Traditionally the guardroom of a Highland regiment barracks had a highly polished brass plate set in the floor.

This enabled the Guard Commander to check that a soldier was not wearing anything under his kilt

while preserving the

dignity of both parties.

English soldiers posted to Highland regiments were first mystified then horrified at this aspect of Scottish culture but generally eventually shared the national pride in it.

Anyone who remembers the Carry On Up The Khyber film will know what I am talking about. Apart from that and mysterious hardware set in old floors I fear that this is a forgotten part of imperial history replaced by upskirting, which is soon to be criminalised.

A V Martin,

Westfield Close,

Wigginton, York