Bill Millins Kilt

**Kilted Karl** · 6th May 14, 08:52 AM

Dear Rabble,

I have ordered the battledress (from a great place in the Czech Republic http://www.panther-store.cz/en I have heard only good things about their uniforms) and it should be here before the end of the month.

one little detail about Bill Millin is that, behind his Lovat Scouts badge, he had a small piece of "Lochiel's" tartan, which I take to mean Cameron of Lochiel. As I only need a small piece I was wondering if any of the rabble had any scrap on hand that they might be willing to part with?

I hope to do a photo shoot when the BD arrives and will post pictures as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

:ootd: Karl

**Kilted Karl** · 15th May 14, 12:07 PM

Dear Rabble, or at least those who are still reading this old thread....

I finally have something to show for my efforts.

I just finished the sporran today (please not the button has a pattern but the light blew it out). The Fairbairn-Sykes I bought back in September and made the sheath (the original one was in sad condition) a few months after. The beret is a reproduction but the Lovat Scouts badge is original, all I need is a bit of "Cameron of Lochiel" tartan to but behind it. The battldress is a post war p49 blouse (A correct one is being made in CZ right now) and it has the piper's badge as well as the Combined Operations Badge. Bill Millin actually wore a "1st S.S. Brigade" shoulder title as well but these were hated so much by the soldiers (for obvious reasons although the "S.S." actually stood for Special Service) that most cut them off. This being the case no one, that I am aware of, makes reproductions of them. The kilt is a Cameron Highlanders "military" box pleated kilt that I made.

Here is the knife and sheath

And the sporran open.

(note, the sporran still needs to have the rest of the flap interior dyed and the sheath needs a line of stitching around the belt flap and a bit of elastic)

And here is a photo of Mr. Millins actual sporran

Please also note that that sporran is lighter than it appears in that picture and my sporran is darker than it appears in my pictures.

I have a lot more than this but this is a little teaser so you know I have actually been doing something

Full photo shoot will happen as soon as I have everything.

Sincerely,

:ootd: Karl

**Kilted Karl** · 15th May 14, 12:10 PM

Don't let Artificer see the sporran....

**Domehead** · 15th May 14, 05:10 PM

Holly cow! Everything you've done - from research to production - is just awesome.

Ryan, aka
Domehead

**Oregonian MacTaggart** · 15th May 14, 10:43 PM

This is excellent, Bill Millin is one of my longtime heroes and I greatly appreciate your efforts to keep his memory alive. I am wondering where did you get the beret? I am looking to make a reproduction of Piper Millin's beret as authentically as possible to wear while I go piping. Funny thing, I've served in the cavalry and hit the silk plenty of times but the thing that scares me most is playing my pipes in front of a crowd! So I look for Mr. Millin's beret for inspiration... Can you share with me the details?

**Kilted Karl** · 16th May 14, 07:55 AM

Dear Oregonian,

Modern Royal Marine green berets can be bought from a number of places. However, berets of the time were a good deal bigger around (as well as lined with cotton rather than polyester) than modern berets. Soldiers of today also "jock" their berets to get them to fit the head whereas this practice was not common during WWII.

All that being said the only option for an accurate WWII beret is to get an original or a reproduction. For most things I recommend Jerry Lee at What Price the Glory but there was a mix up between him and whoever manufactures his berets as the website advertises cotton lining but the actually beret is lined in polyester. Jerry Lee was great about it though and refunded my money and paid postage back to him so for customer service and honesty I highly reccomend WPG.

Therefore I was forced to buy from Soldier of Fortune http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/ww2-com...t-product,1253 Based on all my research they are the best green beret reproductions on the marked currently (within a sensible price range).

On his beret Mr. Millin wore a Lovat Scouts cap badge. The WWII version of this badge http://hcvv.home.xs4all.nl/Gaylor-Lovat.jpeg looked like this http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...outs_Badge.jpg Originals are not difficult to find and are worth it.

Behind his badge Mr. Millin wore a scrap of "Lochiel's Tartan" which I take to be Cameron of Lochiel.

These details are precisely correct and are approved by the late Bill Millin himself.

I hope this is of help to you.

Sincerely,

:ootd: Karl

P.S. I have a PDF on how to identify original berets with detailed pictures of originals, this will help you make one or two small and easy modifications to your reproduction to make it more accurate. If anyone is interested please P.M. me.

**MacMillans son** · 16th May 14, 03:47 PM

If you are unable to get a scrap from the rabble Karl, perhaps you could just order a swatch from one of the mills. I have found them happy to oblige in the past.

Best of luck on the rest of the project, a commendable effort.

Brooke

**Domehead** · 16th May 14, 05:26 PM

Great stuff, Kilted Karl. Well done

Ryan

**Mel1721L** · 18th May 14, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by Kilted Karl

Dear Rabble,

I have been doing a rather large amount of research laintely, not just on Mr. Millin but on the British army and the British Commando's as well. It seems this outfit will have two rather nice by products. A start for a WWI highlander's impression and a Nearly complete WWII British Army/Commando Impression.

I have now started the dangerous part of this project... buying things.

I have acquired an original F~S knife (and made a sheath for it, the original sheath was in an unusable condition), and have purchased a beret, and short puttees.

I have a lot more research to do before I start buying the web gear and sewing the Clothes.

Any advice or constructive criticism is always appreciated.

Sincerely,

:ootd: Karl

I think you will find gaitors more appropriatd to WW11, but as we wore short puttees when I was in the Army, here is a little tip. Cut both the tie and the puttee in half. It is both easier to put on and looks better. Only the officers would walk around with great fat ankles.