Happy Saint Andrew’s Day!

Having marked the national days of England, Wales and Ireland over the past year, I could hardly ignore Scotland. Having done one of those family history DNA tests, I was very disappointed to find no trace of Scottish ancestry – 16% Welsh was something of a surprise – so my only claim to Scottish heritage is my great-grandfather from East London who served for 12 years with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in India and South Africa at the end of the 19th century. Was it the allure of the tartan trews? Anyway, I wish all our Scottish members, friends and visitors a very happy Saint Andrews day.

Scottish units were well represented in the BSF, providing infantry, yeomanry cavalry and artillery. In the April issue of The New Mosquito (NM47 p.26) I discussed the specific dress of Scottish units of the BSF and identified the following six as ‘Highland’ battalions – i.e. kilted – (if you know different, please let me know):

• 10th (Service) Battalion, Black Watch – 26 Div, 77 Bde
• 1st Garrison Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders – 228 Bde
• 2nd Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders – 27 Div, 81 Bde
• 1st Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders – 27 Div 81 Bde
• 12th (Service) Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders – 26 Div, 77 Bde
• 2/14th (County of London Battalion) TF (London Scottish) – 60 Div, 179 Bde (left for Egypt in June 1917) 

and five battalions as ‘Lowland’, so only pipers in kilts, but wearing Balmoral bonnets or Tam O’Shanters (when not in steel or sun helmets or slouch hats):

• 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) – 27 Div, 81 Bde
• 8th (Service) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers – 26 Div, 77 Bde
• 11th (Service) Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) – 26 Div, 77 Bde
• 13th (Scottish Horse Yeomanry) Battalion, Black Watch – 27 Div, 81 Bde
• 10th (Lovat Scouts) Battalion TF, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders – 27 Div, 82 Bde

In addition there was the Territorial IV Highland Mountain Artillery Brigade, RGA (TF) who seem to have worn bonnets and may have had tartan flashes on their sun helmets.

Finally, there was 1/1st Lothians and Border Horse. A and D Squadrons served with the BSF, but don’t seem to have worn any Scottish distinctions – again, if you know different, please let me know – but certainly wore their slouch hats in a very ‘Wild West’ style!

From the ‘Illustrated London News’, 23 February 1916: A race-meeting in Salonika – the pipers of a Scottish battalion marching down the “course” (author’s collection).