Pipe banners are elaborately embroidered flags or pennons attached to the bass drone of a bagpipe, carried by pipers in Highland regiments and civilian pipe bands. Rich in symbolism and tradition, these banners have become important ceremonial and heraldic items within Highland culture.
In Scotland, a banner or standard was an essential emblem of authority and identity on the battlefield. By the 18th and 19th centuries, when Highland regiments were formally incorporated into the British Army, pipe banners began to serve as miniature standards displaying regimental colours, battle honours, or the arms of colonels and patrons.
Each banner is typically made of silk or velvet and heavily adorned with gold or silver embroidery, bullion fringe, and heraldic devices. Designs often incorporate the regimental badge, motto, and sometimes the royal cypher if the unit holds royal patronage. In some cases, the banner will bear the arms or crest of a colonel-in-chief or honorary colonel, signifying their role as patron and supporter of the regiment.
Pipe banners are carried on formal occasions: regimental dinners, church parades, military tattoos, remembrance services, and presentations of colours.
In the 48th Highlanders of Canada it is the custom that all Field Officers (Company Commander, usually a Major) or higher have a Pipe Banner that is carried by their Piper on parade. On the obverse side the Regimental Badge is displayed, normally on a field of Royal Blue. On the reverse side the personal arms, shield, helm, wreath mantling, crest, and motto as well as initials of the Officer is displayed on a field colour of that Officer’s choice. When not on parade Pipe Banners are hung in the Officers’ Mess.
On parade, the Pipe Major carries “The Regimental Banner” which displays on each side the Sovereign’s and Regimental Colours. The second-in-command of the Pipe Band carries the Commanding Officer’s Banner on parade. The junior Piper on parade carries the banner of the Regiment’s first Commanding Officer, Lt-Col J.I. Davidson, VD.