The standard uniform of the WWII Scottish Infantryman was the British Battledress Uniform. This is a two-piece wool uniform, produced in two slightly different patterns during WWII. The earliest (1937 pattern) featured pleated chest pockets and concealed buttons on the blouse and trousers. The later 1940 pattern uniform was an economy measure, where pockets are plain and the buttons were no longer covered. For re-enacting purposes, wartime blouses can still be found and used; 1940 pattern blouses can be located, but the earlier 1937 pattern examples are difficult to obtain.

Sadly, after France 1940, the kilt (as a general rule) was no longer worn in combat, having been substituted by the Battledress Trousers, with the exception of the 1^st Battalion, who retained the use of the kilt in France 1940. In his book "The Sands of Dunkirk", Richard Collier narrates:

"On the high ground above La Bassee Canal, the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders were almost surrounded, but Lieut.-Colonel Peter Rose-Miller had a personal reason for not giving up; a battalion that defied Lord Gort must never yield to the Germans. Despite a War Office order that highland battalions must no longer wear the kilt on active service, the Highlanders had for months fought a delaying action on paper. Surely there was some mistake? What should be worn in lieu? Where would they hand the kilts in? On 10^th May, when the Germans struck, Rose-Miller knew thay had won: from now on G.H.Q. would have other things to brood on."

The Camerons do have the distinction of being the last Regiment to wear the kilt in battle, and commemorate this by wearing the royal blue hackle behind their cap badge. Wartime patterns of trousers are exceptionally rare, and in their place we use postwar 1949 pattern trousers which can easily be converted to either the 1940 or 1937 pattern specifications. Reproductions of the Battledress uniform are available.

Another style of uniform worn during the war was the Khaki Drill (or KD) uniform. This was originally manufactured as a pullover-style shirt and loose trousers or shorts. These items were made from a khaki cotton drill material, which made it better suited to warmer climates than did the wool Battledress. Thus, the KD uniform was worn in all areas of the Mediterranean from North Africa into Italy, and was also used in the Far East by the 1^st Battalion, where it was dyed green to better blend with the dense jungle foliage. There are several variations of this style of uniform which were produced during the war.

  Another uniform item worn by the 5^th Battalion in January / February 1945 was the snow camouflage uniform. This item was issued during the winter operations after the start of the German offensive in the Ardennes.