Stuart Reid's excellent articles on military kilts have prompted me to put pen to paper. The colour of kilts when worn hard, washed and weathered can change quite dramatically from the expected.

My father (5th Bn. Cameron Highlanders 1918-19) had two kilts which, although no longer in my possession, I well remember. His dress kilt was the expected predominantly dark blue-with the red and yellow overstripes. The other, which was worn in the line, was of much coarser thicker material, and had faded through much wear to a most attractive muted green and blue. The reds and yellow was unaffected by this change - the background colours were similar to those described as 'Ancient' (see, for example, watercolour of 93rd Highlanders 1852 in MILITARY ILLUSTRATED 30, p40).

This kilt had knife pleats I believe. He said that the battalion's kilts on the march looked like a line of purple heather. This was visible as no kilt aprons were worn in the 5th Battalion. It was said that they had been burnt by the C.O. on the Barrack Square at the outset of war.

A final little snippet which I have never heard described in memoirs is that when coming out of the line mud caked in the pleats cut the backs of the legs when marching, so the battalion often took off their kilts and marched with them slung over the shoulder!!

Other Kilt Articles:

Military Kilts and Tartans Part 1
Military Kilts and Tartans Part 2