The Black Watch by

[kilted_brewer]

This past Saturday, I was fortunate enough to see the National Theatre of Scotland's production of "Black Watch" by Gregory Burke at the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington, DC., at the end of the production's run as the company starts a US tour.

The play was extraordinary. I would highly recommend this play to anyone.

There's an excellent sequence that briefly outlines some of the history of the Black Watch, complete with drill-like costume changes that show the different uniforms throughout the Regiment's near-300-year history. See also the end of the sequence.

There is a serialized version of the play on YouTube, but if you get the chance, please go see this play in person.

[Orthzar]

After watching the first YouTube video you linked, I will watch the whole thing.

What is the apron-like covering that they put on him at about 8:50 into that first linked YouTube video? That looks like something that would be useful for protecting a wool kilt from rain and abrasion.

[kilted_brewer]

I think it's a kilt apron, such as this one (though it's not pictured on the site). Search some of the photo galleries containing WWI kilted troops, and I'm sure you'll find some pictured.

[Mike_Oettle]

I believe the khaki kilt apron was first used during the South African War.
It was a covering only for the front of the kilt.
During the First World War, the apron went all the way around.
After that, kilts largely ceased to be combat dress (except for pipers).
Regards,
Mike

[Orthzar]

Kilted_brewer, thanks for the link to WPG. That website has a nice selection.

After watching the play on YouTube, I now have a greater appreciation for soldiers. Any evil in war is less the fault of the soldiers, because they are at a certain point fighting to stay alive. When the characters were asked about being shot at, one of them emphatically stated that when someone shoots at him, he is going to shoot back, and not because it was personal, but because you just don't shoot at someone for no reason.

[Mike_Oettle]

Having a second look at Orthzar’s earlier post I noticed this question: “That looks like something that would be useful for protecting a wool kilt from rain and abrasion.”
Actually, the idea behind the apron was camouflage. The South African War was the British Army’s first major conflict in which khaki was worn, rather than red coats, and it was felt necessary to cover the tartan, too.
It might have done better to consider that many traditional tartans were intended as camouflage. But since the sett of a tartan is bound up with tradition, it was perhaps easier to cover it up than change it.
As for protecting a woollen kilt from rain – it would probably stand up to rain better without a covering. And the apron might well have been a cause of abrasion, rather than a protection.
Regards,
Mike