The Campbells Are Coming !

[Lachlan09]

History has it that Clan Sinclair way up in Caithness wore trews rather than kilts and that once the Campbells of Argyll sent a war party all the way up there to sort them out to enforce a property deal gone wrong or similar slight. The piper of the Campbells (Finlay MacIvor ?) wrote a pipe tune to celebrate the Campbell’s victorious battle, which translated as “Gaffers In Trousers”, a title taunting the Sinclairs.

Does anyone know if the Sinclairs truly preferred trews and why ?

[JSFMACLJR]

History has it that Clan Sinclair way up in Caithness wore trews rather than kilts and that once the Campbells of Argyll sent a war party all the way up there to sort them out to enforce a property deal gone wrong or similar slight. The piper of the Campbells (Finlay MacIvor ?) wrote a pipe tune to celebrate the Campbell’s victorious battle, which translated as “Gaffers In Trousers”, a title taunting the Sinclairs.

Does anyone know if the Sinclairs truly preferred trews and why ?

I don't know if they wore trews--rather some form of trousers. I would have to guess that the kilt was not worn because of the Norse influence in Caithness, which made the people different than the Highlanders.

[Jock Scot]

History has it that Clan Sinclair way up in Caithness wore trews rather than kilts and that once the Campbells of Argyll sent a war party all the way up there to sort them out to enforce a property deal gone wrong or similar slight. The piper of the Campbells (Finlay MacIvor ?) wrote a pipe tune to celebrate the Campbell’s victorious battle, which translated as “Gaffers In Trousers”, a title taunting the Sinclairs.

Does anyone know if the Sinclairs truly preferred trews and why ?

At a guess, the answer to your question is one word-----MIDGIES!

[Lachlan09]

Could be ! Mind you, the midges on Skye are the worst ! Kamikaze little b's !

I think the Caithness men liked trews. There was a painting by Raeburn (or perhaps Aga ) of Sinclair of Ulbster about 1794-5 or so, wearing his uniform as Colonel of the Caithness Fencibles. He is wearing tight tartan trews, which was unusual parade dress for Highland regiments at that time. From memory, he was wearing a goat or other hair-skin sporran.

Caithness, though arguably not in the Highlands, was influenced by Highland neighbours and acted as Highlanders. When the 93rd Sutherland highlanders were formed and until 1881, the regiment found most of its manpower in Sutherland and Caithness, after which the Seaforths took over.

If Caithness is not considered part of the Highlands, then out of the Black Watch, Highland Light Infantry, Seaforth Highlanders, Gordon Highlanders, QO Cameron Highlanders and the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, only the Seaforths and Camerons had their recruitment areas totally in the Highlands, though as we all know, that doesn't have much to do with where the regular army's recruits come from.

Mind you, in spite of recruitment areas, the regulars get their manpower from all sorts of places. The QOH got many recruits from Liverpool and Manchester, while the Watch was nicknamed “That fine English regiment spoiled by the presence of a few Scots” and the Argylls were a home from home for ‘Weejins.

[AcuteEnigma]

Would you like me to copy and paste your question on a few Clan Sinclair discussion lists?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Could be ! Mind you, the midges on Skye are the worst ! Kamikaze little b's !

Not a spot on the ferocious West Argyll-shire piranha midges in Knapdale and Kintyre, which have been know to devour an entire kilt just to get at the man inside.