Originally Posted by
sailorruss
sgian dubh wasn't issue to the men in the trenches, but carried by officers anyway.
Yes it's a distinction of officers and pipers, not issued to Other Ranks in the trenches or anywhere.
And strictly speaking they weren't issued to officers either- because officers were responsible for privately purchasing their own uniforms.
Note in the photo showing the two A&SH officers above the various colours of embroidery and ribbon in their kilt panels; it's going to vary according to which military tailor they had their kilt made by. Also notice the different colours of their puttees, and their two different patterns of sporran. (One is the style worn by officers of The Black Watch.)
The Highland situation is not as extreme as the situation in the US Civil War where you can see a group of officers each with a distinctive uniform, yet you will see photos of groups of Highland officers each having subtle variances in their kit.
I have in front of me a modern photo of Black Watch officers- there are four kilts and four different colours of rosettes on the kilts.
About edged weapons and WWI, here are officers of The Gordon Highlanders wearing swords on campaign.
Last edited by OC Richard; 9th December 17 at 04:16 AM.
Proud Mountaineer from the Highlands of West Virginia; son of the Revolution and Civil War; first Europeans on the Guyandotte
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