Post-WWII Scottish Unit Headgear (UK and Commonwealth)

[Reid10]

The forage cap, or "Staff" pattern hat, was introduced in 1905 to replace the NP Forage Cap. (In the picture above, the Scots Guards Private and what appears to be a Company Sergeant Major are wearing the NP Forage Cap, circa 1904.) The NP Forage Cap, more commonly known as the "Broderick Cap" was authorized to be worn by the Brigade of Guards in November 1900 and the Scots Guards were to be the first to receive it. (Though the Irish Guards in fact were the first to wear it.) It was not well liked, hence the replacement by the peaked forage cap.

For more information on British Army Headdress, to include the Broderick Cap, see Bruce Bassett-Powell's excellent website: Uniformology

[Watchdog]

Attachment 1730986

Attachment 1730987

A point to note regarding Scots Guards forage (visor) caps is the chin strap. Many will observe that the cap shown here does not have one but may not realise that this is correct for this regiment. The Scots Guards do not wear a chin strap on forage caps. This is a long standing tradition but as far as I am aware the origin of the habit is not precisely recorded.

As an aside to put such a distinction into context; They are the only one of the five regiments of footguards that do not wear a plume in the bearskin hat. This is attributed to them being the third in the line when all five faced the enemy on the field. The Grenadier Guards are the first or "Right" of the line and wear a white plume on the left, The Coldstream Guards are 2nd and have a red plume on the right, 3rd or centre of the line is The Scots Guards with no plume, 4th is the Irish Guards with a blue plume on the right and 5th The Welsh Guards have a white/green/white plume on the left.

Regards

Mark