Argyle sutherland kit

[Fireboykirk]

Howdy all, I'm trying to find an accurate kit list for the Argyle Sutherland Highlanders circa 1914-1915. I've found many wonderful stories and photos on this forum, but I can't seem to locate a full uniform list. I'm looking for as much accuracy as possible for an OR stepping out kit, and/or pipers kit. Thanks all.

[Tarheel]

Patience. Someone will find the link or info on the regulations for the kit. Just like the US Army regs, there out there somewhere.

[Fireboykirk]

Thanks Tarheel. That's what I'm hoping.

[OC Richard]

Just for accuracy's sake I should point out that the title is the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. ("Argyle" is a both a type of sweater, and a type of sock, in the USA. "Argyll" is a place in Scotland.)

The uniform is fairly straightforward, because Full Dress was abolished at the start of WWI. So the basic uniform for walking out in 1914 is

-Glengarry. Extremely dark blue, often mistaken for black. For the Argylls this has a red & white diced border (except for pipers, who like all military pipers wear plain Glengarries). Regimental badge in 'white metal' (what we would call nickel silver, or German Silver). As the war progressed one began to see the Glengarry less and less, as it was replaced by a large khaki bonnet, or Tam O Shanter.

-Service Dress tunic. This is the colour the British army calls 'khaki' but the US army calls 'olive drab', in heavy wool. There was a special Scottish pattern which is cut away for the sporran, but it was very common for kilted battalions to be issued the ordinary English pattern, cut straight across the bottom.

-kilt. For Other Ranks this would be in the same heavy (22oz) rather blanket-like tartan worn by the Other Ranks in the Black Watch, however the Argylls kilts are boxpleated. Grass-green herringbone binding around the top, black metal two-prong buckles, no fringe, with a very high 'rise' (total length 27 inches).

-sporran: for Other Ranks black horsehair with six white tassels, the 'swinging six'. Tassels in brass cones. Brass rim at top of sporran with black leather liner or gasket. No sporran badge. In combat, and as the war progressed for walking out, the kilt was worn without sporrran.

-waistbelt. One usually sees a khaki canvas one.

-hosetops: red & white diced.

-flashes: plain scarlet (no loop)

-spats: khaki canvas. Later in the war spats became more or less extinct and short puttees were worn both for walking out and combat.


Pipers' kit: The same save for pipers often wore the black leather waistbelt with 'white metal' buckle, from the old Full Dress uniform, and sometimes the crossbelt too, and dirk, and horsehair sporran. The pipers' sporran was completely different, grey hair with three long black tassels, white metal cones, and white metal cantle. Pipers' hosetops are red & black diced, and of course a plain dark blue Glengarry is worn.
I'm not at my home computer so I might not be able to post photos now, but photos are to come!

OK here's the kit of a different battalion, however it well shows the full range of uniform worn in 1908, prior to the abolishment of Full Dress. You can see the Service Dress tunic worn with khaki spats, canvas web equipment, and kilt apron. After 1914 this kit had to serve for Walking Out also, though without the apron.



Here is the Walking Out kit for the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (Other Ranks, non-piper) prior to the abolition of Full Dress. However in Service Dress the same Glengarry, sporran, and footwear could be worn



Here is an Argyll in Walking Out dress, with the khaki wool Service Dress jacket which was the only jacket for parade, walking out, and active service once Full Dress was abolished. Beware that this photo has been colourised incorrectly, in that the black hair of the sporran has been shown as brown. I've seen, handled, and owned a number of original Argylls sporrans from various periods (late 19th century up till recent) and the hair is black, not brown. Also the rim and cones are brass, not white metal as shown here. See the nice closeup photo I posted below showing the actual colouring of an Argylls sporran. Another quibble is that the red of the hosetops, flashes, and Glengarry should be a bright clear scarlet, not a dull red.



Here's an Argyll of the same period showing the wearing of the English pattern Service Dress jacket (quite common) and the khaki canvas apron worn on active service. The Glengarry, diced hosetops, and spats remain



this curious photo shows a puzzling variety of dress. In any case the second soldier from the left appears to be an Argyll. You can see his English pattern Service Dress tunic has been modified to somewhat resemble the Scottish pattern. You can also see the short puttees which replaced the khaki spats, and the khaki hose which replaced the diced hose for active service.

[westy1970]

Here is a good copy of the jacket and What Price Glory may have some of the other items you are looking for.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UK-Khaki-Dri...item2c88eaea5d

It may be worth shooting Jerry an email about what you are looking for. This is from his ebay store, but he has them in his regular store, also.

[georgeetta]

go straight to the ..argylls site .

or Canadian ..Toronto ..fellow regt

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