Kilt making

**Mike_Oettle** · 29th August 10, 08:22 AM

John, it is a privilege and an honour to number you among us!
Welcome to X Marks from the bottom end of Africa.
Your posting to Afghanistan intrigues me, since I was unaware that kilts were worn in that operational theatre – or is it camouflage uniforms you will be making?
I served in a kilted unit, First City, but since I remained a ranker, my experience of military tailoring is so to speak nil. I wore a regimental kilt and pouch with a khaki tam o’shanter (with tartan flash), khaki hose tops (with red flashes) and white anklets (misnamed puttees).
But it is possible you might have made kilts and other outfits for some of our officers, since they had red jackets for full mess dress, undress blues with tartan trews, horse hair sporrans, tartan hose and spats. And unlike the rest of us they also wore balmorals.
I look forward to learning a great deal from you.
The British Army in Germany covered the lower Rhine and Lower Saxony, if memory serves. I imagine your German postings still cover the same region.
My ancestral home in Württemberg was under French occupation, and Bavaria fell under the US forces.
My father served in the South African Army in East Africa and in Italy, his unit being in the front line from Monte Cassino northwards. He was injured at Monte Stanco.
There was a Highland unit in his brigade, but his regiment, the Royal Natal Carbineers, remains staunchly English in its tradition and detests kilts and the pipes!
Best regards,
Mike

**Chas** · 29th August 10, 08:25 AM

Hello John,

Welcome to XMarks from the middle of Thetford Forest in Norfolk, England. I am a self-taught kilt-buyer. Once I know what I want, I go to a kilt maker and have it made.

regards

Chas