The Crimson Fields on PBS

**Nile** · 12th July 15, 07:35 PM

My wife and I are currently sitting in our family room watching "The Crimson Fields" on Maryland Public Television. The show opened with a funeral sequence that featured a number of British soldiers wearing kilts and Balmorals. The kilts were a green based tartan, lighter than Black Watch (possibly 'Hunting Stewart') and their balmorals had a square of the same tartan, where the badge would be. The weekly program is about a British field hospital (sorta like MASH), in France, during WW1. One of the doctors is a Scot but, he doesn't wear a kilt in the show.

"The Crimson Fields" is a high quality drama that deals with the horrors of war and the emotions of those that had to deal with its' effects. I highly recommend it.

Down here in Lower, Slower Delaware, the Sunday night episode is repeated on Monday nights at an earlier time so do look for it on your local PBS station.

Nile

**GrainReaper** · 13th July 15, 05:45 AM

I'm going to have to look into that, I have felt the pbs series are always top rate

**Mike S** · 13th July 15, 11:33 AM

Inaccurately, they have the tartan flashes on the tams positioned dead center on their foreheads among the cast, rather than to the side per actual regimental regulations. And as mentioned, sans any regimental badges.

**Laird O'the Cowcaddens** · 13th July 15, 01:04 PM

I have been watching this series from the start and overall it has been a close representation of the times. I also noted the TOS booboo, but when I pointed it out to my wife she said "its just a show, why do you have to nit-pick". I guess the ex jock in me just can't abide sloppiness or lack of attention to detail, or I have turned into a old nit-picking fart. LOL

**Nile** · 13th July 15, 06:12 PM

OK... Watching 'The Crimson Field' again tonight (Monday) and paying closer attention, I see what you are saying, Mike, the bonnets are not worn correctly and there is no badge on them. On closer inspection, I believe that the tartan is indeed, Black Watch. There were just a few glimpses of the kilt wearing soldiers at the beginning of the program.

Nile

**Mike_Oettle** · 15th July 15, 01:34 PM

If the tartan is “Black Watch, but lighter” it could be the Sutherland 42nd sett worn by the Argylls.

**WillowEstate** · 19th July 15, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Mike_Oettle

If the tartan is “Black Watch, but lighter” it could be the Sutherland 42nd sett worn by the Argylls.

Also, it could be the modern Royal Regiment of Scotland, which is basically Black Watch but somewhat brighter. Can't get the programme here, so can't check.

**Mike S** · 19th July 15, 12:36 PM

The Royal Regiment of Scotland WEARS the Sutherland tartan formerly of the 93rd exclusively.

**WillowEstate** · 20th July 15, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by Mike S

The Royal Regiment of Scotland WEARS the Sutherland tartan formerly of the 93rd exclusively.

Thanks, Mike, you are indeed correct that the RROS tartan's origin is Sutherland, though technically, it's called "Government 1A Tartan" - don't you just love the imagination of the MOD?! In the dress regulations

http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/gen..._Rulations.pdf

it's never stated as other than Government 1A, for both kilts and trews.

In the referenced document, which has a wonderful set of pictures of all the dress codes, on page 57, it makes only brief reference to the tartan:

Tartan was first worn in the British Army when the Highland regiments were raised. The normal uniform was the Government or 42nd tartan (Black Watch). But as the Highland regiments proliferated, they sought to encourage their individual identities by introducing differences into the Government tartan. The Regiment wears the Government 1A tartan.

Wikipedia (what else!) offers additional information:

The tartan adopted by the new regiment is Government 1A (sometimes known as Sutherland), a version of the Government (Black Watch) tartan worn by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

The Kilt is sewn in a box pleat style, as worn by the 2nd Battalion Black Watch, Seaforth Highlanders, Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons) and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The Sporran is in the horsehair style worn by the Seaforth Highlanders and Gordon Highlanders, with a brass Black Watch cantle.

I started to look at the full history but got lost, though I believe (and I'm sure Peter will correct me if I got it wrong) the original Black Watch tartan was provided by the Sutherlands.