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Objects | Militaria

A selection of Militaria from our collection.

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Wool military kilt made of Mackenzie tartan. The kilt is faced inside at the top with cream wool fabric edged with a green braid. R. J. Sellar, Glenmorangie, Tain is marked in ink on the wool facing. The kilt is fastened with a leather strap and metal buckle. The buckle has

Seaforth Highlander Kilt

Full-length calico underpants with drawstring waist and ankles, issued to Private Samuel Skinner of the 4/5th Seaforth Highlanders by the Russian Army when he was liberated from a prisoner of war camp in 1945. This was the only garment issued to him. Private Skinner was from Inver and was one of the first local released POWs to get home.

Russian Calico Drawers

Spats are covers to protect shoes and socks from mud or rain. Fastens at the side with eight small buttons and has a leather understrap. Belonged to Major I. Forsyth.

WW1 Seaforth Highlanders Spats

Four pieces of long elasticated khaki material, two of the pieces have narrow binding tape stitched to one end. The puttee is strapped around the calf of the leg for protection. These ones belonged to Major Forsyth and were part of his Seaforth Highlanders uniform.

WW1 Puttees, 1914-1918.

Orders sent to

4th Seaforth Highlander's Orders

This week's item is a victorian era ornamental dirk that belonged to Roderick Donald Matheson Chisholm, the late Chief of Clan Chisholm. The dirk is still frighteningly sharp and comes contained in a sheaf fashioned of leather, this houses the dirk and a small knife and fork, which all have amber coloured Cairngorm stones on their pommels. Inscribed on the upper band is 'RDM Chisholm'.The dirk was donated to the museum by Molly Macrae of Kirksheaf in Tain, who also left the museum a snuff box that belonging to Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Clan Chisholm Dirk

Seaforth Highlander's khaki Balmoral bonnet lined with khaki cotton and Mackenzie tartan badge patch on the left side. Sewn inside crown lining - Wm Anderson & Sons Ltd. Edinburgh & Glasgow. By Appt. to the late King George V.[Douglas T. Scott of Nigg, 3rd/4th Seaforth]

Balmoral Hat, Seaforth Highlander\'s Uniform

Solid brass badge, oval in shape. Raised edge. Crest type design with Nigg Volunteers and crown at the top. The reverse side has 2 studs and a pin.

Nigg Volunteers

The collection of WW1 medals awarded to Hughina McCulloch of Tain and include;Serbian Nursing medal, Scottish Women's Hospital Medal, 1914-18 General Service Medal, World War I Victory Medal and a French Ministry of War Nursing Medal.

Nurse Hughina McCulloch's WW1 Medals

Military General Service Medal, issued to Sergeant Donald Ross, 71st Foot in 1848. The face of the medal has the head of Queen Victoria with

Peninsular War Medal awarded to Donald Ross, 71st Foot

Imperial German Air Service WW1 Pilots Helmet. The Helmet was donated to the Museum by Major Ian Forsyth from Balintraid and was one of two war trophies he had taken home from WW1 and later donated to the museum.

Imperial German Air Service WW1 Pilots Helmet.

SWORD with basket hilt in 5 panels with a cut-out heart design, lined with leather-covered in red felt edged with blue silk ribbon. The grip of woven steel thread held on by a spiral of braided wire topped by a red silk ribbon tassel. Inscribed on both sides of the blade.

Military Sword

Leather army map case and map of part of France. 3 Celluloid panels inside the case, cotton flap on the middle panel. Leather strap attached to outside of the case. Two small press-stud straps to hold the map case closed. Officer's map case.

Leather army Map case and Map of Arras in France.

German Helmet with a brass coat of arms. Lion on either side of the oval shield. Brass spike on the crown of helmet and studs on either side at the lower edge. Brass edged peak at the front and black-edged peak at the back of the black painted helmet. Black leather half-lining inside the helmet. Also known as a

Pickelhaub

British Army Seaforth Highlanders Volunteer Battalion Officer's Uniform, 1914-1918. Seaforth Highlanders and Stags head and

British Army Seaforth Highlanders Officer's Uniform, Major I Forsyth, 1914-1918.

The plaque reads

World War I Plaque for William Andrew Mackenzie

A Rolex Pocket watch from our collection that our database records as; “Rolex pocket watch, as issued to Officers in 1914 for synchronising before attacks. This one belonged to Lt. Ian Cameron, brother of Lt. George Cameron, Ex-provost of Tain.” The database cannot be right, as the watch was not made until circa 1940, so could not have belonged to Lt. Ian Cameron who was killed in action during WW1. Researching the watch we made the surprising discovery that Rolex was sending watches to British Officers that had been taken as a P.O.W during WW2. Angus George Cameron or A. G. D. Cameron the Ex Provost of Tain had been taken prisoner with the 4th Seaforth’s at St Valery-en-Caux in France and was held prisoner at the infamous Colditz Castle.Could this be a Rolex “Prisoner of War Watch”?

Rolex Pocket Watch

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Polished walnut duelling pistol with brass barrel and mounts. One brass side plate with flag decoration. One steel side plate with a firing mechanism. The butt of the pistol is enclosed in a brass cap decorated with an embossed human head. One of a pair; the other stolen from the original owner, Crawford Ross, while he was on a visit to Glasgow. Top of barrel engraved LONDON. The barrel also stamped IW, g, a head? and one other mark. Steel side plate engraved WATERS & GILL.

Crawford Ross's Duelling Pistol

A day to day account of Regimental Orders, for the months of June to August 1783, for the 1st company of 71st Regiment, including the American Campaign. 1st Battalion Grenadiers of the 71st Fraser Regiment.This very rare book in our collection is a surviving relic from the American War of Independence (1775-1784). It belonged to, or at least was brought back to Britain, by John Ross of Achnacloich. The Orderly Book covers a period of just over 3 months from 7th June 1783, to 17th August 1783, which is during the final period of the preparation for the journey home.John Ross listed as Lieutenant on 27th November 1775, in the 71st Fraser Highlanders Regiment, raised by Simon Fraser of Lovat to fight in America. The war involved a series of campaigns in which John Ross played an active part. He was captured twice. The first occasion was at Stoney Point north of New York on 22nd July 1779, and he was kept in captivity at Lancaster until November 1780, when he was returned to New York to be exchanged for an American Officer. He was taken prisoner again at Yorktown in October 1781, where the British finally surrendered. He stayed with the 71st prisoners who were marched through Maryland and Virginia to camp at Lancaster and organised their journey home to Scotland. Having discharged those men who wished to settle in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, he sailed home with the rest of his men and mustered his company at Perth on 2nd June 1784. By this time, he had been promoted to Captain on 22nd March 1784. Not long after he returned from the war he died in London, apparently unmarried and leaving no heirs.

71st Fraser Highlanders Orderly Book belonging to John Ross of Achnacloich

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This framed drawing of a crowned eagle was given to the Tain Y.M.C.A by the Polish Troops stationed here, shortly after WW2.A framed drawing of a crowned eagle painted in white with a red background - a Polish emblem. There may be a signature at the lower right border of the painting but it is very degraded. Engraved on a brass plaque at the base of the frame - For Y.M.C.A. from Polish soldiers.

Polish Eagle Drawing

This Patrol Jacket belonged to Major Ian Forsyth of Balintraid, who was Captain of the Invergordon Company of the 4th Seaforth Highlander’s at the outbreak of WW1. Patrol jackets were worn by officers attending less formal occasions when the full-dress uniform was impractical. Taking part in the Highland Threads project allowed us to get professional photographs of this jacket and many of the other items that belonged to Major Forsyth. The wonderful photography allows us to display these items in great detail for the first time.These images were created as part of the Highland Threads digital exhibition - an online collection curated from fourteen Highland museum collections that tell the stories of their best costumes. you can visit the full exhibition here - www.highlandthreads.co.uk

Seaforth Highlanders Patrol Jacket