BS: 'Devils in Kilts'

Subject: BS: 'Devils in Kilts' or "Jocks in Skirts"
From: GUEST,Victor
Date: 30 May 07 - 06:54 AM

Scots soldiers dressed in traditional kilts were said to strike fear into the hearts of their German enemy.

But after reading a book by a leading German military historian, he has dismissed this as a "myth".

The idea that Scottish soldiers terrified the Kaiser's army and claims there is no evidence to show that the Scots were feared more than any other British troops. The Scottish regiments attracted interest more for their wearing of the kilt than because of their prowess in battle, he wrote. The Germans were far more scared of coming up against black troops from the French African colonies.

The "Devils in Skirts" title was much owed to Allied propaganda as it did to their feats of arms.

Reading the work of Dr Benjamin Ziemann, who has written six books on the Great War and the period, he states there is nothing in the German war archives supports the suggestion that the Kaiser's soldiers feared the Scots more than other Allied troops.

The popular view seems to me rather to be a Scottish projection and self-perception.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Devils in Kilts'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 May 07 - 07:58 AM

The other term for them was supposed to be "Ladies from Hell".

Subject: RE: BS: 'Devils in Kilts'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 May 07 - 08:02 AM

It's not the kilts people are scared of - It's the bagpipes. Same is true to this very day:-)

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: 'Devils in Kilts'
From: Mr Yellow
Date: 30 May 07 - 08:26 AM

there are only two things worse than a bagpipe


















two bagpipes.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Devils in Kilts'
From: frogprince
Date: 30 May 07 - 10:41 AM

Probably what the Germans feared, when they saw a bunch of men in skirts, was that "it" might be contagious . : )

Subject: RE: BS: 'Devils in Kilts'
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 May 07 - 11:09 AM

"Ach," said my ancestor Herman, "Id vasn't der kilts or der pipes. Id was dat dey had come out of der closet und our offizers were still inside!"

Subject: RE: BS: 'Devils in Kilts'
From: Teribus
Date: 30 May 07 - 11:20 AM

"The two most commonly attributed phrases "devils in skirts" or "ladies from hell" appeared to have been applied to the 51st Highland Division during the First World War and both expressions appear to be interchangeable. It was German intelligence, which like the British kept a record of those enemy divisions that were opposite them in the line. Some divisions fought harder than others, with the 51st joining the top of the German list, after the clearing of the Y Ravine in the autumn of 1916. The two expressions became popular around this time amongst the German soldiers, who were as fond of nicknames as the British Tommy. With time, it has become applied to all Scottish regiments that wear the kilt, whether in battle or on the parade ground."

Sounds more like attributing a mark of "healthy respect" by German troops rather than being some sort of ploy by the Allies to "strike fear into the hearts of the German enemy."

Subject: RE: BS: 'Devils in Kilts'
From: GUEST,Canadienne
Date: 30 May 07 - 01:14 PM

well they scare me!

Subject: RE: BS: 'Devils in Kilts'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 May 07 - 01:16 PM

Carry on Up the Khyber transported this idea to the North West Frontier to good effect.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Devils in Kilts'
From: Bee
Date: 30 May 07 - 02:26 PM

I would imagine if you weren't used to it, the banshee wailing of a good set of war pipes would scare anybody, especially in the heat of battle.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Devils in Kilts'
From: GUEST
Date: 30 May 07 - 04:19 PM

It has been said that the bagpipes were introduced to the Scots by
the Romans, or it originated from the Romans and made it's way to
the Scots. I read something like that somewhere.

The difference between onions and bagpipes: "Nobody cries when you
chop up bagpipes."

1st Guy: Where did you learn to the play the bagpipes so well?
2nd Guy: I guess I was born talented, lessons didn't do much.
3rd Guy: He just loves squeezing bags and blowing pipes.
(my filthy mind).

I searched for it, but no source that I've found seems to know about
the origin of the kilt. They also wear some sort of a sash around
their shoulers.
I guess they just couldn't sew very well to make pants at the time,
so it became traditional.

Subject: RE: BS: 'Devils in Kilts'
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 30 May 07 - 04:24 PM

Teribus - where is that quotations from? It doesn't carry much weight without some kind of attribution ...

Subject: RE: BS: 'Devils in Kilts'
From: akenaton
Date: 30 May 07 - 04:41 PM

I hope when independence finally arrives the Scottish regiments will be disbanded...Too many young lives wasted in the defence of "The Empire"
Hamish Henderson said it all...........
"Nae mair will our bonnie callants
Merch tae war whan our braggarts crousely craw
Nor wee weans frae pitheid an clachan
Murn the ships sailin doun the Broomielaw
Broken faimilies in launs we've hairriet
Will curse 'Scotlan the Brave' nae mair, nae mair
Black an white ane-til-ither mairriet
Mak the vile barracks o thair maisters bare"

Freedom come all ye.........

Subject: RE: BS: 'Devils in Kilts'
From: The Walrus
Date: 30 May 07 - 09:12 PM

Guest,

"I searched for it, but no source that I've found seems to know about
the origin of the kilt. They also wear some sort of a sash around
their shoulers.
I guess they just couldn't sew very well to make pants at the time,
so it became traditional..."
The little kilt (I won't insult gaelic spekers with my appalling attempts at the language) - the kilt we know today, owes it's origin, in part to the 'great kilt' or belted plaid . This was a single length of cloth held at the waist by a belt, half as a kilt and the other over the shoulder. This served the highlander as both nether and upper garment, the upper section being drawn around like wearing a blanket or shawl. The plaid also served as a highlander'sshelter, blanket and eventually as a winding sheet (try doing that with just a pair of trousers :-) ). the "sort of a sash around their shoulers" is a remnant of the upper section of the belted plaid.

As for the 'Devils in Skirts' - I think it comes from (to paraphrase the late Kenneth Horne)'the sight of kilted Highlanders charging through the tall thistles, screaming'.

W

Subject: RE: BS: 'Devils in Kilts'
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 30 May 07 - 10:59 PM

http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1183&id=33122007

Subject: RE: BS: 'Devils in Kilts'
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 May 07 - 12:20 AM

Heard on TV last night

'Can you hear music?'

'That's not music, it's bagpipes'.

LTS