19141918noble Posted 6 November , 2022 Share Posted 6 November , 2022 My grandfather fought with 9th and later 6th (Service Battalions) Black Watch. I have a photograph of him probably taken just before being posted to 9th (August/September 1917) which I want to get colourised - see attached. I am clear on all the colours of the various parts of the uniform apart from the hose tops. I believe that the hose tops worn by regular Black Watch officers were a dark red with a diamond pattern - see second photo attached. However, there appears to be no pattern on those worn by my grandfather. Can anyone help with the likely colour/pattern of these hose tops? Could they have been just the dark red without the diamond pattern? Many thanks, Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6RRF Posted 6 November , 2022 Share Posted 6 November , 2022 Interesting one. The colour photie certainly shows the Black Watch hose-tops I know, but those in your grandfather' portrait seem to be plain. If so dark red would seem to be likeliest, but its a touch puzzling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19141918noble Posted 6 November , 2022 Author Share Posted 6 November , 2022 Thanks Stuart. My guess also, but nice to have your thoughts. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 6 November , 2022 Share Posted 6 November , 2022 1 hour ago, 19141918noble said: ... Can anyone help with the likely colour/pattern of these hose tops? Could they have been just the dark red without the diamond pattern? ... They will be plain khaki - not red. This was a war-time simplification that also (nominally) aided camouflage purposes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6RRF Posted 6 November , 2022 Share Posted 6 November , 2022 3 hours ago, Andrew Upton said: They will be plain khaki - not red. This was a war-time simplification that also (nominally) aided camouflage purposes. I wondered about that but they look a bit dark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 6 November , 2022 Share Posted 6 November , 2022 (edited) I think you will find that for use in the field the very dark blue laid down for the hose tops of all Royal regiments was adopted. The Black Watch were The Royal Highland Regiment. This was in lieu of the coloured dress hose tops. For other ranks the universal pattern was drab (dark khaki) although in some battalions they too were issued with the dark blue, which were quite widely available. Edited 6 November , 2022 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6RRF Posted 6 November , 2022 Share Posted 6 November , 2022 Ah, that'll explain it. As I said they certainly looked too dark to be khaki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19141918noble Posted 6 November , 2022 Author Share Posted 6 November , 2022 Thanks all; interesting and helpful photos - thanks Frogsmile. Very dark blue it is! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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