The
standard uniform of the WWII Scottish Infantryman was the
British Battledress Uniform. This was a two-piece wool
uniform, produced in two slightly different patterns
during WWII. The earlier (1937 pattern) featured pleated
chest pockets and concealed buttons on the blouse and
trousers. The later 1940 pattern uniform was an economy
measure, in which the pockets were plain and the buttons
were no longer covered. For re-enacting purposes, the
wartime blouses can be found and used. 1940 pattern
blouses can be located, but the earlier 1937 pattern
examples have become difficult to obtain.
By late
WWII, few Highland Scottish troops actually wore the
traditional kilt in battle. Instead, it was reserved for
dress occasions. In place of a kilt, battledress trousers
were worn along with the blouses to complete the basic
uniform. Wartime patterns of trousers are exceptionally
rare, and in their place we use postwar 1949 pattern
trousers which are converted to look like 1940 or 1937
pattern. A collarless pullover shirt was worn under the
blouse, and it was made of a lighter wool. These shirts
are also scarce, and reproductions or conversions are
available for re-enacting. Boots were black,
pebble-grained, cap-toed boots with leather soles and
laces. The soles were hobnailed to help them endure long
marches. Web anklets, called gaiters, were used to tuck
the trouser leg cuffs in with the boot tops to keep the
trouser cuffs from fraying. These gaiters were made of
standard webbing equipment, and they could be colored in
the same manner as the regular field equipment.
The standard
soft cover headgear of troops in the 15th (Scottish)
Division was the Scottish Tam, made in khaki serge
material for the Army. This material was the same used in
the Battledress uniform, and the troops would place a
piece of regimental tartan with the regimental cap badge
on the tam. For higher dress occasions, the traditional
Scottish Glengarry would commonly be worn. Cap badges
were worn on glengarries, but without the tartan backing.
Some regiments had special patterns of glengarries,
further distingushing one regiment from another.
Above:
Three patterns of glengarries (left), and top and bottom
views of the tam (right).
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