Army Uniform: Can anyone help? Promised DD (4) I would find out about red and white feather....

[ilovemydogandMrObama]

Was driving past MOD and a soldier/officer was crossing the street. He was wearing a uniform (army, I think?) with a red and white feather on his head (couldn't see hat very well).

DD wanted to know why he was wearing feather.

TIA,

it all depends on his regiment/corps. In the army, the type of headress and in some cases dress uniforms differs. give me a minute and I'll see if I can find out which regiment it is.

sounds likje the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers here
stuff on feather 'hackle' here - scroll down

Tis the Fusiliers.

you beat me to it

Red and white hackle ( not feather) could be Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, or a number of others, but it is a fusiliers thing.

Can't remember the exact history but it is something to do with using the hackles to clean the barrel of the gun and the red is from dipping it in the blood of the enemy.

Can't google at the mo but if you google the regiments name you should get the history - weather it will be suitable for a 4 yr old is another thing entirely!

Actually thinking about it def RRF. Other regts have disbanded / amalgamated now

Thanks all so much . Didn't mean to offend calling hackle a feather .

Told DD that soldiers help people, and the reason they wear uniforms is so people know who they are. Maybe just tell her that the hackle is so they know who their friends are? So difficult.

Good idea. Being in different regiments is like being in different classes at school / nursery so they wear the hackle so they know who is in their class!

"Actually thinking about it def RRF."

Definitely sounds like them. Mind you, the Black Watch wear a their red hackle even after amalgamation, so it could still be one of the amalgamated regiments who have hung on to one of their traditions.