From an elite Gaelic warrior to an infantry soldier in today’s army, the National War Museum’s fascinating new exhibition covers the epic history of the men on the fighting front of Scotland’s battlefields.
Examining hundreds of years of clothing, protection, weapons and tactics, Call to Arms looks at Scotland's infantry through four archetypal Scottish fighting men: a 15th century ‘Galloglaigh’ roving mercenary, a 17th century highland warrior fighting for kith and clan, a 19th century Scottish soldier employed by the British Army and today’s soldier tackling the central challenges of modern day warfare.
The exhibition examines the clothing, protection, weapons and tactics employed by soldiers and highlights the shifting motivations behind the fighting Scotsman. Amongst the highlights are artifacts such as the Claymore that made its name in Highland charges and grapeshot that was fired from cannons to devastating effect. There will also be a hands-on element to the exhibition, designed to explore some of the myths associated with weaponry through the ages.
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