Canada, CEF. A Pictou Highlanders Glengarry Bonnet

This glengarry bonnet has a black wool upper, designed with two rising peaks forming a valley between the two panels, a 30 mm wide band in a red and white wool checkerboard pattern on both sides, with a 10 mm wide black finished leather trim along the open edge of the cap, large black rosette composed of folded rayon ribbons affixed to the left side and bearing a Pictou Highlanders glengarry badge in white metal, the badge secured in place on the underside via a pin fed through the two lugs on its reverse, topped with a red toorie, inside lined in black cotton, vented at the rear, measuring 290 mm (w) x 98 mm (h), exhibiting scattered mothing in the black and checkerboard wool upper on both sides, along with wear in the black finish on the leather trim along the open edge, the dual black ribbons at the rear having been lost to time. Fine.

Footnote: Founded in 1871 as the Colchester and Hants Provisional Battalion of Infantry, it went through several name changes including, in 1871, the 78th Colchester and Hants, or Highlanders Battalion of Infantry; in 1879 the 78th Colchester, Hants and Pictou Battalion of Infantry, "Highlanders"; in 1900 the 78th Colchester, Hants and Pictou Regiment, "Highlanders"; in 1910 the 78th Pictou Regiment "Highlanders"; in 1921 The Pictou Highlanders; and in 1946 - The Pictou Highlanders (Motor). With the outbreak of the First World War, the 78th Pictou Regiment (Highlanders) raised volunteers for the overseas battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. During the Second World War, The Pictou Highlanders were active in a defensive role but were never engaged in battle. Details of the regiment were raised for local protective duty on September 1, 1939 and full mobilization occurred on January 1, 1941. The first move that the regiment made was to Newfoundland for coastal defense duty from March until August 1943. In September of the year, one company was dispatched to Nassau, Bahamas where it performed garrison duty until March 1946. A second company entitled Special Infantry Company (Pictou Highlanders) was mobilized on September 10, 1942 for service in Bermuda from November 12, 1942 to April 1, 1946. Their duties performed, both the active battalion and the Special Infantry Company were disbanded on April 30, 1946. During the life of the active units, a 2nd Battalion also served in Canada in the Reserve Army. In 1954, as a result of the Kennedy Report on the Reserve Army, this regiment was amalgamated with The North Nova Scotia Highlanders to form the 1st Battalion of The Nova Scotia Highlanders with The Cape Breton Highlanders forming the 2nd Battalion. The Pictou Highlanders before amalgamation held its final Order of Precedence as 33. The Pictou Highlanders were allied to The Seaforth Highlanders (Rossshire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's) and were kitted as Seaforth's except for regimental badges and the Bugle cords were Royal. The regiment is perpetuated by the 17th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), CEF and the 246th (Nova Scotia Highlanders) Battalion, CEF, with five battle honours: Ypres 1915, Festubert 1915, Mount Sorrel, Somme 1916 and Amiens.