#8235 WWI Highlanders

Dated: February 07, 2011

The Highland regiments of the British Army brought one of the most distinctive military traditions of the nineteenth century into the industrial warfare of the First World War. Their tartan kilts, regimental identities and long histories made them immediately recognizable, even though on active service much of the colorful ceremonial appearance was hidden beneath khaki equipment and protective covers.

Box

At the outbreak of war in 1914, Highland infantry served in both Regular Army and Territorial battalions, while additional battalions were raised as the conflict expanded. Famous regiments included the Black Watch, Cameron Highlanders, Gordon Highlanders, Seaforth Highlanders and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Kilted units also served in the Canadian and other Commonwealth forces, giving these figures usefulness beyond the British Army alone.

In the field, Highland soldiers fought in essentially the same manner as other British infantry. They carried the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle, used the standard 1908-pattern web equipment and took their place in the same trenches, attacks and defensive battles as the rest of the army. The kilt remained an important badge of regimental identity, but practical measures were needed to protect it from mud, wear and the conditions of the trenches.

Line drawing

A khaki kilt apron or cover was therefore worn over the tartan on active service. These covers helped protect the kilt and reduced its visibility, while pockets could replace some of the practical functions of the sporran, which was generally not worn in battle. Surviving examples show that several styles of apron were used during the war.

Test shot (may go through substantial revisions prior to release.)

Highland battalions fought in nearly every major British campaign on the Western Front. They took part in the retreat from Mons and the First Battle of Ypres in 1914, the battles of Loos in 1915, the Somme in 1916, Arras and Passchendaele in 1917, and the great defensive and offensive battles of 1918. Scottish divisions such as the 9th, 15th and 51st Highland Division developed strong reputations during the war, while individual Highland battalions also served within many other formations.

The war changed the appearance of the Highland soldier just as it changed the rest of the British Army. Steel helmets, gas equipment, entrenching tools and increasingly practical field dress gradually replaced many of the more picturesque features associated with earlier service. The kilt, however, remained sufficiently important to regimental identity that Highland battalions continued wearing it in the field despite the mud, cold and difficulties of trench warfare.

This set contains 32 figures in eight poses. The men wear Highland service dress with covered kilts, 1908-pattern web equipment and the small box respirator carried ready on the chest. They are armed with the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle and are shown advancing, firing, kneeling and moving through action, making the set suitable for both attacks and defensive positions.

Because the basic field appearance of kilted troops was shared by several regiments, different tartans and regimental details can be represented largely through painting. The figures can therefore portray battalions of the Black Watch, Camerons, Gordons, Seaforths, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and other kilted formations, as well as suitable Canadian and Commonwealth Highland units. They can be combined with our other WWI British infantry, command, machine-gun and artillery sets to create larger forces for the Western Front.