when the change

[OC Richard]

The problem is that there just aren't many photos showing the tops of kilts due to both soldiers and civilians nearly always wearing jackets or waistcoats.

Steve has shown two of the four I've come across, here they are



As Steve said the soldiers were issued a full-width length of cloth. In the old days men made their own kilts, I'm assuming under the direction of the Regimental Master Tailor.



I saw a WWII photo where you can see a piper's kilt fastened at the waist with blanket pins. I'll try to find it.

Officers of course had personal tailors and the fastening would be whatever sort each officer asked his tailor to do.

My theory (for which I have no evidence) is that the 3rd buckle originated on high-rise military kilts due to the wide expanse of fabric.



Certainly we can see on modern civilian kilts, as the waists get lower and lower, the two buckles getting closer and closer together, and the 3rd buckle becoming more and more without purpose.

[Tobus]

I saw a WWII photo where you can see a piper's kilt fastened at the waist with blanket pins. I'll try to find it.

This is not the photo you're referencing, and I don't know what year it's from, but ...blanket pins indeed.

[OC Richard]

What a great photo!

That looks WWI to me, the biggest clue being the man background left wearing a gask mask bag as an ad hoc sporran.

I know some Canadian kilted units issued Other Ranks with leather sporrans in WWI, but it seems that few if any British kilted regiments did. Thus the common use of gask mask bags.

And in WWII it's generally only pipers, or the occasional officer, who are seen wearing kilts in the war zone.

[DCampbell16B]

Looks like the center man has a gas mask bag as well.

But can we talk about the 2nd man from the right and his belt? It looks like a collection of cap badges, with the Argylls front and center, and either the Seaforths or Gordons to the right.

[stickman]

You are right D CAMPBELL, looks like he also has a clay pipe in his mouth. We used to put badges on our belts when we were kids, wish I had kept them.

[OC Richard]

But can we talk about the 2nd man from the right and his belt? It looks like a collection of cap badges, with the Argylls front and center, and either the Seaforths or Gordons to the right.

That belt is a beautiful example of "trench art".

Those decorated belts are called "trophy belts" by modern collectors.

Here's an article about one https://www.collectorsweekly.com/sto...wi-trophy-belt

[stickman]

Speaking of gas masks, there was still a fear of gas attacks during WW2. I remember going to school with my gas mask. Little kids had masks that looked like Mickey Mouse. They were not supposed to be as scary as the regular masks. Fortunately we never had to use them or the air raid shelter behind the school. Where we lived was a little out of range for bombers. There was a lone raider used to fly over now and again but he was not very effective. He only killed one guy I know of. There was a dance in a little village and someone got careless and let some light show. The raider saw it and let one bomb go. It hit the dance hall dead center went through the roof and drove one guy right through the floor. And didn’t explode. He was the only one killed. He was my dad’s helper’s brother on the railroad.

[Jock Scot]

I remember those Micky Mouse gas masks! I arrived in the world a few weeks ahead of schedule, courtesy of the Luftwaffe and their bombs!