Slightly OT - Beards in the Military

[Rick James]

I have an album I bought back in the 70's called "The Pipes and Drums
of Scotland" - the 1st Bn. the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders under
the direction of P/M Even Macrae, from London Records.

On the cover is a b/w photo of a pipe major, I assume Evan Macrae, with
a beard.

On the back the liner notes say, "The Pipe Major is a senior Warrant or
non-commissioned officer. In the Camerons, he is permitted to grow a
beard."

I was wondering, what is the policy in the UK military regarding beards
now? with special regard to pipe majors? with regard to any piper?

Thanks
--
Rick James
P/S SHPB Gr4
NAR#73338 L1

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[Calum]

My understanding is that all pipe-majors are entitled to grow a beard with
the permission of the RSM (Regimental Seargent-Major, the highest rank of
non-commisioned officer in the British Army). This should be a formality.
However, at the Royal Military Tattoo in London last summer there was a
colour-seargeant in the RHF, who also possessed a beard. Don't know what
was going on there. I keep on meaning to look up the Queen's Regulations
on the matter.

For everyone else, the rule is no beards, ever. My ultimate aim in life is
to become a TA pipe-major, and grow a beard as large as Evan MacRae's.
There is a tune somewhere named after that fine bushy specimen.

As an aside, that must make MacRae one of the longest serving p/ms in the
British Army. As I recall, he already had a fine growth in WWII when he
was serving in the Far East.

[Scratcher]

"Calum" <u3...@abdn.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:3A327710...@abdn.ac.uk...

> My understanding is that all pipe-majors are entitled to grow a beard with
> the permission of the RSM (Regimental Seargent-Major, the highest rank of
> non-commisioned officer in the British Army). This should be a formality.
> However, at the Royal Military Tattoo in London last summer there was a
> colour-seargeant in the RHF, who also possessed a beard. Don't know what
> was going on there. I keep on meaning to look up the Queen's Regulations
> on the matter.
>

The Assault Pioneer Colour Sergeant in an infantry Battalion is allowed to
grow a full beard.

Cheers

David

[Scratcher]

PS:

> "Calum" <u3...@abdn.ac.uk> wrote in message
> news:3A327710...@abdn.ac.uk...

>My ultimate aim in life is to become a TA pipe-major, and grow a beard as

large as Evan MacRae's.

If that's your goal, I'd learn to spell sergeant first. They get a bit
touchy about that.

Cheers

David

[Rob&Erika]

Pipe Majors in the Canadian Forces are also allowed to grow a beard..
Also, members of an Infantry Pioneer unit are allowed, and all members of
the Navy regardless of rank.
If one has a skin condition (a scar or bad acne for example) they may be
permitted to grow a beard with a medical officers permission.

Cheers,
Rob
Rick James <r-j...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:90tr7b$pbd$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...

[Zudupiper]

This topic did come up a while ago, and the consensus was that Pipe Majors and
Pioneers in British regiments could wear beards.

In the "Instrument of War" video, a modern-day bearded piper of the Argylls is
seen several times (he's not the P/M though).

Zu

[Calum]

I can spell sergeant. For some reason, my spelling goes to pot whenever I
type. Don't know why, but things like double letters and compounded vowels
just don't come out they way they should. And I refuse to spell necessary
correctly (although I have a funny feeling that might actually be right, for
once).

[Calum]

Maybe he was a pioneer as well. Mind you, I think the Argyll's pipers act as a
machine gun platoon, so what he'd be doing there, I don't know...I'll ask the
ras-man next time I see him, if he's not chewing me up over a little matter of
half the mess glasses getting smashed. Wasn't me, honest.

[Bill]

Well Cal take a lesson from Matt Buckley, who was this NG's "spell
checker" until that recent thread you replied to, that was just random
letters, (hditrjbgbjk) that was enough to drive him over the deep end,
and last I heard he was still in restraints. Thats why he hasn't been
with us lately. ;?)~ So the lesson is: don't pay attention to
misspellings.

In article <3A342FA8...@abdn.ac.uk>,

--
Bill

[Calum]

Bill wrote:

> Well Cal take a lesson from Matt Buckley, who was this NG's "spell
> checker" until that recent thread you replied to, that was just random
> letters, (hditrjbgbjk) that was enough to drive him over the deep end,
> and last I heard he was still in restraints. Thats why he hasn't been
> with us lately. ;?)~ So the lesson is: don't pay attention to
> misspellings.

Yep. Normally it doesn't bother me too much - I just have a sort of habit
of tripping over the mis-spellings as I read, which is annoying. I am well
aware that I mis-spell far more on a keyboard than I would if I was writing
my posts out on paper. Don't know why. The only time it bothers me is
when someone is so illiterate that there posts are unintelligible. This
tends to have more to do, though, with bad grammer and construction than
actual mis-spelling.

[Bill]

In article <3A346D98...@abdn.ac.uk>,

Calum <u3...@abdn.ac.uk> wrote:
The only time it bothers me is
> when someone is so illiterate that there posts are unintelligible.
This
> tends to have more to do, though, with bad grammer and construction
than
> actual mis-spelling.
>
>

Watch it there pally, your dangerously close to stepping over that fine
line and commenting on my writing/typing skills. lol
Actually its the same with me, and I think its attributable to poor
typing skills. To add to it, I just dont care as long as I can
understand which word was intended, so I tend to use "bux" instead
of "Bucks", or (hope he doesnt come back and read this, because it'll
set him back 6 months) "naught" instead of "not", and apparently some
people have an empty void in their lives to fill, so much so, that
slang words or short cuts bother them.

[me...@skyway.usask.ca]

In a previous article, Calum <u3...@abdn.ac.uk> wrote:
>
>
>Bill wrote:
>
>> Well Cal take a lesson from Matt Buckley, who was this NG's "spell
>> checker" until that recent thread you replied to, that was just random
>> letters, (hditrjbgbjk) that was enough to drive him over the deep end,
>> and last I heard he was still in restraints. Thats why he hasn't been
>> with us lately. ;?)~ So the lesson is: don't pay attention to
>> misspellings.
>
>Yep. Normally it doesn't bother me too much - I just have a sort of habit
>of tripping over the mis-spellings as I read, which is annoying. I am well
>aware that I mis-spell far more on a keyboard than I would if I was writing
>my posts out on paper. Don't know why. The only time it bothers me is
>when someone is so illiterate that there posts are unintelligible. This

^

>tends to have more to do, though, with bad grammer and construction than

^
>actual mis-spelling.
>

...never fails!
chris