Originally Posted by
Mike_Oettle
MacMillan of Rathdown wrote: “Humidity, or rather the lack of it, is a big factor.”
That’s exactly it. When the humidity is low, much higher temperatures are more bearable.
And the desert can also be cold at night.
Aside from those factors, heavy clothing also has its uses in the desert. The Long-Range Desert Group and others who used the tracks far south of the Mediterranean shores wore greatcoats and other clothing to wrap themselves up against the sand and the heat. Paradoxically it worked.
Regards,
Mike
You're both quite right, of course, and the photographic evidence is quite clear, showing the LRDG and SAS wearing giant wool British Army greatcoats while on road watch duty during the scorching daylight hours [see the book Band of Brigands, a great read], yet my mind still rebels at the notion...
"Before two notes of the theme were played, Colin knew it was Patrick Mor MacCrimmon's 'Lament for the Children'...Sad seven times--ah, Patrick MacCrimmon of the seven dead sons....'It's a hard tune, that', said old Angus. Hard on the piper; hard on them all; hard on the world." Butcher's Broom, by Neil Gunn, 1994 Walker & Co, NY, p. 397-8.
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