The QO Cameron Highlanders served throughout the Second World War wearing battledress which was the blouse as seen in this photo, with matching khaki trousers. The photograph was probably taken in Cuxaven or Bremerhaven in 1945. This sergeant wears the battledress blouse with a kilt in the years immediately after the war, for walking out. The khaki hose and puttees were worn instead of the patterned green and red hose with white spats. The Balmoral or bonnet TOS is the khaki version worn during the war when the helmet was not used. He has an undress brown leather sporran.
The battledress blouse was usually worn buttoned to the neck, although officers had an open-neck version with pressed back lapels, and shirt and tie. Other ranks were permitted to open the top two buttons and wear a khaki shirt and tie for walking out of barracks. This later became more permanent and by the 1950s battledress for other ranks was similar to the officers. The front also had a fly to cover the buttons, and the breast pocket was given a pleat. The webbing belt was worn with battle dress and had buckles at the back to attach the pack and other items. The two vertical lines on his left forearm are wound stripes.
The man in the photo is Sergeant George Sands who fought in North Africa, Sicily and through Northern Europe with the 5th Battalion, earning the Military Medal. He lived from 1916 to 2005 and his harrowing story can be read at The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders Keep ‘em Moving.
George's son Richard Sands contacted us to add further information about his father's exploits and specifically about their use of kilts during the war itself. He also kindly supplied the photograph below:
"My Father and several other veterans, sadly no longer with us, stated that they carried their Kilts with them, smuggled in their personal equipment. My Father was issued with 3 different kilts during the war. He lost his first kilt in North Africa when the rear echelon truck carrying their personals was destroyed. He was issued with a used Kilt from either a killed or wounded fellow soldier. He then had a brand new one for his investiture with Montgomery for his MM. He had to hand it back afterwards. It is known that the Camerons, when out of the line, wore the Kilt at every opportunity. Victory march pasts invariably had the Cameron contingent being the only fully kilted battalion on parade.
The photograph below shows 3 members of the 5th Battalion of the Camerons after the attack on Schijndel, Holland 1944. Left Sgt. Kenny 'Porky' Hearns, right Sgt. 'Big Jackie' Jack McDougall. Big Jackie liked to fight the Americans. Porky was my Dad's best mate, he was severely wounded in the advance into the Reichswald Forest when our own guns fired 'shorts'. The shells landed amongst 'A' Company as they advanced. Porky had the back of his legs shredded and had to have his buttocks removed and grafted onto his legs."
