.

Their Drum Major has put a full set of embellishments of the Pipes & Drums and if you scroll down long enough there is an excellent photograpg of what I believe I have been looking for

An RIR TARA badge

The Tara is worn with the Irish Brath or Fly Plaid. I quote from another scource.
"Traditionaly Braths are pinned with a Tara-Style pennanular brooch rather than the Scottish - Style Plaid brooch."

Still need the tartan type though.

Cheers

Chris

[Mike_2817]

I think this is a candidate for a Freedom of Information Act Request, but get in quick before 40 Regt disbands at the end of March.

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Fr...on/FOIContact/

Target your requst to a specific question for each request.

i.e.

What was the Tartan worn by the 40 Signal Regiment (V) Pipe Band

It is free for simple requests.

[Alan O]

Just ring the Royal Signals museum or RHQ RSIGNALS and save some poor MOD staff officer having another FOI request!

[Mike_2817]

Alan, I had assumed that had been tried!

Can this thread be moved to BRITISH Corps as it a little out of place?

[Chris Walker]

Guys.

I have emailed the museum but that could take ages.

I am hoping that an email I have just sent to Ewen Cameron who was adjutant of 32 (Scottish) Signal Regiment (V) and president of their Corps of Pipes and Drums can help me.

I think Ewen was a member of 69 (NIH) Sig Sqn for a time so he may come up trumps with the Tartan quest

Best wishes and thanks

Chris Walker

[Mike_2817]

Originally Posted by Chris Walker

Guys.

I have emailed the museum but that could take ages.

~

Chris Walker

I know what you mean Chris, Regimental Museums are not always fast on the replies, or just ignore you sometimes!

Thats why at times I resort to a 'Freedom of Information Request' as they have to acknowledge within 20 days.

[Pretani]

Chris,

Hope this helps:

32nd (Scottish) Signal Regiment (Volunteers) Pipe Band

a. Tartan. No 15 (Red Grant No 1).

b. Sashes. The Pipe Major plain scarlet sash with single tassel, Drum Major a special design blue sash edged with gold lace and bearing the Royal Cypher, Corps cap badge and metal darts and Pipe Sgt the issue dark blue Royal Signals sash with single tassel in No 1 Dress (Ceremonial) and No 2 Dress (Ceremonial).

c. No 1 Dress (Ceremonial).

(1) Pipers.

Queen’s Own Highlander’s Glengarry with red torrie, 32 Sig Regt Pipes & Drums cap badge (a heraldic clan circular silver strap-and-buckle surmounted with a gilt and silver figure of Mercury) and two 9 inch Black Cock Feathers
No1 Dress Jacket Scottish Regiments (Green Doublet) with silver embellishments and buttons
Cross Belt – black with silver buckle and tip and 32 Sig Regt badge in the same pattern as for cap badge
Black plastic waist belt with silver mirror polished ornate highland design waist plate and matching Dirk frog
Dirk
Full Plaid
Plaid Brooch – Royal Signals pattern
Kilt
Kilt Pin of Corps cap badge design in gilt and silver
Hair Sporran
Diced Hose – red and black
Gaiters Highland
Garter Flashes
Skean Dhu
Shoes Highland

(2) Drummers. As for pipers except:

Half Plaid in lieu of full plaid
Tartan Trews
No Skean Dhu, Cross Belt, Hair Sporran, Diced Hose, Garter Flashes or Dirk

(3) Pipe Major. As for Pipers except:

Blue torrie on the Glengarry
Capbadge with gilt heraldic clan circular strap-and-buckle
Gold embellishments and buttons on the doublet
Pipe Majors chevrons and pipe badge in gold
Cross belt with gilt buckle, tip and badges
Waist belt with gilt ornate highland waist plate

(4) Drum Major. As for Drummers except:

Blue torrie on the Glengarry
Capbadge with gilt heraldic clan circular strap-and-buckle
Gold embellishments and buttons on the doublet
Drum Majors chevrons and drum badge in gold
Sword fitted with a white oval leather buff, gold orris sword knot and steel scabbard
Drum Major’s Mace bearing the Royal Signals cap badge
White cotton/nylon single button gloves

[Chris Walker]

Dear Pretani.

Many thanks for going to so much trouble with the list of accoutraments of 32 (Scottish) Sig Regt (V).

As you can see they specifie a Plaid Brooch Signals Pattern.

We are now convinced that 40 (U) Sig Regt (V) used a Tara Brooch to hold the Itrish Brath or Fly-Plaid on the left shoulder as I think is now clear on the two photographs that Quicksilver has put on this thread.

Am now waiting (I hope) for Ewen Cameron to come up with the goods on the Tartan

Best wishes

Chris

[Quicksilver]

Chris, Thank you for your kind comments. I have searched through my archives and found four more pix of 40 Sig Regts band. Those that doubted that they had a real band can now see that they certainly did. The tartan is recorded in correspondence from the Regiment as Ulster Tartan. I note that there appears to be one design but a number of different colours. I dont know which one is used but I expect it is the same as all the other regiments. Perhaps one of the Irish buffs knows the answer to this. 40 Signal Regiment is one of the best TA Signal Regiments because it has had to work under very difficult circumstances and it is sad that it is to be disbanded. Also shown for Chris are a couple of photos of a 32 Signal Regiment's Piper and his headdress badge. Note the KC on the badge. The photo is at least 20 years old.
Rgds Quicksilver

[Chris Walker]

Dear Quicksilver

Too the rescue again Cliffo. Glengarry with the Feathers and badge of a Piper of 32 (Scottish) Signals Regt with a Kings Crown. I show this well on my web site as I also have a picture of Ewan Cameron wearing his full dress Pipers uniform under the badge, but you can't see it as well as your photo.

Now have proof that it was a Pipe and Drum Corps and not just a one off Piper as has been suggested.

Tara badge is now very clear with the young Piper lady showing it very well.

I notice the senior NCO's are not wearing the Hackle at this time. Any idea of the date Cliffo?

I still have not had a reply from Ewan about the Tartan being worn. It looks a lot clearer in the latest photographs. Has any member any idea who I can ask within the Forum now that there is a better set of photographs??

Once again many thanks for your efforts.

Kind regards

Chris

[fougasse1940]

Whilst Googling I found this:
http://books.google.nl/books?id=031W...age&q=&f=false

Apparently they wear the Ulster tartan.

Rgds,
fougasse1940

[Peter Brydon]

The Ulster tartan has I think already been mentioned in this thread. Can anyone illustrate the sett ?.

P.B.

[fougasse1940]

Originally Posted by 8thfoot

The Ulster tartan has I think already been mentioned in this thread. Can anyone illustrate the sett ?.

P.B.

There are two different Ulster tartan setts, the yellow or ancient, and the modern or red one.

Rgds,
fougasse1940.

[Peter Brydon]

Thanks Fougasse,

This has been a most interesting thread. When I did an internet search for Ulster tartan it seemed to suggest there were 5 different setts.

P.B.