Australian Army to ditch the Kilt...!

[BEEDEE]

This is not the first time that Australia has ditched the kilt, according to Frank Adam in The Clans, Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands 1934

From Appendix XXXVII -

Abolition of the Highland Dress in the Australian Army

The following letters, which appeared in the "Argus" newspaper (Melbourne) during June 1915, will give my readers an idea of the Scoto-Australian sentiment with regard to the above matter, viz:-
Where are the Kilts?
"Sir, -I read in the "Argus" of yesterday these words:-"I can assure you," Senator Pearce said, "that anything the Ministry can do to stimulate recruiting... it will do; and neither money nor effort will be spared." Why did his Ministry hurl insult upon insult on Australina Scots, and ban the kilted regiments? We will forgive the insults and raise a thousand men in a few days, if kilts are reintroduced for home and active service. Will Senator Pearce keep tot eh promise above quoted?
Yours, &c,
Clan Menzies

"Sir,- I am sure there are thousand of Scots in Australia that will agree with "Clan Menzies'" letter today. I am sure that if recruits for a Scottish regiment were called for, thousands would apply in a few days. All my people have been connected with Scottish regiments. The Canadians have their Highlanders, and why can't we? Give us the right to fight in our old uniforms and we will still be there. This privilege would stimulate recruiting more than all the posters and platform talk in the world. I would trust some of our wealthy, influential Scottish Australians to take the matter up.
-Yours &c,
Cameronian

Adam goes on with personal correspondence:

Melbourne, 18th July, 1923
Dear Sir,- With reference to your letter of the 4th June requesting information resepecting Scottish regiments in the Australian military forces, I am directed to inform you that there is now no unit of the Australian military forces with any national title or distinctive clothing, and there are no pipers connected with the military forces.
-Yours faithfully,
(sgd) T. Trumble
Secretary,
the Department of Defense.

Anyone know when they brought any element of Scottish dress back into the army?

Brian

[QMcK]

Normally, I'm staunchly for tradition, but I think ditching the kilt is a good thing. Most of the soldiers probably hate wearing the kilt. I presume it's just a dress outfit, but it is pretty impractical compared to trousers. It must cost a heck of a lot to make all those kilts.

The main reason is that having the kilt as a regimental uniform probably breeds hatred of it.

[macwilkin]

Normally, I'm staunchly for tradition, but I think ditching the kilt is a good thing. Most of the soldiers probably hate wearing the kilt. I presume it's just a dress outfit, but it is pretty impractical compared to trousers. It must cost a heck of a lot to make all those kilts.

The main reason is that having the kilt as a regimental uniform probably breeds hatred of it.

Highland regiments generally have high esprit de corps; if you don't like kilts, then why on earth would you join a regiment/battalion that wore Highland dress?

I can think of some instances during the Cardwell Reforms of the British Army in the 1880s when non-kilted battalions were forced to wear the kilt as part of regimental amalgamation, but remember that the majority of the Australian Battalions that did/do wear Highland dress have long histories of doing so, such as the aforementioned Victorian Scottish Regiment, the Cameron Highlanders of WA, etc. If anything, such a long lineage and tradition builds pride in the kilt -- all you have to do is look at the Canadian & South African Highland regiments.

T.

[macwilkin]

This is not the first time that Australia has ditched the kilt, according to Frank Adam in The Clans, Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands 1934

From Appendix XXXVII -

Adam goes on with personal correspondence:

Anyone know when they brought any element of Scottish dress back into the army?

Brian

According to the Digger History web site, it looks like the 1930s (at least with the Vic Scottish):

1925 saw the reintroduction of territorial titles and the 5th was granted the old title of Victorian Scottish Regiment.

In November 1929, compulsory training was suspended and Militia training introduced. The territorial title came into proper use and the lion rampant badge, together the motto of the old Victorian Scottish Regiment, Nemo Me Impune Lacessit (No one hurts us with impunity) was adopted.

Immediately, permission to wear Highland uniform was sought, but owning to the need for economy, the kilt was not permitted. However, due to the efforts of the Scottish societies and friends of the Regiment, permission was eventually obtained and subscriptions, Regimental activities and individual payments by the men enabled the
Regiment, on 6 May 1935 to again parade in Scottish dress for the first time since 1912.

-- http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-...ottish-5th.htm

T.

[QMcK]

Well, I assumed that one would apply to join the army then be assigned to a regiment based on where you live.

Anyway, you can hardly argue that a kilt with hose would be comfortable in Australia. It gets really hot over there.

[macwilkin]

Well, I assumed that one would apply to join the army then be assigned to a regiment based on where you live.

Anyway, you can hardly argue that a kilt with hose would be comfortable in Australia. It gets really hot over there.

I know several Aussies who wear Highland kit with no worries, mate.

T.

[QMcK]

I know several Aussies who wear Highland kit with no worries, mate.

T.

Surely not on hot days. If so, I would really like to know what material the hose is made of. I tried wearing my kilt with woolen hose in summer a few years ago and I couldn't stand it.

Even the light cotton knee-high socks we wore to school were too much on really hot days.

[QMcK]

I'm not just trying to wind you up: I really want to know what type of hose these people wear. The photos I've seen of the Aussie members of this forum in hot weather show them wearing no hose.

[OC Richard]

It's common here too to wear the kilt (traditional or Ukilt) with zorries and no socks, or trainers/athletic shoes and low socks.

I have a pair of soccer socks that work OK with the kilt and aren't too hot in hot weather.

By the way it was Aloha shirt, shorts, and zorries yesterday here for me.

[macwilkin]

I'm not just trying to wind you up: I really want to know what type of hose these people wear. The photos I've seen of the Aussie members of this forum in hot weather show them wearing no hose.

You'll find numerous pipe bands in Oz, such as the Perth (WA) Highland Pipe Band that wear full Highland rig, and they play at the Jakarta Highland Games. The Aussies I know who wear Highland rig wear the traditional attire to Caledonian Society & masonic meetings.

T.