Troops told: we don’t have enough kilts ... just share

[cessna152towser]

A planned deployment of kilts will be agreed with the Royal Regiment of Scotland on a roll-out basis

Typical military speak !

[starbkjrus]

I read this story on the BBC this morning. I have a hard time swallowing the fact that the British of all people are letting tradition slide.

[Cirthalion]

Gents,

A kilt-related article from today's New York Times: Apparently some Scottish units in her majesty's armed forces are having to share kilts, at an appalling rate of 1 kilt for every 15 soldiers.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/worl...-Shortage.html

Perhaps some of you guys with several dozen should consider a donation (I jest: "over my dead body" would be my response as well!).

Enjoy,

Cirthalion

[navycb]

I just saw this disturbing bit of news and figured that I would pass it on.

Scottish Troops Must Share Scarce Kilts
Monday, December 18, 2006 2:08 PM EST
The Associated Press
By BEN McCONVILLE
LONDON (AP) — Great Scot! A shortage of ceremonial kilts could leave thousands of soldiers without a stitch of plaid to wear as they parade to the skirl of the bagpipes.
Military officials said Monday that more than 5,000 Scottish soldiers are having to share their kilts because defense chiefs have not finalized a contract to buy enough of the garments to go around.
The men, who face regular tours of duty in south Iraq and Afghanistan, have just 320 kilts, or one for every 15 soldiers.
Combat troops wore the traditional Highland garb in battle as late as World War I, but now the plaid kilts are used in ceremonial uniform.
New kilts are needed for all Scottish soldiers following the August 2006 merger of centuries-old regiments into a single Royal Regiment of Scotland.
"A planned deployment of kilts will be agreed with the Royal Regiment of Scotland on a roll-out basis with ... the full program being completed by January 2008," a Ministry of Defense spokesman said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.
The Ministry of Defense has refused to say who has won the contract to supply the kilts; in the meantime, soldiers will have to share.
The 320 kilts provided so far have been supplied by Argyll Bagpipes and Kilts on a trial basis. The full contract is worth up to $1.95 million, taking two years to complete and will involve 15,000 yards of fabric.
"The kilt is psychologically important for the identity of Scottish soldiers," said Lt. Col. Willy Macnair, who served in the defunct Queen's Own Highlander regiment. "It may mean that some soldiers in this (new) regiment, by the time they leave, may never have worn it."
Scottish lawmakers and veterans had opposed the merger of the traditional regiments, which saw action in both world wars and the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa.

Keith

[beloitpiper]

This has already been posted in the "Kilts in the Media" section.

[Colin]

OK guys, please try and have a glance to see if anyone else has already posted the same article. Typically when an article like this one comes out, people want to post about it and share with the rest of us. Thank you, I appreciate it, but please just do a quick check to make sure it hasn't been covered in the past few minutes.

We have had 4 threads started within the last 5 hours all regarding the exact same bit of information with similar titles. All four threads have been merged into this one. All future ones will be deleted so that we don't have a dozen threads on the same topic.

[filman]

i was under the empreshion that all the kilts the soilders wore were tailered to them.. so how can they share 1 kilt with 15 people

[Frank MacDuffy]

What a shame to see tradition thrown 'way. What a shame. Makes my blood boil! That's about as close as I can go to posting my own words!

[RedDevilWill]

The previously issued kilts - whomever was producing the last batch, prior to the current dust-up - provided to troops, were they returned and destroyed or is that batch still floating about?

Will Emero II

[Frank McGrath]

I wonder if I can get the Saran Wrap contract. Who would I contact?