RDMA Pipes & Drums Regimental Dress Irish Guards

Overview The Drum Major, Pipe Major are appointed positions. While they may be recognized within their regiment as being a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer ("SNCO"), they actually hold their non-appointed rank. Pipe Majors have two elevated posts potentially available to them: a position at the Army School of Bagpipe Music and the post of The Queen's Piper. Pipe Majors may further advance by taking the Queen's Commission and become the Director of Army Bagpipe Music. The Director may advance to the rank of Major. The Drum Major will generally wear items consistent with the drummers, the Pipe Major will wear items consistent with the pipers, and the Bugle Major will wear items consistent with the bugles. All Items should be clean, tidy, and in good working order. Some regiments may vary slightly from the descriptions provided
Principal Uniform Differences Between the Irish Guards and the Royal Irish Rangers At first glance the uniforms of the pipes and drums of the Royal Irish Rangers and the Irish Guards are very similar; however, there are numerous differences between the two. The Drum Major and drummers of the Irish Guards wear the Regimental uniform of the Irish Guards Corps of Drums and will not be described here.
		Irish Guards	Royal Irish Rangers
	Caubeen	Cap badge over right eye Cloth top pulled over left side of head	Cap badge over left eye Cloth top pulled over right side of head
	No. 1 Tunic	Eight front buttons grouped in fours	Seven front buttons evenly spaced
	Cross Belt	Black Patent Leather worn off the right shoulder	Not worn
	Red Sash	Pipe Major and Pipe Sergeant wear off the left shoulder.	Pipe Major and Pipe Sergeant wear off the right shoulder.
	Long Cloak	Worn over left shoulder	Worn over both shoulders.
	Brooch(es)	Two Irish Guards badges. One worn on left front shoulder and the other on right arm just below epaulette	Tara Brooch worn on right shoulder
	Kilt Badges	Two along right edge of kilt	Three along right edge of kilt
	Sporran	Not worn	Black patent leather
	Shoes	Worn without Silver buckles	Worn with Silver buckles

Caubeen Pipe Major: : Pipers:	Piper Green Piper Green
Worn level at eyebrows. Cloth top pulled over left side of head Cap Badge worn above right eye
Hackles/Feathers Pipe Major: Pipers:	3" Blue Hackle 3" Blue Hackle
Irish Guards wear the blue hackle Attached securely to headgear. NOTE: Hackles are generally awarded to regiments for battle honours or a special reason. Serious consideration and research should be given prior to being worn by a civilian band.
Headgear Badges Pipe Major: Pipers:	Special Regimental Pattern Special Regimental Pattern
Attached securely to headgear. The Irish Guards Pipers wear a special large (3") cap badge Clean and polished.
No.1 Tunic Pipe Major: Pipers:	Piper Green Tunic with black facings and silver braid Piper Green Tunic with black facings
Front of military tunics to be level with lower edge of waist belt. All buttons present, design properly aligned, and firmly attached. Front button pattern: eight buttons in two groups of four Insignia, if worn, firmly attached with no loose threads. No creases evident.
Collar Badges Pipe Major: Pipers:	Two Shamrocks Two Shamrocks
Distance from front of collar set by Regiments dress regulations Otherwise, the badges are set in approximately 1" from the front of the collar
Rank Insignia Pipe Major: Pipe Sergeant: Pipe Corporal: Pipers:	Apex of bottom chevron is 3" from the top of the cuff. Shamrock Wreathed Pipes above chevrons midway between the elbow and shoulder Apex of top chevron is 3" from the top of the shoulder. Pipes above chevrons Apex of top chevron is 3" from the top of the shoulder. Pipes above chevrons Pipes midway between elbow and shoulder
If the WO2 crown or WO1 crown and wreath is worn it is attached just above the chevron(s).
Cross Belt Pipe Major: Pipers:	Black Cross Belt Black Cross Belt
Belts are leather or patent leather Irish Guards badge is affixed midway between buckle and slider Worn off right shoulder Cross Belts and slings are worn under the epaulette Worn over waist belt or according to regimental custom. Clean and in good order with buckle polished.
Waist Belt Pipe Major: Pipers:	Black Sword Belt Black Waist Belt
Belts are patent leather. Regimental Badge is centered on silver buckle Worn firm to body so as to allow only one finger to be inserted between the belt and body. Runners on belt to be pushed up hard to belt buckle. Should not cover buttons on rear of tunic. Worn level from front to back of body. Clean with buckle polished and centered at front of body.
Sword Belt Straps Straps to match colour and material of the sword belt Short strap and frog to be attached to sword belt on the left side Long strap to be attached to sword belt centered on the back Sword straps to be connected if not wearing sword. Clean and polished
Red Sash Pipe Major: Pipe Sergeant:	Crimson Herringbone Silk Officer's Sash Scarlet Worsted Wool Sergeant Sash
Sashes are not an item that defines a Drum Major, Pipe Major, or Bugle Major. Rather, they define rank and distinguish one rank from another. Drum Major, Pipe Major, and Bugle Major are appointments. The appointment is separate and distinct from the Drum Major or Pipe Major's actual grade. The appointment to Drum Major, Pipe Major, or Bugle Major is the equivalent of a WO2. There are two WO1 posts available to Pipe Majors: the Army School of Bagpipe Music and The Queen's Piper. Officers, RSM, Band Master, Pipe Major, Bugle Major, and Drum Major wear the Officer's Crimson Silk Sash SNCO's, WO2, Staff Sergeants, and Sergeants in general wear the Scarlet Sergeant Sash The Irish Guards Pipe Major, and Pipe Sergeant all wear the sash off the left shoulder. Each type of sash has a different type of knot. The tassel should be behind the sword (Pipe Major) Sashes are worn outside the waist belt
Piper's Regimental Banner
Pipe Major: Pipers:	Piper Green with Silver Fringe Piper Green with Silver Fringe
The facing cloth of the Regimental Banner is to be the same colour as the authorized regimental facings The Regimental Banner is surmounted by the Regiment's Badge centered on the banner and the Battalion Number in the top left corner. Displayed with No. 1 Dress.
Long Cloak Pipe Major: Pipers:	Piper Green with Slate Grey lining. Piper Green with Slate Grey lining.
Secured by two Irish Guards brooches. Worn with the No. 1 Dress Tunic No creases evident.
Brooch Pipe Major: Pipers:	Irish Guards Brooch Irish Guards Brooch
Worn with the Long Cloak. Worn with design properly aligned on front of left shoulder and another on the right arm just below the epaulette, tightly securing cloak. Upper edge of brooch not to be above top of the shoulder level. Clean and polished.
Military Decorations Pipe Major: Pipers:	Earned/awarded as appropriate Earned/awarded as appropriate
Above top button of tunic, level, and immediately to the left of center. Medals worn with Full Dress are full size, mounted, and are to hang straight down Ribbons may be worn on No. 1 Dress only. Non-military medals and/or ribbons are not worn.
Kilt Pipe Major: Pipers:	Saffron Solid Colour Saffron Solid Colour
Inside and outside aprons securely fastened by buckle and resting just above the half way mark of the knee cap. Front apron to be centered at front of body. Hem to be even in height from front to rear and side to side. Clean, pressed with no creases evident.
Kilt Badges Pipe Major: Pipers:	As prescribed by the Regiment (two) As prescribed by the Regiment (two)
Worn on the right hand side of kilt front apron, as prescribed by the regiment.
Hose Pipe Major: Pipers:	Piper Green Hose Piper Green Hose
Top of hose is worn level side to side and front to back. Top of hose is three fingers breadth below outside bone of knee. Seams vertically straight.
Flashes Pipe Major: Pipers:	Saffron Solid Colour Saffron Solid Colour
Both flashes to be worn of equal length on both leg The adjacent edges of the of the common two tab flashes should be touching (i.e. no gaps between the tabs) Flashes to be worn at outside of leg.
Shoes Pipe Major: Pipers:	MoD Pattern Brogues MoD Pattern Brogues
Clean and polished.
Sword Pipe Major: Pipers:	Infantry Officer Pattern Not worn
Worn on left side Clip short strap to top ring Twist scabbard clockwise until tight against the belt, then hook onto sword belt with scabbard facing forward and hilt to rear. Attach long strap to bottom ring on scabbard If sword is still unstable: Wrap the long strap around the scabbard as well before attaching to the bottom scabbard ring - OR - Manufacture an extra slide and hook next to and behind the existing sword belt hook so that the sword is pulled back slightly. Clean and polished top