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History of the Band Uniform
In July of 1902, between fifteen to twenty ex-bandsmen headed by R. W.
Roelofson wen to Elora to perform for the MacGregor-Gourley picnic. All the
boys were so pleased with their performance that in the same month the
"Galt Band" was organized.
At the annual meeting on Mrach 6, 1906, it was agreed to purchase forty-
three, 1895 balck Watch Highland Dress Uniforms from Fraser Ross & Co. in
Glasgow, Scotland. At the same meeting the Galt Band name was changed to the
"Galt Kiltie Band".
The uniforms were recieved and were worn for the first time on May 24,
1906, and although, the Black Watch have changed their uniforms to "The
Greens", we are still wearning the 1895 style uniform today. If you look
for the Tartan under Clans such as Gordon, MacGregor, Stewart, etc., you will
not find it. The Black Watch was not from a "clan". In
1739 it was the tartan (green, blue, and black check) for a regiment. This was
a "government pattern" and the regiment was called the "Black
Watch". Watch was used by the clans to guard against cattle raiding. The
uniform started in 1739 and has been changed three times: i.e. 1944, 1895, and
to the greens in 1969.
Our uniform has many parts which are called:
| GLENGARY |
This is your hat. Actually, we have a "DICED" Glengarry.
The red, white, and black aquares give it this distinction.
It was named after Glengarry in 1835 - 1845, a valley in Invernesshire, Scotland.
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| HACKLE |
This is your feather in your Glengarry.
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| GLEN PIN |
This is the pin, with our crest thereon, that is attached to the Glengarry.
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| DOUBLET |
This is your jacket made to keep you warm--a costly item.
We used to wear them all year, but now only from September 1st to the end of May.
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| BELT |
Made of leather and a portion of our crest is on the belt plate (or buckle).
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| PLAID |
The word means blanket. This is your shawl. I have been told that
"when a Highland Clansman, out in the moors, went to sleep, the plaid
was put on top of the heather to prevent moisture from dropping on him".
Bette was told: "A walking stick pushed into the ground, would be used to make a makeshift tent."
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| BROOCH |
This is the pin tha ti sattached to your plaid in the upper left corner. Our crest is on the brooch.
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| KILT |
This is your skirt. Another costly item. They come in two sizes:
seven yard and eight yard, dependant on depth of pleats. As per Burnett's & Struth, when not being used as a covering
during sleep, it formed the wearing apparel on the lower half of the body of a Highland Clansman.
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| KILT PIN |
Worn on the outside flap of yoru kilt on the bottom right. It has our crest thereon.
I read that it was used to hold your kilt up and was located in the center top of your kilt.
Gord was told: "in early 1900 when the Queen inspected the troops, a strong wind blew the kilt up which proved very embarrassing."
The pin was used to keep the kilt down.
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| SPORRAN |
As there are no pockets on a kilt, the sporran was used as a purse for carrying change, etc.
The one we are wearing is a Horse Hair Thistle Sporran. There are many, or more than seventy-five, different sporrans.
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| HORSE TOPS |
Our hose (knee-high sock tops) are knitted (4-ply) are red and black diced. Shoudl be fairly tight fitting for warmth.
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| FLASHES |
These are your garters (tabs) for your hose.
The inverted "V" is on the inside (back) and the straight edge is on the outside (front).
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| SPATS |
On top of your hose tops and covering the tops of your shoes.
White with velcro fastening (the ones with buttons are now long gone).
Put them in the washing machine frequently, to keep them clean.
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| SHOES |
This is the only part of the uniform that the band does not issue. Black shoes are expected.
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Summer Uniform - shirts and ties
Photograph of the Kilties in front of the Teeswater Library in August, 1999 at the Old Boys Reunion.
Winter Uniform - Doublets & Plaids
Photograph of the Kilties in front of the Teeswater Library in August, 1989 at the Old Boys Reunion.
- Sources:
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- Researched and written by Bob Fox, bandmember.
- Published in the Band Newsletter #17, Christmas 1997
- Revised and retyped by band member, Graham Nasby, in 1999.
- Posted to the web in 1999.
- Reformated for new website on April 3, 2005.
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