Kilties in the Zulu Wars?

**Ryan Ross** · 20th February 12, 09:52 PM

I wanted to pose this question to you folks who really know the history of the Regiments.
Were there any kilted Highlanders fighting in the Zulu Wars?

A good friend of mine who's a filmmaker (and also a small-time kiltie) is in the midst of a project right now, part of which will involve some British soldiers in Africa. He'd like to have them kilted, but only if that would be historically accurate.

Also, if there were kilted soldiers afield then and there, if anyone could point me toward the right type of kit to have them wearing (and possibly where to procure said kit, the likes of which would look good on camera), it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much for the assistance, folks. I'm credited as the historical advisor on this film, but this is a question on which I'd like external input .

ith:

**macwilkin** · 20th February 12, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by Ryan Ross

I wanted to pose this question to you folks who really know the history of the Regiments.
Were there any kilted Highlanders fighting in the Zulu Wars?

A good friend of mine who's a filmmaker (and also a small-time kiltie) is in the midst of a project right now, part of which will involve some British soldiers in Africa. He'd like to have them kilted, but only if that would be historically accurate.

Also, if there were kilted soldiers afield then and there, if anyone could point me toward the right type of kit to have them wearing (and possibly where to procure said kit, the likes of which would look good on camera), it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much for the assistance, folks. I'm credited as the historical advisor on this film, but this is a question on which I'd like external input .

ith:

If I remember correctly, the 91st Regiment of Foot, the Argyll Highlanders (later amalgamated with the 93rd Sutherlands to become the Argyll-Sutherlands) were in the Anglo-Zulu War, but I seem to remember they were in trews, not kilts, save their pipers.

T.

**Ryan Ross** · 20th February 12, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

If I remember correctly, the 91st Regiment of Foot, the Argyll Highlanders (later amalgamated with the 93rd Sutherlands to become the Argyll-Sutherlands) were in the Anglo-Zulu War, but I seem to remember they were in trews, not kilts, save their pipers.

T.

Whew- Thanks for such a speedy response! Hmm... Trews aren't nearly so interesting. I suppose we'll have to keep looking into it, but it's sounding like George may have to choose another engagement in a similar time period, or pass on the kilts.

Any further intel that's floating around would find a welcome home here.

**Nick the DSM** · 20th February 12, 10:15 PM

He could try the First Boer War. Forget which regiment though...

**MacGumerait** · 20th February 12, 11:48 PM

Ryan ,

I think the Scottish Regiments involved in the Zulu Wars were the 21 st Royal Scot Fusiliers , the 90 th Regiment ( Cameronians ) Scottish Rifles and some part of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders .

However , as an earlier post made mention , I believe it was only their pipers that were Kilties .

During the time period of the Zulu Wars , I think most of the " Kilted Soldiers " were deployed in India ( this is my memory of history studies , but I am not an expert ) .

Best Regards , Mike

**Bugbear** · 20th February 12, 11:51 PM

The only reason I know about this source is because I was looking for old sources where African garments were being called kilts. The Zulu* see correction* are said to be wearing kilts made of monkey tails in one passage, and I think it does confirm that the 91st Argyllshire Highlanders wore trews, as Cajunscot says.
Historical records of the 91st Argyllshire Highlanders, now the 1st Battalion Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, containing an account of the Regiment in 1794, and of its subsequent
services to 1881, by Gerald Lionel Joseph Goff. A scanned copy can be found over at Internet Archive.
http://www.archive.org/details/histo...cord00goffuoft

Hope that helps a tiny bit; the reference to monkey tail kilts stuck in my mind.

I don't know anything else.
* Correction: the monkey tails worn around the waist like a kilt is not referring to Zulu, but an earlier 1846 war... It's on page 134.

**macwilkin** · 21st February 12, 04:58 AM

Originally Posted by MacGumerait

Ryan ,

I think the Scottish Regiments involved in the Zulu Wars were the 21 st Royal Scot Fusiliers , the 90 th Regiment ( Cameronians ) Scottish Rifles and some part of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders .

However , as an earlier post made mention , I believe it was only their pipers that were Kilties .

During the time period of the Zulu Wars , I think most of the " Kilted Soldiers " were deployed in India ( this is my memory of history studies , but I am not an expert ) .

Best Regards , Mike

Since it was in 1879, the 90th would have been the Perthshire Volunteers, not the Cameronians -- they were amalgamated with the 26th (The Cameronians) in 1881, becoming the 2nd Battalion, Scottish Rifles. The 90th was none too happy with this at first, and referred to themselves as "2nd Scottish Rifles", rather than Cameronians.

T.

**Tobus** · 21st February 12, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by MacGumerait

Ryan ,

I think the Scottish Regiments involved in the Zulu Wars were the 21 st Royal Scot Fusiliers , the 90 th Regiment ( Cameronians ) Scottish Rifles and some part of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders .

However , as an earlier post made mention , I believe it was only their pipers that were Kilties .

During the time period of the Zulu Wars , I think most of the " Kilted Soldiers " were deployed in India ( this is my memory of history studies , but I am not an expert ) .

Best Regards , Mike

http://www.britishbattles.com/zulu-war/ulundi.htm

This page seems to agree, listing the 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers and the 90th (Perthshire) Regiment. One of the images shows kilted pipers, but they seem to be the only ones in kilts.

**macwilkin** · 21st February 12, 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by Nick the DSM

He could try the First Boer War. Forget which regiment though...

Quite a few kilted regiments in both Boer Wars, actually...

T.

**Ryan Ross** · 21st February 12, 08:10 AM

Man- Thanks so much, folks. It always amazes me, how much knowledge is afoot, around here.

So it would seem that the kilt is out, for the Zulu War, and I'm fairly certain that the Boer War is slightly too late for George's purposes.

I didn't mention it yet, but I just might be portraying a gristly British Sergeant in this piece, and it seems now that I'll be wearing trews or khaki (short pants?) for that part.