Quote Originally Posted by neloon View Post
The ant-gas bloomers were a War Office invention in the late 1930s but , unsurprisingly(!), they were never issued. In any case the kilt on active service disappeared early in WW2.

"Highlanders of the 18th century are well-documented as sporting no underwear " Well documented where? It must be remembered that the kilt is really an OVERgarment therefore the word "underwear" really does not go with kilt wearing. Highlanders, unless they were very poor, continued to wear the short trews that they had worn before the arrival of the feileadh around 1580.

Alan
Writing in 1726-27, Burt gives examples. One such is concerns a lady of position travelling with a kilted guide who led the way a little further up the slope. Professing to be terrified by the dangers of the terrain, she had to keep her eyes fixed on the guide whose kilt was constantly lifted by the up-draught of the breeze. Burt's amusement is obvious.

Other writers' accounts mention how the Highlanders are naked apart from a loose covering, or that the indecency of their clothing is plain to see.

Litterally 'they wear no underwear' will not be found, but euphamisms are used - such as 'not enough to cover their embarrassment' or not enough 'to conceal what should be hidden.'

The short, close-fitting trews are a recorded and illustrated item of ancient Irish clothing, but I have never come across them being noted in the Highlands. The earliest mention I have found refers to the Highlanders in 'hose' or the legs being covered in tight, striped or parti-coloured cloth. The contemporary sources seem to note the differences, rather than the similarities, between Irish and Highland dress, as if the Irish mode is better known.

My source (a Seaforth) for the silk bloomers as gas-defences in the trenches is no longer living (so I can no longer verify), but thier use may well have been unofficial. As most of the issued kit did less than the men knew they needed, improvisation ran wild - perhaps the 30s idea was based on past experience, but was abandoned as impractical, and better materials had become available anyway.

Whether written military standing orders governing the wear of undergarments with the kilt exist or not, I have been unable to verify with accuracy. But the same is true today. I have heard of guard duty being performed with ladies' tights being worn under the uniform, as they are said to provide better insulation against the cold, but I am willing to bet there is noting written to this effect.

One of my sources said they were 'always' covered when 'South of the Border' - no doubt the womenfolk of England found it impossible to contain their curiosity and could not be trusted..! Nothing new there, then...