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Archiver > GREATWAR > 2002-02 > 1013975601


From: "Tom Tulloch-Marshall" <>
Subject: Re: [WW1] "Shorts" = Kilts?
Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2002 19:53:21 -0000
References: <200202150900.g1F90l508151@lists7.rootsweb.com> <000001c1b773$746ce460$84918ec6@oemcomputer>


Margaret - generally the Highland Regiments wore the kilt and the Lowland
Regiments wore trews (trousers, that is) - but in this particular instance
I don't think that's going to be entirely relevant.

The reference that you have is almost certainly to the Battle Of The Menin
Road, 20/9/17. I'm a bit surprised to see the Australian 20th Battalion
referring to the HANEBEEK because I think the Australian 2nd Division was
attacking
three or four miles south of there - Westhoek towards Nonne Bosschen,
Polygon Wood, Zonnebeek - that sort of area.

To their left would be the 9th (Scottish) Division, of Fifth Corps,
comprising 27th Brigade and the South African Brigade - and I would think
therefore that the Scots that your Australians were referring to would be
either 6th Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers or 12th Battalion Royal
Scots - both saw action about Hanebeek Wood at that time - and neither was a
"kilted" regiment.

Your reference to "shorts" is almost certainly to a common practice amongst
our troops during the Great War - one that caused immense annoyance to
"Brass Hats" and "Red-Tabs" - in hot weather many of the men would simply
cut off the lower portion off their service trousers and turn them into
"shorts" ! - "General Routine Orders" in the war diaries at the PRO are
littered with references to this practice - generally demanding that it
ceases immediately, threatening sanctions, etc. As with most orders of this
type the troops seem just to have cocked a deaf 'un.

As for the Highlanders - yes, they did attack in the kilt - that's part of
the reason why the Germans referred to them as "The Ladies From Hell" or the
"Devils in Skirts". The
kilt had advantages over the trews - cool in summer and in winter it dried
faster than trews and you didn't have wet, muddy material stuck to your skin
all the time - well, so my grandfather claimed - but somehow I don't think I
ever completely believed him on that one ! ("Drawers" for the kilted
regiments also feature in the war diaries !).

regards
--
Tom Tulloch-Marshall
Great War Military Research

http://www.btinternet.com/~prosearch/index.html




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