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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Sonia Gardener on Friday 03 June 22 09:04 BST (UK)
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Watching the trooping of the colour yesterday I noted that some guards had plumes. Looking on the internet I understand the different colours refer to different regiments but could not find out why only some had plumes & not others. Please could someone clear this little mystery for me.
Many thanks
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Google is your friend!
Type in 'plumes hackles on bearskins which guards' (without quotes).
Scots Guards have NONE.
https://tinyurl.com/2p94w4ey
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The side the plume is worn on apparently relates to past days and the position a regiment was deployed in corresponding to if they were right, left or centre of the line. The Scots Guards were centre hence no plume.
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I'm so sorry but I do not seem to have asked the question properly. I understand the plumes significance of the different regiments but not why only a few in each regiment had a plume. Did it signify only a particular rank within the regiment was allowed to where a plume? Hope this makes it clearer.
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The Grenadier Guards and the Welsh Guards wear plumes on the left side.
The Coldstream Guards and the Irish Guards wear plumes on the right side.
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Apologies for delay in replying but internet has been down. Thank you for your replies - I've learnt something new & hope it comes up in a pub quiz sometime!
Best wishes
Sonia
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Jumping in here just to say that they also have different configurations of buttons on their tunics.
Grenadiers single buttons
Coldstream pairs
Scots, three in a row
Irish, four and
Welsh have 5.
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"different configurations of buttons"
Isn't it amazing what men will do to signify their status and to make themselves feel special?
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Back a long time ago the Scots guards had plumes but when the Coldstream Guards won the battle they took the plumes & dipped it into the scots blood hence why the coldstream have red plumes