LONDON SCOTTISH

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 78, 29 September 1938, Page 11

LONDON SCOTTISH

VISIT OF COLONEL

STRENGTH OF REGIMENT

Officer commanding tlie well-known London Scottish Regiment, LieutenantColonel L. D. Bennett, M.C., T.D., arrived at Wellington by the Remuera today. Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett, who is paying a business visit to New Zealand, was most interested when informed of the proposal to form a similar volunteer Scottish unit in Wellington and stated that he would be only too willing to give any assistance in his power to those interested in the project. r Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett stated that the London Scottish was at present 20 per cent, above its establishment and numbered 7464 officers and men. The qualification for membership of the regiment was Scots birth or Scots parentage. The members paid a subscription of £1 on joining and 15s a year thereafter. • The regiment formed part of the British territorial army and fulfilled in every way the usual territorial terms of service. The kilts, jackets, puttees, tam-o'-shanter bonnets, hose, and equipment used by the men were supplied by the Government, the recruits providing the remainder of their uniforms themselves at a cost of about 35s for each man. The London Scottish unit was much more than a territorial regiment; It was also a club for Scots residents of London and had its own shooting club and club-house at Bisley. It wore the well-known Hodden Grey tartan, chosen for it by its first colonel, Lord Elcho, later the Earl of Wemyss. Although there was naturally keen anxiety in London regarding the possibility of hostile air attacks, Lieuten-ant-Colonel Bennett said it was generally considered that the air defences of the metropolis were now adequate. He himself was not concerned with anti-aircraft defence, but he thought that in the event of an air attack the air defences would give a very good account of themselves. It was not known whether the balloon barrage system was yet fully completed, as a good deal of secrecy was observed regarding it.