The Kilt On Active Service.

[James]

Oft having read posts about the practicality of the kilt for wear on active service, I'd suggest that those interested in this topic should read:-

'Forgotten Scottish Voices From The Great War'
By: Derek Young
Published: Tempus 2005
ISBN: 0 7524 3326 1

On the one hand it covers the benefits of the kilt under certain condition, but on the other it makes clear the very real disadvantages of the kilt when worn on active service.

An interesting sideline being the suggestion that the expression 'ladies from hell' might have arisen from the propensity of highland troops to remove their kilts and fight/work in their shirt tails, as a result of the problems caused by wearing the kilt.

A sideline of relevance to those wearing the kilt for walking, backpacking and the like; is the damage an overly long kilt can do the limbs as a result of the wet/frozen hem hitting the legs. This comes back to the fact that for practical outdoor wear in all weathers, the kilt should be clear of the knee caps-better still an inch shorter than that.

The various comments are given strength because they are sourced from the actual letters and diaries of officers and other ranks: rather than the theories of historians.

James

[Stratherrick]

While trawling through old threads over a cuppa, I thought I'd resurrect this thread having also noticed the 'Sgt. Dwayne Farr' link on the left under 'X Marks Community'. Mind, I feel it's rather weird that we are warned against certain types of threads and then have a link such as that but, ho-hum...

Aaaanyway, does anybody here have any experience of being on active duty in a kilt?

Cheers

Bruce

[Mike1]

Mind, I feel it's rather weird that we are warned against certain types of threads and then have a link such as that but, ho-hum...

Apparently not so ho-hum, otherwise it wouldn't have required mention.

[Stratherrick]

Mike

Well, as you might imagine, I'll decline to open up on your posting, but I am keen to know of anybody's thoughts who might have worn a kilt in the armed services.

Wearing one for leisure is one thing, wearing one for work could well be another.

Cheers

Bruce

[attworth]

Being Kilted does make bending over, leaning over, and laying on the ground quite awkward in my opinion. In my line of work (not now, but very soon - Mechanics,) it would be very awkward and trousers, or better yet, a flight suit, would be a better choice.

[Stratherrick]

Attworth

I had wondered about mechanics. It would be a tad difficult to work in a kilt under a tank, aeroplane, ship's boiler, I can imagine.

Cheers

Bruce

[Jock Scot]

I don't wear the kilt on the farm, when I am doing practical work,rare these days anyway.I rarely fish wearing the kilt,getting into chest waders wearing the kilt is a real bind.Midgies and ticks are not an inconsiderable problem too.On the hill, deer stalking and grouse shooting, the kilt is not very handy either.How those brave fellows fought in the trenches wearing the kilt I really cannot imagine.In my experiance, I most cetainly would not want to go into action wearing the kilt, but then, as any soldier knows(British soldiers certainly do!) you fight with what you have got, not what you ought to have.