Kilt patrol

[Norm Cromie (RIP)]

Every military unit has its historical moments of tragedy, humor and odd situations. Things we would want to forget and moments that we can look back and see truly great humor. Many of these situations would be hard to imagine today but having experienced them personally you know it was so.
Every Highland regiment took to heart true military customs and dress. I remember as a young 18 year old from a small town outside of Toronto, when I came home with my first Highland issue. The kilts really wowed the guys in my group, boy I was the cock of the walk and did it go to my head. When back on parade with the regiment I lived in total fear of every rank from Lance Corporal on up. I felt they had the power to place me before a firing squad for the least of any infraction. So I sure did follow the rulebook.
Now the kilt as you may well know has played a very important role in the dress of any Highland unit. At the beginning of the war my regiment (the 48th) was stationed in the Horse Palace on the Exhibition grounds in Toronto. In my company (B) there were a couple of hell raisers who had served in the Spanish Civil War (I believe the International Brigade) who took it upon themselves to see that all adhered to true Highland Tradition, that being, nothing between your skin and the kilt. So, when we would go out for the evening after parade they would come up to you and tell you to flip and God help you if you misused Scottish tradition, you would then be grabbed, dragged down to the long wash trough with many taps of cold water and promptly anointed, you know where It was a terrible thing to see a grown man kicking and cursing while he was dunked like a biscuit in a cup of warm tea. Unfortunately this got out of hand and in one case black shoe polish was substituted for the cold water. As this led to irritation rashes and a severe dampening of ones love life the MO issued a strict cease and desist. As I was unable to tolerate hard Scottish wool against my delicate skin I did not abide this tradition so every night as I went out for the evening I lived in Holy fear of this sadistic group but thanks to our being issued the new battle dress prior to going to England in December 39 I escaped this cruel ritual.

PS: Regrettably you may not find this in daily orders, regimental history.