Ladies from Hell: With the London-Scottish Regiment During the First World War

by Robert Douglas Pinkerton

The 'Cockney Jocks' at war in Flanders and France The wide distribution of Scots throughout Britain and the Empire led to the formation new 'Scottish' regiments and the London Scottish, formed in 1859 as a volunteer rifle corps and originally commanded by Lord Elcho, was a primary example. Elcho, anxious to embrace all the fighting men of Scotland into one brotherhood irrespective of their clan origins, uniquely clad the regiment in kilts of 'Hodden Grey, ' a traditional hard wearing Scottish homespun cloth devoid of the tartan check and, as he perceived, being a drab colour suited for life on military campaign in the most practical way. Pinkerton, the author of this book was a soldier among the ranks of the regiment who answered the nation's call to arms during the First World War. The regiment was mobilised at the outbreak of hostilities and the 1st battalion had the distinction of being the first Territorials to go into action during operations at Messines in October 1914. Pinkerton takes his readers to war with the London Scottish on the western front where it took part in all the major offensives of the conflict. Predictably this vital account is filled with immediate first hand account action and anecdotes and is essential reading for anyone interested in the war in the trenches the kilted infantry knew.
Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

152 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1918

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought a copy of this book at an estate sale for several reasons. First, the cover is attractively designed. Second, my father told me the story of The Plains of Abraham and the Scots in their kilts coming out of the fog, bagpipes playing and causing French troops to fear “the ladies from hell.” Third, it is a first hand account of the first world war. Fourth, the copy was dedicated to a Mrs. Botsford and Botsford is an historic name in this part of Michigan.
The writing is a clear, easy reading style and gives a vivid picture of a privates life at the beginning of the war. Pinkerton even predicts who will win the war accurately. His prediction that submarines will go the way of the zeppelins was not as accurate.
I would highly recommend this book as part of an education about The Great War.