"Scots in WWII" Topic

I have decided to stiffen my Belgians with some Scots for the '40 campaign. To give the Scots a bit of panache I would like to do some Peter Pig head swaps. Should I use the Tam O Shanter or the Glengarry.

I am told the Glengarry was not worn in the field. True?

Would the tam be in khaki or another color?

Would the glengarry be in khaki or another color?

Thanks,

According to what I've read – the uniform changed in 1940, but I've not found when it changed – so they MIGHT have been in the kilt with the Glengarry in the 1940 campaign, then again, they might not. I've not done much reading on them as of yet. The Glengarry would have still been the darker color similar to that worn in WWI and in the inter-war years. If you believe the films, the piper still wore the Glengarry and the kilt at D-Day. Of course that is probably more Hollywood than reality – then again – it would be very British to pull a stunt like that off.

"The standard soft cover headgear of troops in the 9th Cameronians 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 Douglas tartan with the regimental cap badge on the tam. Some Cameronians even added a black toorie to the crown, swapping the khaki colored one for a black one to emphasize the rifle regimental color of black. For higher dress occasions, the traditional Scottish Glengarry would commonly be worn. This was a solid dark green glengarry with a black toorie on the crown. Cap badges were worn on glengarries, but without any tartan backing."

cameronians.com/uniform.htm

Robert

For the Black Watch (one battalion in France) a tam (in khaki wool) with red hackle would be the norm if they are not wearing the helmet. You might see an officer with the glengerry. The glengerry would be all black with a red pom, and silver BW badge.
Khaki BDs with no insignia would be typical.
Only Bandsmen wore a kilt in France, worn with a cover. Since the bandsmen doubled as stretcher bearers, you could see kilts forward recovering casualties.

There is a painting showing the Cameronians wearing the kilt in action in 1940 at the Escaut canal

link

there are also pictures of (I think?) The Black Watch wearing kilts on duty in the Maginot Line during the phoney war

Escaut Canal was the last time the kilt was worn in battle.

And those are the Camerons, not the Cameronians.

The Cameronians Scottish Rifles – Regimental Museum and History
cameronians.org

Robert

With every regiment comes traditions. For almost every regiment in the UK and Commonwealth countries, there is a museum set up with all it's regimental quirks displayed.

It would be hard to create one source to explain all.

Do you have particular units in mind?

One of the first OSprey Elite books is on the Scot Divisions in WW1 and WW2. A lot of good data that could help you.

Thanks for the suggestions. I have to admit that I don't know enough to even request a specific regiment.

Any suggestions?

Mea culpa Enfant Perdu. 1st Battalion The Queens Own Cameron Highlanders on the Escaut (not the Cameronians)

There was a book on the Sacrifice of Highland regimetns in 1940.
Unfortunately I have already packed my book stock for the Augusta show.

That would be Saul David's Churchills Sacrifice of the Highland Division. A good book too.

I seem to recall in Walter Lord's book on Dunkirk that one of the Highland regiment's wore kilts to fight – this may have been the Escaut action mentioned above, but my enfeebled mind wants to place them on the Dunkirk perimeter…..

I've seen photos of Commandos captured at St. Nazaire in kilts!