Diced balmoral was official issue for The Calgary Highlanders
Posted Jul 10, 2010 6:33 AM
The diced balmoral was official issue for the The Calgary Highlanders at some point in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. I believe it was done at the same time the Army adopted the "coloured flashes" for the beret - if this was coincidental or not, I don't know. It may have coincided with the regiment's adoption of the green coatee as a full dress uniform also. I'd have to check into it.
The red and white diced balmoral (with blue crown and red toorie) was worn also with battle dress in garrison and phased out with the intro of the Canadian Forces (CF) uniform though again, I'm not clear on specific dates or whether there was some overlap.
The diced balmoral is viewed now as something of an oddity as it is not a headdress one would normally now associate with a military unit. But it was worn. It is in the same category as the wild deviation from haircut regulations one saw in the post-Vietnam 1970s, where officers grew large sideburns - not British style mutton-chops, just large sideburns, which was a civilian trend at the time. Have lovely pictures of COs and RSMs sporting same in that era.
Just one of those things, I suppose.
It's interesting to note the above post that mentions the Argylls in Hamilton wearing them. Of course, they wore the exact same pattern as The Calgary Highlanders - red and white diced - and were unique in doing so, as only those units allied with the Imperial Argylls (as both regiments were) wore this pattern.
It makes me wonder if the Imperial unit wore that headdress at some point. The green coatees adopted in the late 1950s as full dress were certainly inspired by the Argyll's pattern, with yellow turnbacks, etc.