About the ghillies with buckles, no ghillie brogues at all appear in my 1920s RG Lawrie catalogue, only "Mary Jane" buckled brogues, soft dancing ghillies, and an interesting style of shoe no longer made (but which also appears in The Highlanders of Scotland) cut like a Mary Jane but lacing across the large opening.

Speaking of The Highlanders of Scotland, all the ghillie brogues seen there are tan rough leather (showing it to be a rural outdoor shoe) save for one pair in black which BTW has buckles attached.

In my 1930s Paisley catalogue ghillie brogues aren't illustrated on the page of shoe styles; four styles of Men's shoes are shown 1) ordinary shoes 2) ordinary shoes with a decorative fringed flap which covers the laced area 3) "Mary Jane" style buckled brogues and 4) slip-on buckled loafers.

However ghillie brogues (without buckles) appear on one of the Men's Evening Dress outfits, one of the Boy's outfits, and two of the Women's outfits (yes worn with female hosiery, and laced around the ankle).