Kit

Some of the equipment that soldiers and officers carried were supplied by themselves, and other parts of their kit were supplied by the regiment. Today of course, the "soldier" will supply all of their kit or borrow what they may be able. Please refer to the uniform section for what you will need for your uniform.

Your kit will include items that you would use in the field when on maneuvres and also what you would consider personal items that may be kept in your sporran.

As shown above, you will need a number of items to make your life in the field better. What is not shown is your blanket if wearing a wee kilt or your plaidie if wearing a greatkilt. Some of the ietems you will need include the following:

• Quaich - a quiach is a two handled bowl that is used for drinking whisky or eating porridge
• Knife - a bone or horn handled knife for cutting food
• Horn spoon and two tined fork - for eating
• Tin plate and wooden bowl- for your food
• Spare musket flints - in a leather wallet
• Musket tools - for cleaning and repair
• Powder measure and cartridge dowel - for preparing paper cartridge
• Money - what more needs to be said?
• Fishing supplies in a brass case
• Telescope - for officers
• Spare shirt - for sleeping (shown through the slit at the top of the haversack

Scouts may also carry a possible bag and may not only carry their dirk but also a tomahawk.

The possible bag will carry tools and other items that a scout would need in the field. This bag is constructed from wool and badger face with a cloth interior with pockets. A number of different items are incl;uded with this possible bag.

• Extra ball and flints
• Powder measures
• Patch knife
• Ball starter
• Pliers and flint knapper
• Oil tube
• Cleaning jags and tools
• Screw Driver
• Patch material

A good book with a lot of information in it is the Highlander in the French-Indian War by Ian Macpherson McCulloch. The following is what he had to say about a soldier's kit.

"The Private is wearing full Highland dress: (from top down), a blue bonnet with black bear fur cockade; a white shirt under a short highland-pattern coat with no lapels; the kilted full plaid known as a feileadh mór, buttoned or pinned to the left shoulder. In front, suspended from a waist best is: a Highland dirk (personal property); a cartouche box holding his ball cartridges and inscribed with the royal cipher, GR; and, a small sporran or purse (private property). Slung under his right armpit is a traditional Scottish powder horn (personal property) and the all-metal Highland pistol (issue) slung under the left armpit on a thin separate strap. Suspended on a black sword baldric is an army issue backsword. The sword has a Drury-pattern hilt while the dirk is decorated with Celtic carvings. He wears red-and-white diced hose held up with red garters, and on his feet, black shoes with silver buckles. The contents of his haversack are illustrated and include a wooden bowl, a pewter plate, a Highland bone knife, horn porridge spoons, quaich cup, two checkered shirts, a pair of leather gillies, a clasp Bible, and a hand painted Masonic lambskin apron. The contents of his sporran include a money pouch, a pipe with tobacco, flints, fishing gear, musket-cleaning kit, and cards." (p 40 McCulloch)

The uniform worn by this soldier is before the time that the 42nd became a Royal Regiment. When in the field it was imperative to carry everything that you might need. Food would be supplied by the regiment, by scavenging, or when in a town by buying from the locals.