Canada's Highland Regiments

**Good Egg** · 14th June 10, 04:39 AM

I do reading something about the original Canadian Scottish Regiments having Kilts made out of khaki wool normally used in tunics and trews because of a lack of Tartan available but I can't find any substantiation for this.

**Lallans** · 14th June 10, 10:59 AM

Courtmont, no word back from the Stormont Dundas and Glengarry Reserve Regiment- I begin to despair- but they could easily be photographed at the next Glengarry Games in Maxville and posted here in full colour. By someone that has a digital camera, unfortunately I still use a Kodak Brownie type unit.

Fashion note: The bonnets in the old WW1 era B&W photos are certainly larger than you can buy now. A year or so ago, I seized on what seemed to be a larger one in an Ottawa celtic store and was trying it on in front of a mirror thinking it was an authentic reproduction, only to be told, somewhat sniffily by the store's owner, that what I had on was in fact an item intended for women. (I think I had already decided that, based on the lightness and fineness of the materials, but I'm sure there are many stores that would have sold it to me anyway.) Anyway while that was a failed attempt at authenticity on my part-I would be interested in getting a era one if they are sold anywhere.

**highland mafia** · 14th June 10, 12:19 PM

Many years asgo I got a really fantastic "combat Belmoral" while on a training course in CFB Petawawa. There was a army surplus store in the town called "Honest Johns" ( I pretty sure that's what it was called). Being in the Canadian Army during the 90's we often had to rely on outside sources for good kit!! And this guy had it all. Anyways he had so many really great old style Belmorals there as well as other bonnets. The one I got was pretty huge compared to our issued ones. Maybe not as big as some of the ones in those photo's. It was olive drab colour and probally came from the 50's /60's
Still got it..

**BoldHighlander** · 14th June 10, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by Canuck of NI

Fashion note: The bonnets in the old WW1 era B&W photos are certainly larger than you can buy now. A year or so ago, I seized on what seemed to be a larger one in an Ottawa celtic store and was trying it on in front of a mirror thinking it was an authentic reproduction, only to be told, somewhat sniffily by the store's owner, that what I had on was in fact an item intended for women. (I think I had already decided that, based on the lightness and fineness of the materials, but I'm sure there are many stores that would have sold it to me anyway.) Anyway while that was a failed attempt at authenticity on my part-I would be interested in getting a era one if they are sold anywhere.

Here's a photo of my repro WW1/WW2 bonnet:

You can get them from What Price Glory.

**Lallans** · 14th June 10, 01:23 PM

Worth checking out. Thanks!

**macwilkin** · 15th June 10, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by Courtmount

I do reading something about the original Canadian Scottish Regiments having Kilts made out of khaki wool normally used in tunics and trews because of a lack of Tartan available but I can't find any substantiation for this.

Check out Chappell's "Canadian Army at War" for a depiction of the 73rd CEF's khaki tartan kilts & glengarries, Plate C.

T.

**BoldHighlander** · 16th June 10, 01:35 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Check out Chappell's "Canadian Army at War" for a depiction of the 73rd CEF's khaki tartan kilts & glengarries, Plate C.

T.

You know, I hate to cite wikipedia unless I can verify their information, however I thought I'd go ahead & post the following with the caveat that wiki is the source for this posting (& is unverified as of this time):

16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion, CEF

The matter of the adoption of a single tartan for the Battalion’s kilts had been a contentious issue that had remained unresolved during the 16th‘s training at Camp Valcartier. The matter was again addressed while the unit was encamped on Salisbury Plain. The officers met on 21 December 1914 to vote on the proposal that a khaki kilt be adopted. After much heated discussion the proposal was carried with twenty-one votes for and seven against. The khaki kilts would not reach the 16th Battalion until June 1915 and were received with such despair and contempt by the Battalion that the entire issue of khaki kilts was withdrawn. The matter of a single tartan for the Battalion remained unresolved until well into 1917 when the entire Battalion was outfitted in kilts of the Mackenzie tartan.

The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada - Wikipedia

**BoldHighlander** · 16th June 10, 02:00 AM

I was just conducting a search & found this on the Great War Forum regarding khaki kilts:

The Khaki Kilt, aka "Kilt Serge Drab Mixture", was introduced in 1914 with pattern number 8159/1914, pattern sealing date unrecorded however it would be mid Dec 1914. The first contract (C/1481) was issued on 21/1/1915. An improved pattern 8391/1914 was introduced on 28/5/1915 and the existing contract modified. The Priced Vocabulary published in July 1915 lists this item as being in inventory at the cost of 16s6d.

Yes, the purpose of this kilt was to clothe highland units authorized the Kilt on an emergency basis. However, its primary function was to clothe Canadian units arriving in England with Kilts. As all Kilts supplied to Canadian units came from Scottish manufacturers, even before the war, the Kilt manufacturers could not keep up with demand so this was established as an expedience. Tartan Kilts had priority to British (Scottish units). Few, non Canadian Highland units received these kilts. I know of no units being deployed so equipped, however my research is far from complete in this area.

I hope it helps.