Scots During the WSS

[vonplutz]

Just curious what sort of uniform a Scottish Regiment, lets say in service to the Dutch, would have worn. Are we talking kilts or just something similar to the rest of the men in the army?

[Arthur]

No such thing as kilts for regular Scots regiments of the period, I'm afraid : the units in Dutch service were clothed by their colonel-proprietor and would wear the exact same apparel as the native Dutch infantrymen - i.e coat, waistcoat, breeches, stockings and either cocked or broad-brimmed hat. The only thing denoting their Scottish identity would be their flags, which invariably displayed the Scottish saltire (usually in white over a blue field, though Murray's colours had a red field), sometimes coupled with golden thistles. This also applied to the Scottish regiments serving in the English army. 

[Arthur]

And since these things are best expressed through pictures, here's a rendition of a private from Mackay's regiment of foot circa 1690, nicked from the League of Augsburg blog :



He wouldn't have changed much by the time of the WSS, the only difference being the shape of his hat which would have been cocked into something resembling a tricorn by then - though it's anyone's guess how long a tricorn would maintain its shape while on campaign.

[vonplutz]

Great! That is the answer I wanted to hear! I want to eventually do a Scots battalion but don't want to paint damned tartan!