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The hackle is a feather
Feather

Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates....
 plume
Plume

Plume may refer to:In fashion:* A prominent bird feather#Utilitarian functions often used as an ornament** Hackle, an ornamental plume on a uniform headdress...
 that is attached to the headdress.

In the British Army
British Army

The British Army is the Army branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707....
 and the armies of some Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, also known as the Commonwealth or the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organization of fifty-three independent member states....
 countries the hackle is worn by some infantry
Infantry

Infantry are soldiers who are primarily trained for the role of fighting on foot. A soldier in the infantry is known as an infantryman. Infantry units have more physically demanding training than other branches of armies, and place a greater emphasis on fitness, physical strength and aggression....
 regiment
Regiment

A regiment is a military unit, composed of variable numbers of battalions, commanded by a Colonel. Depending on the nation, military branch, mission, and organization, a modern regiment resembles a brigade, in that both range in size from a few hundred to 5,000 soldiers ....
s, especially those designated fusilier
Fusilier

Fusilier was originally the name of a soldier armed with a light flintlock musket called the fusil. The word was first used around 1680, and has later developed into a regimental designation....
 regiments and those with Scottish
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
 and Northern Irish
Northern Ireland

conventional_long_name = Northern Ireland|native_name= Tuaisceart ?ireannNorlin Airlann|motto =|image_map = Europe location N-IRL2.png...
 origins. It was commonly attached to the feather bonnet
Feather bonnet

The feather bonnet is a type of military headdress used mainly by the Scottish Highlands infantry regiments of the British Army from about 1763 until the outbreak of World War I....
 worn by Highland
Scottish Highlands

The Scottish Highlands include the rugged and mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault, although the exact boundaries are not clearly defined, particularly to the east....
 regiments (now usually only worn by drum
Drum

The drum is a member of the percussion instrument group, technically classified as a membranophone.. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with parts of a player's body, or with some sort of implement such as a drumstick, to produce sound....
mers, pipers
Bagpipes

Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones using enclosed reed fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes have historically been found throughout Europe, and into Northern Africa, the Persian...
 and bandsmen). The colour of the hackle varies from regiment to regiment.


There were several other fusilier regiments which have been amalgamated and no longer exist.






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Encyclopedia


The hackle is a feather
Feather

Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates....
 plume
Plume

Plume may refer to:In fashion:* A prominent bird feather#Utilitarian functions often used as an ornament** Hackle, an ornamental plume on a uniform headdress...
 that is attached to the headdress.

In the British Army
British Army

The British Army is the Army branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707....
 and the armies of some Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, also known as the Commonwealth or the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organization of fifty-three independent member states....
 countries the hackle is worn by some infantry
Infantry

Infantry are soldiers who are primarily trained for the role of fighting on foot. A soldier in the infantry is known as an infantryman. Infantry units have more physically demanding training than other branches of armies, and place a greater emphasis on fitness, physical strength and aggression....
 regiment
Regiment

A regiment is a military unit, composed of variable numbers of battalions, commanded by a Colonel. Depending on the nation, military branch, mission, and organization, a modern regiment resembles a brigade, in that both range in size from a few hundred to 5,000 soldiers ....
s, especially those designated fusilier
Fusilier

Fusilier was originally the name of a soldier armed with a light flintlock musket called the fusil. The word was first used around 1680, and has later developed into a regimental designation....
 regiments and those with Scottish
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
 and Northern Irish
Northern Ireland

conventional_long_name = Northern Ireland|native_name= Tuaisceart ?ireannNorlin Airlann|motto =|image_map = Europe location N-IRL2.png...
 origins. It was commonly attached to the feather bonnet
Feather bonnet

The feather bonnet is a type of military headdress used mainly by the Scottish Highlands infantry regiments of the British Army from about 1763 until the outbreak of World War I....
 worn by Highland
Scottish Highlands

The Scottish Highlands include the rugged and mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault, although the exact boundaries are not clearly defined, particularly to the east....
 regiments (now usually only worn by drum
Drum

The drum is a member of the percussion instrument group, technically classified as a membranophone.. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with parts of a player's body, or with some sort of implement such as a drumstick, to produce sound....
mers, pipers
Bagpipes

Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones using enclosed reed fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes have historically been found throughout Europe, and into Northern Africa, the Persian...
 and bandsmen). The colour of the hackle varies from regiment to regiment.

British Army


Fusilier Regiments


In the British Army
British Army

The British Army is the Army branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707....
, there is a single regiment of fusiliers, plus a battalion of a large regiment:
  • Royal Regiment of Fusiliers: Red over white
  • Royal Highland Fusiliers
    Royal Highland Fusiliers

    The Royal Highland Fusiliers was a regular Scottish line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division, and abbreviated as 'The RHF'....
     (a battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland): White


There were several other fusilier regiments which have been amalgamated and no longer exist. Their colours were as follows:

  • Lancashire Fusiliers
    Lancashire Fusiliers

    The Lancashire Fusiliers was a United Kingdom infantry regiment that was amalgamated with other Fusilier regiments in 1968 to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers....
    : Primrose yellow
  • Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)

    The Royal Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. It was known as the 7th Regiment of Foot until 1881....
    : White
  • Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
    Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

    The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was an Ireland infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 27th Regiment of Foot and the 108th Regiment of Foot ....
    : Grey
  • Royal Irish Fusiliers
    Royal Irish Fusiliers

    The Royal Irish Fusiliers was an Ireland infantry regiment of the British Army, raised originally as 87 Prince of Wales's Irish Regiment of Foot in 1793 and later combined with The 89 Regiment in Cardwell Reforms....
    : Green
  • Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
    Royal Northumberland Fusiliers

    The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was one of England's premier county regiments and can trace its ancestry back to 1674.When first raised it was part of the Dutch Service and known as the Irish Regiment, or Viscount Clare's Regiment....
    : Red over white
  • Royal Scots Fusiliers
    Royal Scots Fusiliers

    The Royal Scots Fusiliers was a Regiment of the British Army....
    : White
  • Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers: Blue over Gold
  • Royal Welch Fusiliers
    Royal Welch Fusiliers

    The Royal Welch Fusiliers were a regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. It was founded in 1689 to oppose James II of England and the imminent war with France....
    : White
The fictional regiment featured in the series Soldier Soldier
Soldier Soldier

Soldier Soldier was a United Kingdom television drama series. The title comes from a traditional song of the same name.Produced by Central Television and broadcast on the ITV network, it ran for a total of seven series and 82 episodes from 1991 to 1997....
 is also a fusilier regiment:

  • King's Own Fusiliers
    King's Own Fusiliers

    The King's Own Fusiliers is a fictional British Army infantry regiment portrayed in the ITV drama series Soldier Soldier. Like all fusilier regiments, the King's Own Fusiliers wears a hackle in its head-dress; this is coloured dark blue over white....
    : Blue over white


Non-Fusilier Regiments


Non-fusilier regiments which wear the hackle are:

  • Irish Guards
    Irish Guards

    The Irish Guards , part of the Guards Division, is a Foot Guards regiment of the British Army.Along with the The Royal Irish Regiment , it is one of only two purely Irish regiments remaining in the British Army....
     (pipers on caubeen
    Caubeen

    A caubeen is an Irish soldier's headdress, a variation on the beret or tam o'shanter. It is taken from the traditional Irish peasants' headdress....
     only): St Patrick's blue
  • Brimingham UOTC: The RRF (red over white) hackle
  • The Queen's UOTC: St Patricks Blue
  • Liverpool Scottish (now a platoon of A (King's) Company, King's and Cheshire Regiment
    King's and Cheshire Regiment

    The King's and Cheshire Regiment was a regiment of the United Kingdom Territorial Army, with Headquarters in Warrington, Cheshire.The regiment was the territorial battalion of the regular The King's Regiment and The Cheshire Regiment....
    ): Royal blue
  • London Irish Rifles
    London Irish Rifles

    The London Irish Rifles is now known more formally known as "D Company, London Regiment" and is a volunteer Rifle Regiment with a distinguished history....
     (now D (London Irish Rifles) Company, London Regiment
    London Regiment

    The London Regiment is a Territorial Army regiment in the British Army. It was first formed in 1908 in order to regiment the various Volunteer Force battalions in the newly formed County of London, each battalion having a distinctive uniform....
    ): Green [Pipers wear St Patrick's blue]
  • Royal Irish Regiment (as the direct descendent of two regiments of fusiliers): Green
  • Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
    Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

    The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is a Cavalry regiments of the British Army of the British Army, and the senior Scottish regiment. It was formed on 2 July 1971 at Holyrood, Edinburgh, by the amalgamation of the 3rd Carabiniers , and Scots Greys....
     (pipers on feather bonnet only): White
  • Royal Welsh
    Royal Welsh

    The Royal Welsh was formed on St David's Day, 1 March 2006. It is one of the new large infantry regiments of the British Army, and the regiment's formation was announced on 16 December 2004 by Geoff Hoon and Michael Jackson as part of the restructuring of the British Army Infantry....
     (Other Ranks only): White
  • Scots Guards
    Scots Guards

    The Scots Guards is a regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, whose origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland....
     (pipers on feather bonnet only): Blue over red
Following the amalgamtion of the regiments of the Scottish Division
Scottish Division

The Scottish Division is a British Army Infantry command, training and administrative apparatus designated for all Scottish line infantry units....
 to form The Royal Regiment of Scotland on 28 March 2006, the following hackles are being worn by the regiment's constituent battalions:

  • Royal Scots Borderers
    Royal Scots Borderers

    The Royal Scots Borderers is the name given to the 1st Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland . The battalion was formed in August 2006 by the amalgamation of the Royal Scots and King's Own Scottish Borderers....
     (1 SCOTS): Black
  • Royal Highland Fusiliers
    Royal Highland Fusiliers

    The Royal Highland Fusiliers was a regular Scottish line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division, and abbreviated as 'The RHF'....
     (2 SCOTS): White
  • Black Watch
    Black Watch

    The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.Prior to 28 March 2006, the Black Watch was an infantry regiment in its own right; The Black Watch from 1931 to 2006, and The Royal Highland Regiment from 1881 to 1931....
     (3 SCOTS): Red
  • The Highlanders
    The Highlanders

    The Highlanders may refer to:*Highlanders - A professional rugby union team*The Highlanders - a British Army infantry regiment*The Highlanders Shinty Club - a shinty club representing the British Army...
     (4 SCOTS): Blue
  • Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
    Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

    The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. In 2004, as part of the Delivering Security in a Changing World, it was announced that the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders would be amalgamated with the other Scottish infantry regiments into the single Royal Regiment of Scotla...
     (5 SCOTS): Green


Whilst the white hackle of 2 SCOTS, red hackle of 3 SCOTS and blue hackle of 4 SCOTS have a known ancestry, the origin of 1 SCOTS black hackle and 5 SCOTS green hackle are not clear and have no apparent precedent. It may be that the black hackle of 1 SCOTS simulates the black-cock tail feathers originally worn in the 1904 pattern Kilmarnock Bonnet and latterly in the regimental Glengarry Cap by the Royal Scots and King's Own Scottish Borderers
King's Own Scottish Borderers

The King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the David Melville, 3rd Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II....
, who merged in August 2006 to form 1 SCOTS. Alternatively, it may be a sympathetic gesture to a former Lowland regiment, the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), disbanded in 1968, who wore a black hackle in their rifle green dress Balmoral. The adoption of the green hackle now being worn by the Argylls battalion (5 SCOTS) is no doubt a continuation of that regiment's association with the colour green, most prominent in the hue of their regimental kilts and stripes on their regimental association ties. (It is, however, worthy of note that in the 19th Century, all line regiments of the British Army used to designate their "light company" with a green hackle.) The Regimental Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland does not wear the hackle.

Former non-fusilier regiments, now amalgamated, which also wore the hackle were:

  • Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
    Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

    The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. In 2004, as part of the Delivering Security in a Changing World, it was announced that the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders would be amalgamated with the other Scottish infantry regiments into the single Royal Regiment of Scotla...
     (feather bonnet only): White
  • Black Watch
    Black Watch

    The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.Prior to 28 March 2006, the Black Watch was an infantry regiment in its own right; The Black Watch from 1931 to 2006, and The Royal Highland Regiment from 1881 to 1931....
    : Red
  • The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
    The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

    The Cameronians was an infantry regiment of the British Army, the only rifle regiment amongst the Scotland regiments of infantry. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of two other regiments:...
    : Black
  • Gordon Highlanders (feather bonnet only): White
  • The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)
    The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)

    The Highlanders was an infantry regiment, part of the Scottish Division. The regiment was the only one in the British Army with a Gaelic language motto - Cuidich 'n Righ which means "Aid the King"....
    : Royal blue
  • Highland Light Infantry
    Highland Light Infantry

    The Highland Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. In 1923 the regimental title was expanded to the Highland Light Infantry ...
    : White over red
  • Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
    Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders

    The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1793. In 1961 it was merged with the Seaforth Highlanders to form the Queen's Own Highlanders....
    : Royal blue
  • Queen's Own Highlanders: Royal blue
  • Queen's Royal Irish Hussars
    Queen's Royal Irish Hussars

    The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars, normally referred to by the abbreviation QRIH, was a Cavalry regiments of the British Army of the British Army formed from the amalgamation of the 4th Queen's Own Hussars and the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars in Hohne, West Germany in 1958....
     (pipers on caubeen only): White over red
  • Royal Irish Rangers
    Royal Irish Rangers

    The Royal Irish Rangers was a regular infantry regiment of the British Army....
    : Green
  • 40 (Ulster) Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals: Navy blue, sky blue and green.
  • Royal Corps of Transport
    Royal Corps of Transport

    The Royal Corps of Transport was a British Army corps formed in 1965 from the transport and movement control elements of the Royal Logistic Corps and the Royal Engineers....
     (pipers on feather bonnet only): Red over white over blue
  • Royal Ulster Rifles
    Royal Ulster Rifles

    The Royal Ulster Rifles was an Ireland infantry regiment of the British Army. It saw service in the First World War and the Second World War, before being amalgamated into the Royal Irish Rangers in 1968....
    : Black
  • Seaforth Highlanders
    Seaforth Highlanders

    The Seaforth Highlanders was a historic regiment of the British Army associated with large areas of the northern Highlands of Scotland. The Seaforth Highlanders have varied in size from two battalions to seventeen battalions during the World War I....
     (feather bonnet only): White


Canadian Army


Hackle Cameron Highlanders of Canada
There are also several fusilier regiments in the Canadian Army
Canadian Forces Land Force Command

Land Force Command , often also called the Canada Army, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces.The current size of Land Force Command is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers....
 which wear the hackle (the French-speaking fusilier regiments do not appear to do so):

  • Princess Louise Fusiliers
    The Princess Louise Fusiliers

    The Princess Louise Fusiliers is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces....
    : French grey
  • Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
    The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada

    The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. Prince Andrew, Duke of York, as a member of the Monarchy in Canada#Canadian Royal Family, acts as Colonel-in-Chief....
    : White


Scottish-influenced non-fusilier regiments which wear the hackle include:

  • Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (drummers on feather bonnet only): White
  • Black Watch of Canada: Red
  • Calgary Highlanders (drummers on feather bonnet only): White
  • Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa: Royal blue
  • Canadian Scottish Regiment (drummers on feather bonnet only): White
  • Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment (feather bonnet only): White
  • Lorne Scots: Primrose yellow
  • Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
    The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada

    The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces....
    : Royal blue (except pipers in full dress, who wear an eagle feather instead).
  • Seaforth Highlanders of Canada (drummers on feather bonnet only): White


Irish-influenced non-fusilier regiments which wear the hackle (on the caubeen) include:

  • 2nd Battalion, Irish Regiment of Canada: Green (light blue for senior NCOs and officers)


Indian Army


In the Indian Army
Indian Army

The Indian Army is the largest branch of the Indian Armed Forces of India and has the responsibility for army military operations. Its primary objectives include defending India from external aggression, maintaining peace and security within the country, patrolling borders and conducting counter-terrorist operations....
, a few selected infantry regiments wear the hackle:

  • Brigade of the Guards
    Brigade of the Guards

    The Brigade of the Guards is an Indian Mechanized Infantry regiment, which was once the only regiment of Foot Guards in the Indian Army. Formed in 1949 as the first mixed class Indian regiment by Field Marshal KM Cariappa, the first battalions of the Brigade of Guards were formed by taking the oldest battalions of some of the infantry regime...
    : Red over yellow
  • The Grenadiers
    The Grenadiers

    The Grenadiers are a regiment of the Indian Army, formerly known as the 4th Bombay Grenadiers when part of the British Indian Army....
    : White
  • Kumaon Regiment
    Kumaon Regiment

    The Kumaon Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment traces its origins with the British Indian Army and has fought in various campaigns including the two world wars....
    : Green
  • Mahar Regiment
    Mahar Regiment

    The Mahar Regiment is an Infantry Regiment of the Indian Army. Although it was originally intended to be a regiment consisting of troops from the Mahars and other Backward Caste communities in Maharashtra, the Mahar Regiment is one of the only regiments in the Indian Army that is composed of troops from all communities and regions of India....
    : Dull cherry
  • Maratha Light Infantry
    Maratha Light Infantry

    The Maratha Light Infantry is a light infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was formed as the 103rd Maharattas in 1768, making it the most senior light infantry regiment of the Army....
    : Red over green
  • Naga Regiment
    Naga Regiment

    The Naga Regiment is the youngest Regiment of the Indian Army. In 1970, the First Battalion of the Naga Regiment was raised in Ranikhet....
    : Orange
  • Rajput Regiment
    Rajput Regiment

    The Rajput regiment is a regiment in the Indian Army that is composed primarily of the Rajput clans from India. The British designated the Rajputs as a martial race and subsequently employed large numbers of these warriors in the British Indian Army....
    : Maroon over red


Malaysian Army


  • Royal Ranger Regiment
    Royal Ranger Regiment

    The Royal Ranger Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Malaysian Army. Although it is second in seniority to the Royal Malay Regiment , the RRD can trace its origins back to the mid 19th century and the establishment of The Sarawak Rangers, the peacekeeping force in the Sarawak region....
    : Black
  • Royal Military College
    Royal Military College (Malaysia)

    The Royal Military College...
    : Red (to be worn on Annual Passing Out parade only)


Pakistan Army


  • The Punjab Regiment: Green
  • 9th Battalion, Azad Kashmir Regiment
    Azad Kashmir Regiment

    The Azad Kashmir Regiment is one of the six infantry regiments of Pakistan Army. Its Azad Kashmir Regimental Center is located at Mansar , Attock District, Punjab ....
    : Red (commemorates the action in the Leepa Valley, Kashmir
    Kashmir

    Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" referred only to the valley lying between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal range; since then, it has been used for a larger area that today includes the Indian administerd state of Jammu and Kashmir consisting of the Kashmir...
     in 1972)


South African Army


Scottish- and Irish-influenced regiments which wear the hackle include:

  • South African Irish Regiment
    South African Irish Regiment

    The South African Irish Regiment is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a United Kingdom Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit....
    : Green
  • Transvaal Scottish Regiment
    Transvaal Scottish Regiment

    The Transvaal Scottish Regiment is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a United Kingdom Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit....
    : Red
  • Witwatersrand Rifles
    Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment

    The Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment is a mechanized infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a United Kingdom Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit....
    : Black