Somewhere in France - I believe somewhere by the Somme, lies the body of the man who should have been my grandfather - my grandmother's first husband. He was shot, left behind and was lost forever.
Odd to think that he could have marched down the roads shown in some of the photos and maybe sat on one of the banks which make some parts of France into effective tank traps.
My father's father was tiny - about 4ft 8inches. He went to try to enlist and was sent home because he was too small even for the bantam battalions.
My mother's father was in the mounted infantry, and was shot and gassed, but survived for long enough to have a family, though he died of pneumonia before the birth of his last child.
No kilts known in the recent family history - though going back in the generations there are rather a lot of birth certificates with no father's name so I could be related to just about anyone. The typical certificate gives mother's occupation as 'domestic servant' or 'kitchen maid' - so at least it is odds on that the father was someone rich enough to have servants.
Sporran,s were not worn in Franch, because of their impracticality in the trenches its almost certain that even Officers and N.C.O would not wear their sporrans at the front as these had to be bought privately.
Private's were issued with Sporrans but if they were damaged or lost they would have to pay for replacement.
Sporrans and other dress items would be left at the depot when the Battalion sailed for France.
Khaki Kilt aprons were worn over the kilt tied at the side, with a small pocket at the front.
Regards
Cef
Thank you CEF for the info. As a military history major, this is good information. Cheers
I have an interesting pic in my collection. It's a real photo taken by Germans in WW1 of two kilties they've just captured. The Germans are smiling and the kilties, one with what looks like a rifle butt bruise in the face, are just scowling. The fight is still in the Scots' eyes, the German officer is keeping his hand near his pistol.
So, here's my problem, and I'll get it off this thread as soon as I can. Whatever substitutes for Kiltphoto now?
A majority of its members were football players for the Hearts FC in Edinburgh, as well as players from other Scottish football teams.
Jack Alexander's McCrae's Battalion is a great read about this moving story.
Regards,
Todd
As the 16th was refered to as the sportsmans batallion and many of the troops were football players and supporters of the team the Contalmaison memorial has become a landmark on the battlefield tour circuit. Quite ofter fans of football clubs come and leave club scarfs & messages on the cairn.
As the 16th was refered to as the sportsmans batallion and many of the troops were football players and supporters of the team the Contalmaison memorial has become a landmark on the battlefield tour circuit. Quite ofter fans of football clubs come and leave club scarfs & messages on the cairn.
Not a pic but from youtube. The last survivor of Black Watch in WWI Alfred Anderson. Various shots of kilts.
A couple of years ago the BBC produced a programme called, The last Tommies, interviewing the men who had fought in the Great war, all of them were over 100, Alfred was amongest them, he lived to be 109.
Here's a wee sketch I did of the grand old gentleman earlier last year
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Originally Posted by ccga3359
Not a pic but from youtube. The last survivor of Black Watch in WWI Alfred Anderson. Various shots of kilts.
Originally Posted by CEF
A couple of years ago the BBC produced a programme called, The last Tommies, interviewing the men who had fought in the Great war, all of them were over 100, Alfred was amongest them, he lived to be 109.
Here's a wee sketch I did of the grand old gentleman earlier last year f
Great stuff! It seems so long ago, but as a boy in Scotland many of my friends had grandfathers who served in WWI and most had Dad or an Uncle that served in WWII. Of course, as kids, we didn't think much of it then although the memories were still strong with our parents and grandparents.
I remember the stories they used to tell, so it's hard to believe that they are all gone now.
Gentlemen, here's a toast to you all, and thank you for your sacrifice.
Originally Posted by CEF
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