Asian Scottish regimental tartans

[DavidS]

Current eBay listings have some Asian Scottish regiments (Calcutta, Shanghai). These are all strange and new to me, so while web-searching for regimental information, I came across a site listing tartans worn and now have an idle curiosity about the choice/lineage of tartans for these regiments.

Says the Calcutta and Shanghai reg.s both wore Stewart Hunting, as did Bombay Vol. Rifles. Would this be because of their lineage from a common 'parent' British regiment when they were created/trained, an actual deliberate geographic distinction (i.e. all Indian/Chinese Scottish to wear Stewart Hunting) or just coincidence?

[Peter Brydon]

Not quite all the "asian" scottish units wore Hunting Stewart, according to the Barnes "The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments",The Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force,Scottish company wore Gordon Tartan

These units do not appear to be affiliated to any regular "Scottish" regiments and so may have adopted Hunting Stewart because it was easily obtained, but I am most interested if anyone has another explanation

( I seem to think that permission usually had to be obtained from the clan chief or someone similar before any particular tartan could be worn by any person of body who did not have the right to wear it by birth )

P.B.

[seanus]

The Bombay Scottish adopted Hunting Stewart to stop any clan or personal feelings interfering with the decision. It would also make transfer between Calcutta, Bombay and Rangoon units easier.
Permission was sought and obtained from the King-Emperor for its use.
Info from their 1916 Journal held by the British Library

Sean
www.uniformsotw.co.uk