Scottish POW's taken prisoner by German troops during WW1

They're wearing British 1915 pattern 'Economy' tunics (not the usual doublet patt) with issue khaki cotton kilt covers. The soldier on the left might be wearing his Glengarry inside out or with cover.

The kilt, a traditional garment of Scottish regiments such as the Black Watch, was often covered with a practical apron or a khaki skirt to provide protection and camouflage.
From the Boer War onwards, it became standard for a khaki canvas apron to be worn over the kilt to shield the wool tartan material from damage.
This apron served both a protective and practical function, particularly in the muddy and wet conditions of trench warfare during World War I, where the kilt was still worn by "kilted" regiments despite its impracticality.
The Black Watch, known for its dark green government-issue tartan, wore kilts as part of its uniform until 1940.
The apron helped maintain the kilt's appearance and functionality in combat environments, even as the garment's use in active military service gradually declined after World War II.

Soldiers serving in the Highland Regiments ( Black Watch, Gordon Higlanders, Seaforth Highlanders, Cameron Highlanders and Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders) wore the kilt, those serving in Lowland Regiments ( Royal Scots, Royal Scots Fusiliers, Cameronians/ Scottish Rifles, Kings Own Scottish Borderers and Highland Light Infantry) wore regular British uniforms.

German soldiers frequently encountered Scottish troops, who were often identifiable by their traditional tartan kilts, and some of these encounters resulted in captures. For instance, a German soldier wrote in October 1914 about seeing English dead on the roadside, noting some wore skirts and no undergarments, which he found "quite disgusting".
Another German soldier, Gefreiter Ernst Kurz, described capturing Scotsmen during an escape attempt, noting they were easily distinguishable by their short skirts and long socks.

The kilt, while a symbol of pride and identity for Highland regiments, also made these soldiers highly visible on the battlefield, which could have contributed to their capture. Lieutenant Norman Collins of the 6th Seaforth Highlanders recalled seeing a dead Gordon Highlander with his kilt raised, exposing his backside, illustrating the vulnerability of kilted soldiers in combat.
Despite the German fascination with the kilt, often mixed with grudging respect, the attire did not prevent capture, and numerous instances of kilted soldiers being taken prisoner are recorded.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7187513/The-fearless-Sco...

Taken on: September 9, 2025

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