Feileadh Mor tartan as camouflage?

[Derekc5555]

I've heard from several different sources that before the invention of modern dyes pre-Culloden highlanders would use natural dyes (obviously, no modern dyes) from plants and their surroundings to get a very natural and earthy color to their tartans. They would use this as camouflage while sleeping ing the brush, hunting, or hiding from the British.

Is this true? Do tartans actually serve as effective camouflage? Has anyone tested, tried or use them as such? If so, which tartan, and how did you use it? Pictures would be great!

Thanks, Derek.

[Nomad]

I've never tried with tartan it but it should work as the idea of military camouflage is to break up the shape of a person. As long as there are no bright colours or sharp straight lines on the pattern it would work, especially if greens, Browns and black were in it.

[figheadair]

Given that the majority of surviving specimens of pre-Culloden era tartans are predominately red, one has to question the claimed camouflage use. Warfare of the period did not require camouflage, just look at the British Red coats, and the claim was probably part of a process of demonising the highlander as uncivilised and untrustworthy.

[Stoff]

I do not know about the camo claims but, I have seen my 6 foot 350 pound younger brother vanish in a wooded glade in late spring in South Carolina while wearing all white. Nothing like watching the "Stay Puff Marshmallow Man" vanish in plain sight. Or watch a solid white cat vanish in fresh mowed grass.

Christoph

[Derekc5555]

Given that the majority of surviving specimens of pre-Culloden era tartans are predominately red, one has to question the claimed camouflage use. Warfare of the period did not require camouflage, just look at the British Red coats, and the claim was probably part of a process of demonising the highlander as uncivilised and untrustworthy.

Aren't all the bright tartans from noble or rich people? Didn't they want to show off their wealth and power by wearing expensive and bright clothes?

[Sir William]

The concept of camouflaged uniforms pretty much dates from the mid-19th century when British and Indian troops were issued khaki uniforms. Granted, there were a few military units that adapted green as it aided concealment, such as the Rifle Regiment Rifle Brigade, the US Sharpshooters, Hessian Jaegers, and others who had the role of skirmishing with enemy troops to give their own forces time to get sorted out. But these were the exceptions, not the rule.

That said, some years ago when I was a reenactor in the 77th Highlanders (Montgomery's), I found my Government tartan did provide a degree of camouflage when I found myself isolated during a tactical (war game). I pulled the upper half of my great kilt over my shoulders to conceal my red coat and was very successful in concealing myself from the "French" until I reached friendly lines.

But, I agree with figheadair, that for the most part in the tactics of the 17th-19th centuries did not require camouflaged kit, so the comments supposedly made about tartan being used as camouflage was probably meant to be derogatory, not complimentary.

[Tobus]

But, I agree with figheadair, that for the most part in the tactics of the 17th-19th centuries did not require camouflaged kit, so the comments supposedly made about tartan being used as camouflage was probably meant to be derogatory, not complimentary.

The OP's question, though, wasn't about military uniforms or tactics. It was about hunting/stalking, sleeping in the open, and hiding. Not by uniformed soldiers, but by average civilian Highlanders.

I would tend to think that camouflage would be a natural benefit of tartans made with natural dyes. The Highlands do have a lot of colour in certain times of the year, and even bright tartans might blend in. As to whether they purposefully made their tartans with this in mind, though, I wot not.

[lschwartz]

My thoughts in red below...

I've heard from several different sources that before the invention of modern dyes pre-Culloden highlanders would use natural dyes (obviously, no modern dyes) from plants and their surroundings to get a very natural and earthy color to their tartans. It is always interesting to see how "scholars" interpret individual facts and observations to come to their conclusions.
Often times they apply their way of thinking to a totally different era and come up with inaccurate results. Yes,
the natural dyes did include the colors of the woodlands but they also included many brighter colors.
So, you can't assume that just because your color palette is based on browns and greens that your goal
was to make things blend in with the woods. The palette also included bright reds and yellows
which were also used to great effect.They would use this as camouflage while sleeping in the brush, hunting, or hiding from the British. I am sure that the average Scot realized that dressing in browns, grays, and greens would make it harder to be noticed in the woods, regardless of what you were doing there...hunting, sneaking up on an enemy, or just trying to get away from the angry father of the bonnie lassie you just left with a smile on her face.

Is this true? Do tartans actually serve as effective camouflage? Has anyone tested, tried or use them as such? If so, which tartan, and how did you use it? Pictures would be great!Most definitely! I am a hunter and oftentimes will just wear a plaid shirt or jacket as my only camouflage and it works very well. Men and women have been hunting and killing deer and other game in black and red plaid for decades before WWII when camo came to the fore as a military item. The important thing, as noted by the disappearing snowman story, is to avoid fast movements. The color helps but isn't necessary when you are being watched from more than 20 yards away.

Thanks, Derek.