WWII The Black Watch

[macwilkin]

There is a picture in Chappell's The Canadian Army at War that shows a Seaforth Highlander of Canada piper wearing his kilt in a combat zone (Italy? -- I don't have the book handy).

There are also several photos of Irish pipers playing in the Italian Campaign in their saffron kilts, including a great photo of two pipers talking to a Swiss Guardsman at the Vatican.

T.

[OC Richard]

Good idea, that of checking the Men-At-Arms books.

In The Canadian Army At War:

Seaforths of Canada, bugler and piper, Ortona, 1944

(the photo you're referring to)

[Lachlan09]

I wonder when was the last occasion (including parades and walking out) the kilted version of the khaki service dress tunic with collar dogs etc was worn by kilted regiments ? Possibly end of the war ?

[OC Richard]

I wonder when was the last occasion (including parades and walking out) the kilted version of the khaki service dress tunic with collar dogs etc was worn by kilted regiments ? Possibly end of the war ?

Good question!

In The Scottish Soldier by Stephen Wood, there's a magnificent fullpage photo titled "Pipe Major Donald MacLean and Drum Major James Watson, King's Guard Pipe Band at Balmoral Castle, 1947."

It shows these two men plus other pipers in the background all wearing the prewar khaki service dress tunic, Highland cutway style, with standing collar bearing collar badges. Interesting that the Pipe Major's crossbelt bears six miniature cap badges of various Scottish regiments. They are wearing spats, hosetops, horsehair sporrans, belts etc as per full dress.