Does anyone recognise this 'hat'?

[nzbazz]

Hoping someone may be able to recognise the headgear of the chap on the left. No other badges visible - is there anything significant in that?
This is probably my grandmother's brother Alexander Cushnie who was in a Scots Regiment in  WW2 (he was from Dundee).

[dennford]

can't help with the hat but I tried to lighten the pic so that it can be seen easier

[old rowley]

Hi nz, and welcome to rootschat.

The headwear of the soldier on the left is commonly known as a "Tam" which is shortened from  Tam O'Shanter. The army term is "Cap. T.O.S".  There are certain items to the Tam that would tell you what regiment the wearer belonged too with out seeing the badge. For instance the Toorie on top of the crown of the Tam is a woollen "ball" and would have been red, brown, black depending on the Regiment. The backing material behind and at the base of the hackle, where the regimental cap badge would have been would also indicate the regiment, as would the colour and form of the hackle which is worn behind and above the regimental cap badge. In this case I think that the hackle would be the only way that you will be able to confirm which regiment the soldier was in. As you already have Alexander Cushnie as a name do you also know of the regiment that you say he served in, as a cross reference with the regiment headwear might help to confirm the soldier in the photograph's regiment (does that make sense?)

old rowley

[nzbazz]

Hello to you too. 

Thanks for the lightening job dennford.

There is a possibility that he was in the Black Watch (but this is only something I remember my late Nanna saying years ago).
He was born in Dundee about 1915.
I've been trying to find a site with pictures of headgear without much success - any suggestions?
Would there be any significance in there being no insignia visible? (or did he do it deliberately to stump me, that would explain the mysterious look!). Unfortunately he passed away some years ago and he and his wife had no children so there are no family to ask.
 
Baz
(Bronwyn in New Zealand)

[old rowley]

Hi Baz,

It could well be the Black Watch. Their hackle colour was red and in a black and white photograph it would come up as a dark colour even looking black. I would have thought that the cap badge would be there (I would, as you have, expect to see it) but could it be out of view as the tam is at an angle + the angle of the photograph?

I googled black watch hackle and came up with their regimental magazine there maybe others there but I have to go out now and when I come back I will have another look for you. You could try something like scottish regiments headgear in google that may bring something up.

old rowley

[nzbazz]

old rowley

I've sent an email (including photo) to the Black Watch archives address - maybe some kind soul will be able to help me!

Baz

[dennford]

Old Rowly, I knew and respect your knowledge of matters military, but I was surpriswd at your knowledge of b & w photography!!!, yesI reckon that the hackle could well be red - the old b & W film was not very sensative to light in the red wavelength  so red did usually appear as black (very black in fact)

                                           Denn

[atom12]

Hi

Your soldier is without any doubt whatsoever serving in the Black Watch (RHR) in the photo.

In  both the Tam o' Shanter (TOS) and the Blue Bonnet, only the Hackle is worn.

The Regimental badge which is based on the Order of the Thistle, is worn in the Glengarry.  The latter is an undress head-dress, worn by officers, senior ranks and members of the pipe band.

If your man came from Dundee, he may have served in the 4/5th Battalion, City of Dundee and Angus Bn.

[nzbazz]

Hi Atom

thanks for that information. It's great when a snippet of information I remember from about thirty years ago is proved to actually be correct. He lived all his life in Dundee working for the Post Office for almost fourty years - that's another avenue I have to explore yet!

Thank you to old rowley and dennford also.

Bronwyn