1941-09-13 — Page 5

Second Section

Hongkong Telegraph.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1941.

re. Supreme Courts

Magazine Feature

The Oldest Dress in the World

THE Scottish Kilt is the oldest dress in the workt.

It had its origin in the skin worn round the

loins by primitive man.

After the Rebeiiion of 1745, the wearing of the kilt was prohibited, but the right was restored in 1782. arose, when early in 1940, the

Flerce controwed that kills were banned us, a

War Ofice front line garb.

Scottish Members of Parliament vigorously protested against the decree that "No more kilts will be issued until the war is over", but they had to admit the Army's argument that the kilt is unsuitable for fighting.

The last war showed that kilts are a poor protec- tion against polson_gas; when wel, they galled the men's knees and when frozen they cut them like a knife.

TO Scotsmen, however, the kilt la a national costume to which they feel a deep attachment of sentiment and tradition. Their fear that the British nuthorities were trying to abolish the military kilt is unfounded, and the compromise arrived at proves that. It pro- vides that the kill may be warn up to the base of the bathefler, but not during setion.

No new kilts are issued but those in possession of kilta are allowed to continue wearing them. After the war, the lasue of klits will presumably beʻstarted ngain.

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A GREAT authority on the kilt is Mr T. All

Robertson, the editor of the "Scots' Year Book", walch acts as a link between 5,000 Scottish sovietics throughout the world.

"The temporary ban on the kilt is a war-time necessity" said Mr Robertson. "But It means that we have lost something of the moral effect of the wy: "The kitties are coming." In the last wor the Germans hated the sight and round of these incu, It was hate based on deadly fear

The first regiment in the British Army to wear tartan was not a Highland regiment, as is generally surposed, but the Royal Archers of Edinburgh-The King's Scoltish Bodyguard. Of the Highland regi ments, the first to wear the kilt was the Back Watch. "Lino regiments wearing the kilt are: the Seuferta Highlanders, the Argyll and Sutherland, the Bluck Watch, the Gordons and the Camerons."

OUR

UR exclusive photographs show how the kit is

worn to-day by Scottish coldiers.

Tam Blair, seen in Picture (1) has been a piper of the Argyi and Sutherland Highlanders for 17% yours. His spurran is embroidered with regimental badges. In his glengarry he wears the piper's cock- plume.

Picture (2) shows Private Leiscoll wearing full buttlo kit, regimental belt and Highland hese as he leans against an ancient gun at Stichng Custle. He was in aclion in France.

In Picture (3) Lieutenant C. W. B. Urmston is reen in the regimentul kilt of the Argyll and Suther- land Highlanders standing, on the battlements of Sarling Castic. The badgerlcod sporran is worn only by officers of this regiment. This cfficer is wear- ing the Balmoral bonnet. In his right stocking he carries his 'skcandhu' whieh is Gaelle for "the black knife, often wrongly termed the dirk'. The 'dirk" is a bigger weapon worn from the belt.

In Picture (4) the kilted men of the Argyll and Sutherland-Highlanders-are-aten-swinging-out-from-~~ Suning Castie.

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