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Highland-Cut Jackets and Tunics
Both Canadian Model 1903 and 1913 seven-button Service Dress jackets, and British Other Ranks five-button (SD) jackets were manufactured in highland pattern. The lower skirt of the front was opened up to allow the highland sporran to be visible and accessible. The cuffs on Canadian seven-button SD jackets for highland units are found with the typical "lancer" cuffs, while highland-cut jackets in the British Other Ranks five-button SD pattern have the typical plain sleeves with plain cuffs.

As expected, Canadians using the British Other Ranks five-button SD jacket wore Regimental or Corps titles in brass at the base of the shoulder straps where they met the shoulder seam as well as unit badges on the collar. Rank continued to be indicated through a series of stripes and/or crowns worn on both sleeves.
Photo used with the kind permission of
Brian Loree
In addition to jackets manufactured in the highland cut, regular issue jackets were often tailored by either units or individual soldiers to resemble the highland pattern. Examples can be found that were crudely altered by the soldier and hand-sewn to resemble a highland cut. According to publications, by November 1918 kilts were no longer issued to highland Battalions and were replaced by trousers. It seems unlikely then, that any jackets were produced in highland-cut after this period until the post war era.
A typical British pattern five-button highland-cut SD jacket in use by the CEF by member of the 85th Battalion Nova Scotia Highlanders, Halifax Nova Scotia. The highland-cut jacket was essentially identical to the standard jacket, except the front has been cut to accommodate a Sporran.

This example is a Canadian manufactured jacket marked with "WD" and the "C" broad arrow on the green partial lining. Sleeves on this example are lined in white.
British manufactured jackets utilized a white partial lining and have a bandage pocket on the lower left of the front opening. The lining was relatively sparse, focusing as a reinforcement for the seams above the upper and lower pockets and the underarm area. The interiors of the front opening were not lined on jackets made before 1918. Except for the obvious curve to accommodate the sporran, the highland-cut jacket is essentially the same as a standard jacket.
Canadian manufactured British pattern SD jackets utilize a green or tan lining in the same configuration. The example above is a typical Canadian manufactured jacket marked with "WD" and the "C" broad arrow on the green partial lining. Note that the sleeves on this example are lined in white.
The pipes & drums band of the 236th Battalion "New Brunswick Kilties" Fredericton New Brunswick, recruiting in Maine USA all wear the British pattern Other Ranks five-button SD jacket in highland-cut.

Note that although they are wearing the five-button jackets, they do not have rifle patches on the shoulders. Some jackets in this configuration were believed to have been manufactured in Canada. Unlike the "Utility" jacket of 1914 which also was manufactured without rifle patches, these hybrid jackets have box pleats on the upper breast pockets.
As with the standard Service Dress jacket, Senior NCOs in Highland Regiments often had purchased SD jackets from a tailor. This example was worn by Company Sergeant-Major John Valentine Robertson, 42nd Battalion, Montreal Quebec. This highland cut CD jacket was made in the Other Ranks cut but manufactured from officer quality material with a front opening secured with leather covered wooden buttons.

CSM Robertson lost his right eye due to a shrapnel wound on January 19th 1916 near Messines France. He served the remainder of the war in England on staff duties.
A close-up of the "Lancer" style cuffs and the wound stripe that CSM Robertson received after he lost his right eye due to a shrapnel wound on January 19th 1916 near Messines France.
Highland officers were required to purchase their own uniforms and equipment. The uniforms differed considerably from Other Ranks' in appearance, and being privately tailored, they are made from superior materials. Examples can be encountered in brushed cotton, wool, or khaki twill. This example was worn by Captain Joe McPeake of the 236th Battalion "New Brunswick Kilties" Fredericton New Brunswick.
A close-up of one of the highland cuff-rank patterns for a Captain.
 
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