Regarding pipers it is a curious fact that the Regulations provide
for an issue of fifes to Scottish regiments but not bagpipes, which
have to be provided regimentally, although with the exception of the
Scots Guards, the fifes are never drawn from stores. In the Royal
Scots, Royal Scots Fusiliers, King's Own Scottish Borderers and
Scottish Rifles, pipers are officially borne on the strength, but no
clothing allowed for them, which has to be provided regimentally. The
sergeant-pipers of the Scots Guards alone wear a crown and silver
chevrons on their doublet sleeves, all other sergeant-pipers wearing
gold chevrons without a crown.
There are many interesting peculiarities connected with uniforms or
accoutrements. The Kilmarnock bonnets worn by the Royal Scots and
King's Own Scottish Borderers, which were designed and issued for wear
after the South African War, are quite distinctive, as also are the
chacos of the Scottish Rifles and Highland Light Infantry, the former
having a plume in front and the latter a ball. The Queen's Royal West
Surrey Regiment is the only regiment in the Army wearing a sacred
emblem as a badge, while the Buffs (East Kent Regiment) claim to have a
far more ancient lineage than any other English regiment.