Kilted Leftenant in North Africa, circa 1942

[Tobus]

My grandfather, a Kilpatrick, was an officer in the US Army Air Corps, attached to a troop carrier group when we invaded North Africa. .He passed in 2006, but I am still slowly going through all of his memorabilia. Here is a photo I found today which I thought you might enjoy. I don't know the exact date or location except that it is somewhere in North Africa, 1942-1943.

I can't tell much from the photo. Looks like Blackwatch tartan, but it's very dark. Can anyone tell what unit he would have been in? The back of the photo lists him as a Lt. Greenough, in the kilt of course, and the rest are Americans I believe. Any clue from the sporran, etc.?

I thought kilts were not typically worn in WWII except for presentation? He sure looks like he's been out in the heat in this uniform.

[John_Carrick]

He certainly looks the part but I'm wondering if he might have been a staff officer at HQ. if we was being called on as a piper he might have some pipes with him.

[Tobus]

He looks like he's holding something in his left hand, behind his leg. Any chance those could be pipes? I might see part of the bag and maybe a drone or the chanter. Or it could be my imagination.

[MacEanruig]

Perhaps, this Leftenant was part of some ceremonial function or just wearing his unit's proscribed dress of the day. Kilts were not worn during combat; however, during WWII many troops wore the dress of the day during garrison type activities. Highland units were no exception.

Most armies did this up to recent times. Almost any US veteran who enlisted before 1990 remembers wearing half or full dress (e.g. Class B or Class A for the Army) for payday. This practice has gone into history as more and more units wear camouflage (which is a form of utility dress) for almost all daily activities.

[MacEanruig]

The following image is an example of a "Short Sleeve Barrack Dress," which may have been required by certain ranks:

Also, if you care to peruse, are the Dress Regulations for the Royal Regiment of Scotland. Keep in mind, however, that uniform regulations do change, and quite often.

[Downunder Kilt]

Tobus, I gather you are talking about Operation Torch, which was the invasion of western North Africa in November 1942, and yes, the Black watch were part of that invasion force.

[Ordway]

Lieutenant is spelled the same as in America but pronounced differently, similar to khaki. A leftenant kernel probably would be something of a novelty in the Commonwealth or American forces.

[Tobus]

Sorry, "leftenant" is somewhat of an inside joke, based on a humourous story he told from the war. I sometimes forget that others haven't heard it.

[Jim Simmons]

He looks like he's holding something in his left hand, behind his leg. Any chance those could be pipes? I might see part of the bag and maybe a drone or the chanter. Or it could be my imagination.

My vision is not much help to me anymore, even with the photo enlarged. But did British officers carry "swagger sticks", and possibly the end of one is barely visible in his left hand?

[MacEanruig]

My vision is not much help to me anymore, even with the photo enlarged. But did British officers carry "swagger sticks", and possibly the end of one is barely visible in his left hand?

Jim, excellent point! British officers as well as Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) tended to carry swagger or pace sticks as symbols of authority.