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Close up of the Regimental pipe banner. The background is of the Regimental tartan, as are the flashes; the banner is edged with a gold fringe. The Regimental crest, made of coloured silk, is in the centre. The reverse side of the pipe banner showing the background colour yellow of the Regiment and the Lieutenant Colonel’s badges of rank in the corner. The central device is a wreath of thistles with a letter ‘L’ for Princess Louise and a numeral ‘1’ for the 1st Battalion and a Queen’s crown above.)
In the old days the clan Chieftain's personal banner was carried by his piper.
From the time the Regiment was raised, the senior piper (in time the Pipe Major), and probably the other pipers, carried a banner on ceremonial occasions, tied to the great drone. The Pipe Major's banner, at least, bore the Union Flag. These early banners were small and square or rectangular in shape, evolving over the years into fishtail shapes.
At an Officers' Mess meeting in 1864 it was decided that the captain of each company should provide his company piper with a banner bearing the captain's crest and motto and on the reverse the regimental insignia appropriate at the time.
In 1927 HRH The Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, gave to the Regiment a banner, worked by herself, bearing the Argyll Campbell arms and the Princess's cipher on blue silk, mottoes in gold. Blue identifies Royalty.
Her Majesty The Queen, Colonel-in-Chief of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, presented to the Regiment successive personal banners bearing the Sovereign's arms on a blue silk background, and on the reverse the regimental insignia. It was the Pipe Major's privilege to carry the banner on appropriate important occasions.
In recent times, Burghs which have granted the Regiment their Freedom, have generously presented a set of pipe banners, each bearing the arms of the Burgh usually on a yellow background.
Continued: The Bandsmen
