For the Highland regiments their unique attire was really pride over practicality. Their insistence on retaining the kilt resulted in the soldiers enduring, what many might have deemed as unnecessary hardships. Yet when in 1804 it had been mooted that the kilt should be replaced by trousers, the suggestion was met with outrage.
Certainly as a protector from very cold weather it appears to have been less than satisfactory. In the Peninsular War during the retreat to Coruna and the first winter in the Crimea, the soldiers suffered immeasurable distress.
One veteran of the Crimea campaign recalled the younger members of the regiment in tears, due to the pain in their knees from the cold. In fact in such cold weather there were instances of damp kilts freezing solid around the soldiers’ legs, causing their knees to be cut and chapped. It has to be remembered the kilt these soldiers wore, in terms of quality, was a very far cry from the all-encompassing plaid so beloved by the Highland Clansmen.
It must have been a nightmare crossing flooded ditches or streams, as the kilt would float up on the water’s surface and when wet or muddy it became heavy and took a very long time to dry. It was not unusual for the wet kilts to be removed for drying purposes, while the soldier marched in his great coat in order to protect his modesty.
The uniform we are so familiar with today developed initially for reasons of practicality, as the original plaid was deemed too cumbersome for active service. Thus the kilt became shorter as did the jacket.
この記事は Toy Soldier Collector International の August - September 2020 版に掲載されています。
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この記事は Toy Soldier Collector International の August - September 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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