Army Dress Regulations Part 1

ARMY DRESS REGULATIONS (ALL RANKS)
Part 1
Introduction, Glossary of Terms and Orders of Dress
Ministry of Defence
PS12(A)
October 2022
Part 1
SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION
CONTENT
01.1. These revised Army Dress Regulations have been devised to form an amalgam of JSP 336
Vol 12 Part 3 Clothing Pamphlets 1-16 and Officers Dress Regulations - and will supersede both in
April 2007.
01.2. They are designed to provide a ready access in electronic format, both on AEL and DII, to
all features of Army dress regulations, except for clothing scales which can be found by link to DC
IPT…Also, illustrations with requisite NSN numbers can be seen by access to DC IPT’s Photo
Library on the following link.
ARMY DRESS COMMITTEE - FUNCTIONS AND PROCEDURES
01.3. The Army Dress Committee considers all proposals affecting authorised orders of dress and
embellishments for officers and soldiers and approves the wearing of new pattern clothing; no
deviation from any authorised pattern of clothing is permitted.
01.4. Before any dress proposal is formulated to amend these regulations, either to change an
existing item of dress or to seek approval for a new item, advice must first be sought from the Army
Dress Committee Secretary.
01.5. Should any proposal involve a new design, or change to an existing design, of a badge, crest
or logo, prior advice must first be obtained from some or all of the following Army dress advisers:
a. The College of Arms through PS12(A) and approval of the Inspector of Regimental Colours
(see note at the end of this Section).
b. Army Brand Manager.
c. The Army Historical Adviser.
d. Army Historical Branch.
01.6. Other changes of design will normally involve prior help and advice from the Historical
Advisers.
01.7. Once initial advice has been received on design aspects, where public money is involved the
source of funding must be identified by the proposer which will normally require the production of a
Business Case to Log Sp at HQ ARMY as appropriate, and funding authority will form an integral
part of the formal dress proposal and this should include the total numbers of officers and soldiers
involved, by ranks, within authorised establishments.
01.8. The Dress Proposal, illustrated where necessary, would then be submitted to the Army
Dress Committee Secretary at PS12(A) to include:
Part 1 – Section 1
a. The College of Arms through PS12(A) for badges and emblems for approval of the
Regimental Inspector of Colours (see note at the end of this Section).
b. Agreement of the Colonel or Colonel Commandant of the regiment or corps, and of the
honorary Colonel and Colonel-in-Chief, if appropriate.
c. The relevant chain of command.
d. Agreement of other regiments or corps who may be affected.
01.9. The Army Dress Committee usually meets three times a year and any finalised dress
proposal should reach the Army Dress Committee Secretary at PS12(A) at least three weeks prior to
the meeting. Minor proposals, and any urgent special case proposal, may by considered Out of
Committee and if approved would be ratified with a Decision Number at the next full Committee
meeting.
01.10. Army Dress Committee Minutes will contain a record of decisions and the relevant
Decision Number will constitute the formal authority.
Notes:
Inspector of Regimental Colours
The office of Inspector of Regimental Colours was instituted in 1806 in order to regulate the
design of the various Colours, Guidons, and Standards of the Army. Regulations for these had
been laid down in 1768, but were widely ignored and designs left to the whim of individual
Colonels. The first Inspector was George Nayler (1764-1831), York Herald, later Garter King of
Arms.
Since that time the office of Inspector has normally been held by Garter King of Arms. As the
Army's heraldic adviser he is responsible for approving all new designs for Colours, Guidons,
Standards, Cap Badges, Defence Agencies etc. The artwork for all new designs is prepared at
the College of Arms by a heraldic artist, signed by the Inspector, and then submitted to The
King, via the Ministry of Defence, for formal approval. Once The King has signed the painting, it
is returned to the College for safe keeping.
SECTION 2 - THE PRINCIPLES OF BRITISH ARMY UNIFORM
(re Regular Army only, except where otherwise noted)
01.11. The British Army has enjoyed historical continuity to a unique degree. In over 300 years it
has acquired a fine and much admired heritage that includes its insignia and formal uniforms; a few
features, such as the red/scarlet uniform colour, actually date back to the beginning.
01.12. Like the British constitution, the field of uniforms and insignia has unwritten conventions
without which such things become meaningless and, at the very least, lose their prestige.
01.13. The following paragraphs clarify some of the underlying principles sanctioned by history.
Although in a few instances these rules have been breached, they remain valid in principle:
exceptions are not listed here unless they are significant and provide a real precedent.
KEY SIGNIFICANCE OF FULL DRESS
01.14. In the range of orders of dress, descending from the grandest (Full Dress) to the most prosaic
(Combat Dress with helmet), there is a steady thinning out of regimental features. In dress terms the
personality of the regiment or corps is most massively present in Full Dress: this is the key.
Ultimately it dictates the special details displayed in the other orders of dress.
01.15. For many regiments and corps continuity is undisturbed, so all details, including Full Dress,
are long established. For those created or amalgamated since 1939, too, the details of Full Dress are
mostly very obvious. In fact, where regiments of similar category amalgamate, it is mainly just a
question of choosing insignia. In all other cases an outline of Full Dress can be inferred from the
unit's antecedents and functions and from Army history. In many such instances the uniform has
already been formally settled (for their Bands) in this way.
01.16. Thus with an actual (or notional) Full Dress borne in mind, virtually all other uniform matters
become clear, including colours of mess jacket; trouser stripes; the potential wearing of spurs; of a
sash (if infantry); accoutrements; shoulder chains or shoulder cords in No. 1 Dress: colours of No. 1
Dress cap; pattern of sword etc. In some cases such characteristics may amount to a “package”.
UNIFORMITY
01.17. In general the basic colouring of a given uniform is the same for all ranks of a unit, however
greatly the embellishment may vary with rank or appointment. Thus, in Full Dress, the body colour,
any facing colour, the button colour and colour of plume, if any, will be the same for officers, NCOs
and soldiers.
01.18. However, within the same unit and in the same order of dress, uniform of differing colour can
be logically granted; Pipers should and Farriers (now only in LG) could wear a special colour.
Special uniform for Musicians largely waned but smaller features such as plumes of distinctive
colour etc. are historically appropriate, particularly for cavalry Musicians and Trumpeters.
Drummers’ distinctions are in a slightly different category as these long ago ceased to involve
wearing different colour.
REGIMENTAL UNIFORM COLOUR - FULL DRESS AND MESS DRESS
Throughout these notes, the obvious exceptions of the three regiments with special colour trousers
(RDG, KRH. and R.Irish) are left aside, as are kilts and trews. “Unit” is used here to mean a
regiment or a corps; and the term “regimental” may refer to either.
01.19. Apart from the RA in blue, historically the great bulk of the army wore red (scarlet for
officers and sergeants) but Light Dragoons (later Hussars and Lancers) led to a new element in blue.
Similarly the advent of RIFLES involved green uniforms. New departmental corps were later
steadily added, swelling the once limited numbers wearing blue. In the 1920s the Royal Signals
logically followed the RE into scarlet and more recently the AGC was also granted scarlet. The
colour for Generals, most army Staff officers, LG, normal heavy cavalry, RE, Foot Guards and Line
Infantry in Full Dress remains scarlet. The slightly deeper red worn by the soldiers had given way to
scarlet c. 1870, when improved technology made this economically possible.
01.20. Thus each regiment and corps historically had its allotted “uniform colour”, which was the
body colour for its Full Dress (and also for officers’ stable and shell jackets when these evolved and,
at first, for the late Victorian working “frock”). In the Regular Army, the colour is only scarlet, dark
blue or Rifle green. When stable and shell jackets came to be used as mess jackets, the colour of
course remained the same as the Full Dress, and this is an important principle.
01.21. The only valid exceptions have arisen when two regiments with differing "uniform colour"
amalgamated, in which case one antecedent colour could reasonably be taken for Full Dress and the
other for the mess jacket.
01.22. Historically waistcoats had long been white. When Mess Dress emerged, based on the short
jacket, the mess vest worn with that was normally either of the jacket colour or of the facing colour
or it could be of the washable white variety. Today, following amalgamations, a further logical
alternative could be the facing colour of any antecedent unit.
01.23. The texture of the woollen cloth for full dress tunics and, until recently, for all frock coats, is
traditionally akin to superfine or doeskin materials and almost reminiscent of suede: it is dense and
smooth but not unduly thick. For temperate mess jackets and waistcoats, the texture is usually of
similar smooth appearance although the cloth, while still substantial, could be thinner.
01.24. Aside from regiments with a RIFLES background (and the special exceptions already
mentioned), all dress trousers and overalls throughout the Regular Army are dark blue. Such overalls
or trousers, with the striping described below, are worn in Full Dress, frock coat, Mess Dress and No.
1 Dress; and similar netherwear is also worn with tropical white jackets.
FACINGS
01.25. Historically the facing colour was a key element of a regiment’s identity, particularly in the
infantry, distinguishing one red-coated regiment from another in their uniform and also in the
Colours they carried. So significant were facing colours that for several regiments the colour
inspired a nickname (such as “The Pompadours") or even a formal title (The Buffs, The Green
Howards etc.). Some colours were subtle, such as the Gosling Green of the Northumberland
Fusiliers and some were surprising, such as the scarlet facings that only DWR retained on scarlet
tunics.
01.26. Hussars had no facings as such (although two regiments had coloured collars) but the facing
colour features on the Full Dress tunics of all other regiments and corps, invariably on the collar and
nearly always on the cuffs. Sometimes there is matching piping but not for Generals and Army
Staff, Foot Guards or Line Infantry, whose piping is white. Any cloth shoulder straps, too, are
normally of the facing colour although Line Infantry Drummers’ wings are scarlet.
01.27. Facings are also a feature of Mess Dress, particularly displayed on the cuffs and on the jacket
collar but less consistently on the latter in the case of roll collar jackets. Shoulder straps can be of
facing colour and so can the mess waistcoat.
01.28. On scarlet tunics, it was normal, and mandatory for Line Infantry, that Royal regiments
should have dark blue facings, the resulting scarlet and blue being in line with the Royal livery
colours. The blue is extremely dark, unlike the popular conception of “royal blue”. Occasional
dispensation has been granted for a cherished former facing colour if it had had long use before the
Royal status was acquired.
01.29. Velvet facings, also worn by the several Body Guards, are available only to the following:
The Life Guards; Dragoon Guards (not worn by all the regiments); RE; RTR and RLC. Velvet
facings were also formerly worn by the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment and by RB.
BUTTON AND LACE COLOUR.
01.30. As well as the Uniform Colour and the Facing Colour, regiments had an approved metal
colour, gold or silver, for the officers’ buttons: their metallic lace and almost all metal fittings always
had to match these.
01.31. A most important rule was established in 1830 whereby the "button colour" for the entire
Regular Army had to be gold, except for black buttons for RIFLES (who duly had matching black
braid and cord etc.). Silver was to be quite widely worn in the Auxiliary (now Territorial) forces and
was adopted for the Lieutenancy.
01.32. The gold rule remained intact until after World War II. Today there are a very few
exceptions.
01.33. The option for Pipers to be assigned white metal buttons is linked with their historical status
and does not breach the rule: nor does the tactical bronzing of Service Dress (No. 2 Dress) buttons,
mainly on officers’ uniforms, or the use of khaki plastic Royal Arms buttons.
01.34. The rule that Shoulder Belt Plates and Waistbelt Plates etc should match the button colour
does not prevent the officers’ usual extensive ornamentation of the opposite metal on the face of such
plates: it is the background metal colour that counts. It remains a cardinal rule that waistbelt plates
and clasps, and also metal shoulder-titles, should match the metal buttons. Even the metal furniture
on Sam Browne belts normally conforms with the formal gilt or silver button colour.
01.35. One particular exception is that ornaments of light cavalry style on a cavalry officer’s pouch
belt are traditionally silver although on a gold-laced belt (and sometimes vice versa in Yeomanry).
Also the entire pouch flap is often silver, usually bearing a gilt cypher etc.
01.36. It is standard practice for ornaments mounted on metal to be of the opposite metal colour.
There was also a classic rule that on gold shoulder cords (worn also in No. 1 Dress Ceremonial) rank
badges should be basically silver colour but, for most units, gilt when on plain blue shoulder straps,
for example. However, gold-laced shoulder straps (as on the mess jackets of Generals and Staff) and
gold embroidered ones (as on Foot Guards officers’ Full Dress) were treated like gold shoulder cords
and so bore rank badges in silver embroidery to contrast.
01.37. For actual cap and collar badges there is great freedom of choice between bimetal (gilt and
silver), all-gilt or all-silver colour. In khaki uniform they, like other metal insignia, may be bronzed,
particularly for officers, the correct bronze colour being shades of brown, distinctly short of black
except for Chaplains and RIFLES.
01.38. In the case of helmet plates, such as the large star plates on the blue cloth helmets of Line
Infantry, as widely worn by Bands etc, these are essentially just a standard pattern mount and always
match the gilt colour of the other helmet fittings: the actual regimental devices are the small details,
of whatever metal and/or colour, mounted within that gilt surround. Not being a badge, such full size
helmet plates cannot correctly have a shaped, coloured backing but are fitted directly onto the
helmet.
01.39. Where a coloured cloth backing is authorised for a badge, its shape should conform closely
with the badge and the cloth border thus formed should be quite narrow, except when the badge is on
a rectangular patch, as worn on a beret.
PLUME COLOUR
01.40. A wide variety of plume colours was adopted by units but the nearest to a national colouring
would possibly be white over red. The drooping swan’s feather plumes of Generals and Staff
officers continue in that colouring. Other conventional colours have included white for Artillery and
for Grenadiers and green for Light Infantry and, at one period, black for the helmets of heavy
cavalry.
SASH COLOUR.
01.41. A very old convention in military uniform that was once observed in many countries was the
establishment of a national sash colour, which was often that of its sovereign’s dynasty. Among
continuing examples, the Dutch sash colour is orange, the Italian sash is blue and the British red,
interpreted as crimson for officers but scarlet for Sergeants. The possible presence of gold (or silver)
stripes or fringe on British sashes does not undermine the national colour, which even extends to
barrel sashes (see Glossary) and Lancer girdles. On the latter, the gold (for officers but yellow
equivalent for the soldiers) covers the greatest area, as it does on Generals’ sashes.
01.42. On a conventional military sash no ornamentation other than stripes or fringe is appropriate,
although by very old custom the special sashes worn in State Dress by Foot Guards Drum Majors are
fastened with an ornamental pin.
01.43. The sash is one of the oldest potential features of military uniform and of great importance
historically.
SIDESEAM STRIPING.
01.44. The great majority of units have the sideseams of their blue trousers embellished with scarlet,
Cavalry of the Line being an old exception.
01.45. Like many other details, striping essentially follows Full Dress precedent (invariably so
regarding colour) but the striping in No. 1 Dress differs in just one important instance from that in
Full Dress: all ranks of Line Infantry historically wore the same ¼ inch scarlet welt (see Glossary) as
Guardsmen do today but in No. 1 Dress they have a 1 inch stripe instead. However, in Mess Dress
the distinctive welt is still worn by their officers on overalls, and the same welt remains a feature for
all ranks when Full Dress is worn.
01.46. A further large element of the army used to wear the classic 1¾ inch scarlet stripe, namely:
RA, AAC, REME, AGC, Army Staff officers and now also the RRF, a unique exception among Line
Infantry. Uniquely APTC wore 1 ¼ in. Slightly wider scarlet stripes (2 in.) were worn by RE, Royal
Signals and both the corresponding Gurkha corps and by Foot Guards officers. Since 2009, all these
varieties of broad stripes have been rationalised at 17/8in.
01.47. Generals wear an even wider stripe (2½ inch); and the Blues and Royals wear almost 3 in.,
the Life Guards, of course, having the remarkable twin wide scarlet stripes with matching welt
between.
01.48. The typical wide bright yellow stripe of the heavy cavalry has gone as a result of
amalgamations, the more unusual white version being worn by QDG, and the RDG having inherited
the unique restrained “primrose” version (on green) from 5 Innis DG. Scots DG wear twin one-inch
yellow stripes, a special combination of inherited features.
01.49. The RTR (as RTC) adopted a 2 in. black stripe which, for officers, is black lace of Staff
pattern.
01.50. The very distinctive twin ¾ inch stripe, usually bright yellow, remains an important feature of
light cavalry, the QRL retaining the white version once worn by the 17th Lancers. The original
historical background makes it unnecessary to have any difference in spacing between that for
Hussars and that for Lancers.
01.51. The RLC inherited twin narrow stripes from the RASC but in the RAOC's scarlet colour.
Most other stripes follow a system, the later-formed departmental corps mainly having the classic
wide width (1¾ in but 17/8 in from 2009) in their own particular colour, with the RAVC presenting
its maroon colour in twin stripes of light cavalry format.
01.52. RIFLES officers have their traditional black braid stripes 2 in. wide but while soldiers of the
RGR retain plain Rifle green trousers, black trousers with a black welt have been adopted in The
RIFLES (in No. 1 Dress).
ACCOUTREMENTS.
01.53. Yet again Full Dress is also the basis (or at the very least sets the colouring) for
accoutrements worn in No. 1 Dress (Ceremonial): indeed all the officer items are essentially Full
Dress items.
01.54. Except in the very few units that wear black accoutrements, the waist belts, bayonet frogs,
sword slings and shoulder belts etc. worn by the soldiers in Full Dress are invariably white, and this
applies also in No. 1 Dress.
01.55. These white items represent traditional whitened buff leather, the actual buff leather itself
being an historic feature, dating back three centuries, that is retained in the Household Division and
by some others.
01.56. The key item is the standard type of Full Dress waistbelt, which is only 1¾ in. wide but
substantial, with brass adjustment buckles and a heavy, well-detailed cast brass waistbelt clasp. This
is of the union locket style, adopted some 150 years ago, in which a disc interlocks into a circlet.
The Foot Guards have regimental patterns of this clasp and there is an imposing General Service
(GS) version with the Royal Crest on the centre and "Dieu et Mon Droit" motto on the circlet. This
GS pattern clasp was worn, not only by Infantry of the Line but by dismounted personnel in most
departmental corps.
01.57. As accoutrements worn in No. 1 Dress Ceremonial are generally of Full Dress patterns, the
above belt (of buff leather, or of a good heavy matt plastic, with GS clasp) was worn extensively
when No. 1 Dress was in widespread use early in the present reign. However, today the soldiers of
many units in No. 1 Dress wear instead just a woven white nylon belt with a flat sheet metal
waistbelt plate with a cap badge fixed to it. This same belt is also often worn in No. 2 Dress. It
would not be suitable for Full Dress, in which the more substantial traditional belt described, of buff
leather or of solid matt plastic and fitted with a clasp of union locket type, remains mandatory for
Line Infantry and for several corps.
01.58. The wider buff leather waistbelts of the Household Cavalry are of a special pattern with a
substantial rectangular brass waistbelt plate and a long and a short sword sling.
01.59. The equivalent once issued to other "mounted services" is narrow (only 1½ in.), fastened with
a brass snake-hook (described below) and has two short slings at the wearer's left side (designed for a
sword scabbard with two fixed suspension rings at the top). This pattern, now also available in the
heavy white matt plastic substitute, is essentially correct today for the Full Dress uniforms of Heavy
Cavalry (currently worn by the Band and any Trumpeters etc.), the RLC Band, the AAC Band and, if
ever required, for soldiers of the RAVC.
01.60. Hussars never wear visible sword belts: Lancers wear a yellow worsted girdle with twin
scarlet stripes (gold with crimson lines for officers) but, again, no sword belt over their Full Dress
tunics.
01.61. Soldiers of all Cavalry of the Line regiments formerly wore over the left shoulder in Full
Dress a whitened buff leather pouch belt with black leather pouch; today a heavy plastic substitute
would be appropriate, the pattern being broadly similar to the Household Cavalry design but without
the coloured flask cord.
01.62. To close the topic of buff belts, the officers’ versions, now rare, should be mentioned. In the
Household Division, officers retain certain whitened buff leather accoutrements (some worn with
frock coats, and some on certain occasions with tunics) as well as the gold laced alternatives. In
Scottish regiments the officers’ shoulder belts and certain waistbelts are traditionally of whitened
buff leather but good plastic substitutes may be worn. These shoulder belts support the Claymore
and are fastened with a large shoulder belt plate.
01.63. In rifle regiments the black accoutrements are all of high gloss finish (currently mainly heavy
plastic) and are plain for both officers and soldiers (apart from the metal fittings).
01.64. Until the recent amalgamation in which The RIFLES was formed, the soldiers of the RGJ
retained for No. 1 and No. 2 Dress their historic snake-hook clasp, which incorporates an S-shaped
hook resembling a serpent. This style of clasp, worn by RIFLES for two centuries, remains the
correct pattern should Full Dress be worn by soldiers or buglers. In No. 1 Dress and No. 2 Dress
today soldiers of The RIFLES and of the RGR wear a rectangular sheet metal waistbelt plate bearing
their regimental insignia.
01.65. The pouch belts (often patent leather) worn by their officers and WO1s bear on the front a
silver(ed) whistle suspended on chains from an ornamental chain-boss fixed above a large frontal
badge (termed a pouch belt plate). A more modest equivalent may also be worn by ranks down to
and including SNCO. Sword slings have simple white metal furniture.
01.66. Apart from the few mentioned above, virtually all officers’ Full Dress waist belts, sword
slings and pouch belts are of coloured Morocco leather faced with gold lace of appropriate pattern or,
in a few cases, Morocco or Russia leather decorated with rows of gold embroidery.
01.67. By way of Full Dress gold-laced accoutrements, General and Staff officers and officers of the
Foot Guards and (excluding Scottish) of the Line Infantry, who all wear a waist sash, require just a
pair of sword slings; officers of heavy cavalry have gold-laced waist belts and matching sword slings
and a gold-laced pouch belt and a pouch; Hussars have the latter items but omit the laced waistbelt,
as also do Lancers, who have the Lancer girdle in lieu of any external waistbelt. For cavalry officers
the very fine pouches varied considerably in design. The richly embroidered pouch of the RA, now
worn in the RHA, had been generally replaced at one time by the simple black RA undress pouch
bearing a badge. This, together with a gold-laced pouch belt, matching waistbelt and separate sword
slings, formed the set of accoutrements for RA officers. The requirements in the RE and in most
other corps are roughly comparable.
01.68. In No. 1 Dress (Ceremonial) the accoutrements of General and Staff officers, officers of the
Foot Guards, Infantry of the Line and RIFLES are all exactly as in Full Dress, except that Scottish
infantry officers all wear white waist belts with the white shoulder belt. Cavalry officers do not (and
never did) wear a gold laced waistbelt or girdle over No. 1 Dress or its predecessors but do wear their
other Full Dress accoutrements.
01.69. RHA officers wear the revived richly embroidered pouch mentioned above on its gold-laced
pouch belt but most RA officers wear a similar pouch belt with the simple black pouch instead.
Apart from RAVC, who wear a pouch belt, most other corps have been wearing the crimson waist
sash if they wear No. 1 Dress (Ceremonial). A pouch belt is never worn in the same uniform as the
infantry sash. The sword slings in all these cases continue to be of Morocco leather or similar, faced
with gold lace.
MOUNTED STATUS.
01.70. "Mounted" status has a fundamental impact on some uniforms. In Full Dress, even when
dismounted, all ranks of a cavalry regiment or a "mounted" corps would wear overalls (close fitting
trousers with foot straps under the boots) and box spurs in the heels of the boots. In most other
regiments and corps (excluding Foot Guards) all the officers likewise wear overalls. However only
those among them who, in theory, are potentially mounted, usually Field Officers and Adjutants,
wear box spurs. The list of those “mounted” regiments and corps is at Annex A to this Section.
01.71. In principle officers also wore the above netherwear and spurs equally with the frock coat and
in Mess Dress and in the pre-World War 2 equivalent of No. 1 Dress. Currently officers of most
regiments and corps still wear overalls in Mess Dress but in No. 1 Dress most infantry officers, as
well as officers of some corps, wear trousers, as do virtually all the soldiers. In Mess Dress almost
all WOs and Sergeants wear No. 1 Dress trousers but WO1s of the following are permitted overalls:
RAC (less RTR); RA; RE; R. Signals; RLC and RAVC.
01.72. The theoretical mounted status of course also affects the weapons carried and therefore the
accoutrements (described above). Outside the Household Cavalry and the King’s Troop RHA,
swords are today hardly ever carried except by officers (and possibly WO1s) but cavalry soldiers and
certain others should wear sword slings in Full Dress. Pouch belts (theoretically for carbine
ammunition) are also worn by cavalry soldiers.
01.73. For cavalry and RIFLES officers the pouch belt was originally for pistol ammunition but in
some other instances the pouch belt in theory carried other items such as medical or veterinary
instruments or writing materials. Thus pouch belts were justified for officers of most corps, although
the officers of Foot Guards and Line Infantry never adopted them.
01.74. A final distinction to be listed between mounted and dismounted units is that the ceremonial
(pre-khaki) form of overcoat was historically a dark grey greatcoat for infantry but a dark blue cloak
for Cavalry of the Line, RA and mounted corps in general. Other corps wore a dark blue greatcoat
which, like the grey version, was single-breasted for the men and double-breasted for the officers.
FORAGE CAP.
01.75. Although the peaked forage cap and the Glengarry became incorporated a century ago or
more into what is now No. 1 Dress, it was also always used as an adjunct to the soldier’s Full Dress
uniform. Thus for certain limited purposes such as "walking out", bandstand concerts and barrack
guard duties etc., there was always the legitimate option of substituting the forage cap for the full
dress headdress (helmet or busby etc.) despite the rest of the uniform being full dress. This was not
generally done by officers who could mostly wear a frock coat with the peaked cap (or an
equivalent) on comparable occasions.
01.76. The peaked forage cap today remains the classic, historic style of No. 1 Dress headdress,
although Scottish and Irish infantry and Gurkhas respectively have the Glengarry, the Caubeen and
the Kilmarnock. In a few units, such as RTR and Para, the beret is worn in almost all orders of dress.
These various headdress approved for No. 1 Dress are in most cases also worn with No. 2 Dress and
frequently in yet other orders of dress.
01.77. For the majority of regiments and corps the peaked forage cap is dark blue, mostly with
coloured capband and welts. In the case of Royal regiments of Line Infantry and some others, the
capband and crown welt are scarlet.
01.78. For RIFLES the peaked caps are Rifle green and the officers have black braid or lace
capbands, as do also officers of non-Royal regiments of Line Infantry.
01.79. The most colourful varieties are those worn by cavalry regiments. Their details include caps
of crimson or scarlet, a velvet band (for Dragoon Guards), a vandyked (zigzag) yellow band for
Scots DG and, for Lancers, quarter welts reflecting their Full Dress headdress.
SUMMARY OF THE FORMAL/CEREMONIAL ORDERS OF DRESS
01.80. Full Dress: this is the ultimate statement of tradition and regimental identity in uniform. It
has changed little in 150 years and contains even older features. It includes the historic tunic
colouring, scarlet, dark blue or Rifle Green, and the vividly characteristic headdress. More details
are given elsewhere in these notes.
01.81. Frock Coat: available to certain officers and WO1 bandmasters, this knee-length garment
can be of two basic styles: single-breasted with olivets (see Glossary) and extensive black braid
decoration; or double-breasted and plain with military buttons. A green version of the latter type
exists for Bands with relevant historical background but otherwise all frock coats are dark blue.
They are normally worn with the peaked forage cap and with Full Dress netherwear, sword scabbard
and accoutrements and, where appropriate, with a waist sash but never with a pouch belt. However,
Generals and senior Army Staff officers may on occasion wear the cocked hat and plume instead of
the cap with their frock coats. The latter have gold shoulder cords and, for Generals, blue velvet
collar and cuffs.
01.82. No. 1 Dress (Temperate ceremonial uniform): this is a quite direct descendant of the "Frock",
which was a fairly austere tunic-length undress jacket with external pockets that was developed for
working and training purposes from around 1870 onwards. Originally this matched the units’ Full
Dress colour, the body being scarlet or blue (except for RIFLES) but the scarlet Frock was replaced
by blue around 1900 (except Overseas). This uniform (called "Blue Patrols" in many units) became
a very popular one for officers and provided the basis for the serge Coronation Uniform issued to
Soldiers in 1937. By 1950, No. 1 Dress had been developed along the same lines. In most cases this
had the great advantage of being able to be worn by officers on ordinary occasions with the Sam
Browne belt etc. as before but for ceremonial occasions with accoutrements, and usually also
shoulder cords, of Full Dress type. RIFLES officers had long worn their pouch belts for both
purposes. The tunic itself (termed a "jacket" in Dress Regulations) remains austere in spirit and not
suitable for actual gold lace/braid trimming, although it works very well with the detachable
ceremonial items.
01.83. One novel aspect of No. 1 Dress when introduced was the rather different approach in the
case of the Highland and Lowland uniforms which were both considerably more elaborate than the
others in nature. These both later gave way to a single Scottish pattern in Archer green, also
elaborate, having Inverness flaps (see Glossary) and some Russia braid trimming which accords with
its quite formal style.
01.84. However, although there are now three shades of green in No. 1 Dress (Rifle Green; Piper
10
Green for R. Irish; and Archer Green for Scots), all the other No. 1 Dress jackets are dark blue and
mostly plain, only a very few having a coloured collar and/or piping etc.
01.85. No. 3 Dress (Warm weather ceremonial uniform): this is the tropical version of No. 1 Dress.
The jacket is made of white cotton drill or similar but all the other items are as for No. 1 Dress
though overalls/trousers maybe of lightweight material.
01.86. No. 2 Dress (Temperate parade uniform [Service Dress]): this is the descendant of the then
very novel temperate khaki serge Service Dress uniform that was adopted in 1902 following
experience in the Second Boer War. The soldiers’ version of the Service Dress tunic or "jacket" was
very little changed until about 1960 when the material and the collar style were broadly aligned with
the officer pattern in the new version. For officers there was some variation in the exact shade and
even the texture of the uniforms and the shirts and ties. Since 2009, both officers and soldiers of all
regiments except SCOTS wear the standard issued design, colour and material of No. 2 Dress. The
headdress is discussed under Forage Cap above.
01.87. No. 4 Dress (Warm weather Service Dress): this is the tropical version of officers’ No. 2
Dress made in a light (stone) shade of khaki.
01.88. No. 6 Dress (Warm weather parade uniform [Bush Jacket]): this is classed as a parade
uniform and so is included in this list, the soldiers not having No. 4 Dress. Although this is similar
to the latter in colour, the jacket is a Bush Jacket, which is a cross between a bush shirt and a tropical
service dress jacket in design and therefore informal in style. It is worn with matching long trousers.
01.89. No. 10 Dress (Temperate mess dress): this developed from the officers’ Stable Jacket (of
mounted regiments and corps) and the equivalent Shell Jacket (worn by officers of other units) that
first emerged in the early 19th century as a form of working or fatigue dress. These short jackets
(worn open over a waistcoat) became the normal form of Mess Dress around 150 years ago. The
colouring and texture are closely related to Full Dress and in principle the netherwear should be the
same in both uniforms.
01.90. No. 11 Dress (Warm weather mess dress): this is the tropical equivalent of No. 10 Dress, the
jacket normally being made of white cotton drill or similar but the netherwear is generally of the
same pattern as in No. 10 Dress. With this a cummerbund is worn, for which established regimental
colours have existed since Victorian times: these included red for those units that had no other
special colour.
01.91. A brief indication of the origin of the other orders of dress (that are not formal/ceremonial) is
given in the attached diagram. In these, most clothing is of standard colours as issued throughout the
army, except that for certain purposes regimental coloured pullovers and varying shades of khaki
shirt (even grey in a very few cases) are widely permitted for officers and sometimes for WOs etc.
but never with Combat Dress which is strictly regulation.
01.92. In many of the workaday orders of dress, the unit identity may be apparent from the type and
11
colour of the headdress. Obviously, although outside the scope of uniform colour, stable belts and
lanyards, as well as actual insignia, can also sometimes identify the unit when no distinctive coloured
clothing is present.
01.93. - 01.99 Spare
12
ANNEX A TO SECTION 2
See Para 01.70
MOUNTED CORPS AND REGIMENTS OF THE BRITISH ARMY
Household Cavalry
All Cavalry Regiments (excludes RTR)
Royal Regiment of Artillery
Corps of Royal Engineers (includes Queen’s Gurkha Engineers)
Royal Corps of Signals (includes Queen’s Gurkha Signals)
Army Air Corps
Royal Logistic Corps (includes Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment)
Royal Army Veterinary Corps
DISMOUNTED CORPS AND REGIMENTS OF THE BRITISH ARMY
Royal Tank Regiment
All Infantry Regiments
Special Air Service
Special Reconnaissance Regiment
Royal Army Chaplain’s Department
Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Adjutant General’s Corps
Small Arms School Corps
Royal Army Dental Corps
Intelligence Corps
Army Physical Training Corps
Queen Alexandra’0s Royal Army Nursing Corps
Corps of Army Music
A- 1
Part 1 – Section 2 Annex A

SECTION 3 - THE EVOLUTION OF ORDERS OF DRESS
CURRENT
ORDERS OF DRESS
Full Dress Full Dress
Pelisse/overcoat
Frock
(= an austere working tunic in
full dress colours: Scarlet, Frock Coat etc. Frock Coat
Blue or Green) (late Georgian period)
Stable Jacket (for mounted arms) (mid/late Victorian period)
(known as Shell Jacket for others)
(= a short working jacket in full dress No.1 Dress
colours: Scarlet, Blue or Green) Similar (Frock) but in Khaki serge for Temperate ceremonial uniform
(late Georgian period) temperate wear became (by 1902)
Frock (often called “Patrols”) Service Dress later known as
virtually confined to Blue No.2 Dress
serge or Green also a version in Khaki cotton drill etc. for
except overseas tropical wear, later known as No.4 dress No.2 Dress
Temperate parade uniform
(Service Dress)
developed (by 1950) No.3 Dress

Developed into into No.1 Dress with Warm weather
Mess Dress a White cotton drill version ceremonial uniform
(for temperate wear) for tropical wear,
also a White cotton drill version No.3 Dress
for tropical wear replacing earlier patterns of White
cotton drill clothing
No.4 Dress
Warm weather
Service Dress
Shirts; Fatigue smocks & trousers

(unbleached canvas etc.); Jerseys/Cardigans was No.5 Dress
Battle Dress
as active service uniforms (-until deleted & number
these were replaced (by 1940) reused: see below)
by Battle Dress (for temperate wear)
and: KD shirt & trousers & shorts,
& soon Jungle Green shirt & trousers
etc. & various bush shirts etc. No.6 Dress
Fatigue dress had long existed. After 1939 it was
for tropical wear Warm weather parade uniform
generally replaced by “Denim Overalls”. Between (Bush Jacket)
the World Wars use of shirtsleeve order and of —————————
jerseys greatly increased in the tropics and from a slightly modified form of Bush
World War 2 onwards this spread to temperate Jacket, is now treated as
regions. New informal/working forms of dress
multiplied; apart from coveralls etc. these consisted No.7 Dress
of combinations of various shirts, jerseys, trousers Warm weather
and headgear. Currently there is: barrack dress
No.7, No.12, No.13 and No.14 Dress
No.8 Dress
Temperate combat dress
for active service use
all these were replaced (by 1960)
by Combat Dress (for temperate
wear) and (later) Tropical (I.e. No.9 Dress (Obsolete)
jungle etc.) and Desert versions Tropical combat dress
of Combat Dress
No.5 Dress
(a reused number)
Desert combat dress
No.10 Dress
Temperate mess dress
No.11 Dress
Warm weather mess dress
No.12 Dress
Protective clothing
No.13 dress
Temperate barrack dress
No.14 Dress
Shirt sleeve order
SECTION 4 - UNDERSTANDING BRITISH UNIFORMS: A
GLOSSARY
01.100. ACCOUTREMENTS: substantial personal equipment such as belts, slings, pouches,
bayonet-frogs, holsters etc. i.e. most items on the soldier other than insignia, clothing and weapons.
01.101. ACORN: this, the usual finial for sword knots and caplines, in fact resembles more a
tapered pear shape, attached at its wide end.
01.102. AIGUILLETTE: plaited cord with twin metal tags suspended from one shoulder, a
very old and prominent distinction worn by certain individual officers including Field Marshals,
Military Members of the Army Board, certain ADCs, Equerries, Military Attachés etc.; also worn in
Full Dress only, by all officers, WOs and NCOs of the Household Cavalry; and by Musicians (and
sometimes Trumpeters) of heavy cavalry.
01.103. AMMUNITION BOOTS: the word ammunition here merely meant government
issue but the term is popularly retained for the last leather-soled type before DMS rubber soles were
introduced.
01.104. ANKLETS: very short canvas or leather gaiters.
01.105. ARMLET: a broad detachable fabric band bearing letters or emblems, worn on one
arm for instant identification of an officer’s or soldier’s functions etc. (e.g. various staff duties:
military police etc.) See also BRASSARD.
01.106. ATHOLL GREY: the light grey colour adopted c. 1902 for greatcoats and capes of
Foot Guards officers and Generals and senior staff officers.
01.107. AUSTRIAN KNOT: a particular design of ornamental knot for cord or braid
decoration on certain dress uniforms, mainly at the top of pointed cuffs.
01.108. BAG (or BUSBY BAG): the coloured cloth "inner" part that forms the top of a Busby
and hangs down its right side. The RIFLES busby has the cloth top but omits the bag.
01.109. BALDRIC(K): a specific type of shoulder belt (particularly those of Pipers) originally
designed to carry a sword.
01.110. BALL BUTTONS: spherical buttons, an Hussar feature and therefore shared by RHA
etc. and (in black) to an extent by RIFLES. Half-ball buttons may also be worn.
01.111. BANDOLIER: a shoulder-belt with multiple ammunition pouches (or cartridge loops)
on its surface.
01.112. BARREL SASH: a very distinctive form of waist sash still appropriate in Full Dress
to a few Yeomanry regiments with Hussar traditions, this consists of crimson cords that pass through
tubular “barrels” which, for officers, may be worked in gold.
01.113. BATON: an emblem of command of classical origin that features in the badges and
buttons of General Officers. The particular ornate baton actually carried by a Field Marshal is
similarly featured in the badges and buttons of that rank.
01.114. BATTLE HONOURS: on uniform these are displayed to a unique extent by RIFLES
(on badges) because, unlike other infantry, they have no Colours. The Light Dragoons also uniquely
display several on their officers’ shoulder belts and several duly feature on Household Cavalry
officers’ shabracques.
01.115. BEARSKIN CAP: a headdress, evolved from the cloth Mitre Cap of the 18th century,
characteristic of Grenadiers. It was eventually extended to all Foot Guards and certain others; also
retained by successors of the Scots Greys. See CAP.
01.116. BERET: in the British Army formally adopted by the Royal Tank Corps in 1924, this
headdress of Basque origin, which was worn by certain French regiments, was selected as convenient
for use in AFVs. Its distribution was greatly extended in World War II after which it came into
general use for certain orders of dress.
01.117. BIAS and STAND: one of the most widely used patterns (distinctive weave) of gold
lace, including for most NCOs’ chevrons in No. 1 Dress.
01.118. BODY PLAID: a more extensive plaid, commonly worn by Pipers, that encircles the
upper body diagonally. See also FLY PLAID.
01.119. BONNET: generic term covering several styles of mainly Scottish headdress ranging
from the Feather Bonnet (q.v.) to the Balmoral, Kilmarnock, Glengarry and Tam O'Shanter, although
these last three are sometimes loosely called “caps”. The Irish Caubeen should also be considered a
bonnet.
01.120. BOOTS: varieties of longer/riding boots include Butcher, Field, Hessian, Jacked (or
Jack), Knee, Polo and Wellington (q.v.); short or ankle boots include obvious varieties (combat,
desert, jungle etc.) but see also under AMMUNITION BOOTS, DMS BOOTS and
GEORGE BOOTS.
01.121. BOSS: cord bosses are an ornamental feature of Hussar costume that could be worn
on the busby, boots, undress cap etc. and therefore also feature on some RIFLES headdress.
01.122. BOX SPURS: see under SPURS.
01.123. BRAID: whether metallic (gold or silver) or of worsted etc., braid is generally simpler
than lace (q.v.) and is produced by a different process. One classic variety of flat braid is the simple
French check: narrow tubular braid is sometimes centre-sewn and is used in place of flat: and string-
like Russia braid which is comparatively narrow but substantial, is also centre sewn, frequently as
tracing or to form decorative figuring (q.v.). Like lace, braid is supplied in continuous lengths and
sewn on the surface of uniforms etc. as embellishment.
01.124. BRASSARD: like armlet above but includes a variant that additionally fastens to
shoulder strap and often used to show NCO rank etc.
01.125. BREASTPLATE: front half of cuirass (q.v.); term also used of ornamentally
mounted item of horse furniture where three straps meet on horse’s chest.
01.126. BREECHES: worn by mounted personnel in Service Dress with long puttees or
boots. The less full (not flared) equivalent garments for Full Dress etc. are termed PANTALOONS.
01.127. BRITISH WARM: a pattern of officer’s optional informal overcoat, evolved from a
pea-jacket, and fitted with leather buttons, this later largely displaced the formal khaki greatcoat. The
colour came to be mainly the alternative fawn shade. Not normally a parade item.
01.128. BROGUES: shoes of Scottish and Irish origin with ornamental punched decoration.
01.129. BROKEN BIAS (or SPLIT BIAS): a classic pattern (distinctive weave) of gold lace,
as used by RA and some cavalry regiments.
01.130. BUFF: the matt finish leather, originally from buffalo, that was historically widely
used for soldiers’ belts and equipment, and which came to be always whitened. Certain regiments
adopted a buff facing colour that resembled the natural colour of this leather.
01.131. BUGLE HORN: the symbolic “hunting horn” shape relating to an animal horn
(“bugle” originally meaning ox) became the classic emblem of Light Infantry and RIFLES. The
cherished metal bugle took the place of the drum in these regiments. The bugle horn is depicted
"stringed". It is also the emblem of a Bugler.
01.132. BULLION: a spring-like, usually gilt, wire ornament most particularly found in
epaulettes (q.v., of Gentlemen at Arms etc.) and cocked hat tassels and loops.
01.133. BUSBY: the British term (after Messrs. W. Busby of the Strand) for the Full Dress fur
caps of Hussars and for other fur headdress derived from those (for RHA and later RA, RE and Royal
Signals and most regular RIFLES).
01.134. BUSH HAT (or SLOUCH HAT): wide-brimmed felt hat, normally khaki and worn
with one side turned up. This style came to be particularly associated with the Australian military but
was widely used by the British Army during and after the second Boer War (1899-1902), being then
known as the Slouch Hat (nicknamed Smasher Hat), and again in the Far East etc. during WW 2.
01.135. BUSH JACKET: see under BUSH SHIRT.
01.136. BUSH SHIRT: a shirt designed for Far East and Middle East etc. service with certain
design characteristics from the khaki drill jacket (including skirt pockets). It could be worn over the
trousers/shorts or tucked in. The Bush Jacket is essentially of similar design but made of khaki drill
or similar and thus more substantial (and not tucked in).
01.137. BUTCHER BOOTS: level-topped style of (black) riding boot that had replaced the
knee boot (q.v.) for mounted officers in Full Dress by 1911.
01.138. BUTTON COLOUR: RIFLES aside, gold was the officers’ button colour from 1830
for the whole Regular Army and any metallic lace (q.v.) and belt plate etc. had to match these metal
buttons. A few exceptions have been made in modern times, beyond the earlier bronzing of some
officers’ service dress buttons, which had produced a tactical variant that did not affect this
important rule.
01.139. BUTTON SPACING: Foot Guards distinction whereby certain garments in the
Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards have buttons grouped respectively in pairs, threes, fours
and groups of five.
01.140. CAMOUFLAGE: the general technique of disguising the soldier to blend into his
surroundings also led to printed material e.g. for the Denison smock of WW2 airborne forces. Such
material later became common as Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) used for Combat Dress etc.
01.141. CANTLE: (a) the projecting rear edge of the seat of a saddle, sometimes bound
with brass.
(b) the metal top of a sporran (q.v.)
01.142. CAP: a very broad term that covers many military headdress but not a hat (which
normally has a brim), nor a helmet, nor correctly a beret. Examples are:-
(a) Bearskin Cap worn by Foot Guards: this evolved from the Mitre Cap worn by
Grenadiers etc. (allowing the throwing of grenades otherwise hindered by a wider
hat). The final equivalent for Fusiliers is best termed a Fusilier (Fur) Cap.
(b) Peaked Forage Cap (coloured or khaki)
(c) Side Cap (also termed Cap, Field Service), coloured or khaki.
01.143. The term cap is also informally extended sometimes to include a Shako and even (as
“Lance Cap”) the Lancer full dress headdress, the Chapka.
01.144. CAPBAND: the main band of cloth that covers the sides of a peaked forage cap and
which may or may not match the top.
01.145. CAPLINES: an historic feature finally associated only with Hussars, Lancers, RHA
etc. and officers of RIFLES (also formerly with HLI officers). These cords were to retain the
headdress if displaced.
01.146. CAPE: capes are normally dark blue or Atholl (or other) Grey, reach to the knuckles
and are without sleeves or arm openings but Inverness capes have the latter. Most capes were
formerly worn to supplement a greatcoat or cloak, fastening to it under its collar.
01.147. CARTOUCHE: alternative name for the small ammunition pouch worn on the pouch
belt (q.v.) by cavalry and by officers of the RA, of RIFLES and of certain corps.
01.148. CAUBEEN: the Irish pattern bonnet.
01.149. CHACO: alternative spelling of SHAKO (q.v.)
01.150. CHAIN GIMP: resembles plaited multiple thin cord. A gold version is prescribed for
Hussar officers' Full Dress tunics and for Household Cavalry officers' Mess jacket shoulder cords.
RIFLES officers' shoulder cords are made of black chain gimp.
01.151. CHAPE: the metal mount on the lower end of a leather scabbard (q.v.), as retained by
a few regiments.
01.152. CHAPKA (spelling varies): the square-topped Full Dress headdress of Lancers. The
concept of Lancers, their headdress and their other uniform characteristics was Polish and was taken
up by the British Army in 1816.
01.153. CHEVRON: as official indication of NCO rank since 1803, rank chevrons are
normally worn (contrary to heraldic definition) point down except when below the elbow, a position
later reserved for the four-bar chevrons. Good Conduct Chevrons (“Badges”) are also worn point up
but on the left forearm. On cloaks etc, rank chevrons are worn their usual way up but on the right
forearm. In Mess Dress, and, for most, in No. 2 Dress, chevrons are of reduced size.
01.154. CHIN CHAIN: chinstrap faced with various forms of curb chain, worn on most Full
Dress headdress, e.g. Bearskin Caps. Some chin chains taper towards the middle and a few are
“corded”, i.e. have rope pattern links. On helmets (other than Wolseley etc.), the chin chain is
attached at each end to metal bosses in the form of roses.
01.155. CHIN SCALES: chinstrap faced with metal scales, an earlier feature than the chin
chain, and still present on the helmets of the Gentlemen-at-Arms, with a lion’s mask boss at the top
of each end.
01.156. CLAYMORE: the Highland broadsword with straight two-edged blade and Highland
full-basket guard, worn by Scottish infantry. A simple crossbar guard could be substituted on
occasion. The lower tip of the scabbard (q.v.) often has a small ball finial but no shoe.
01.157. CLOAK: voluminous and originally sleeveless outer garment that could also extend
over the hindquarters of the horse. The dark blue (red for Life Guards) cloak with sleeves is the
proper “dress” overcoat for regiments and corps with mounted traditions.
01.158. COATEE: replacing the earlier coat in the 1790s, this was the principal uniform
garment of most of the Army until displaced by the tunic in 1855. With narrow skirts (or "tails") at
the back, it is still worn by the Gentlemen-at-Arms, by officers of the Yeomen of the Guard and by
the Military Knights of Windsor.
01.159. COCKADE: this typically consists of a disc or fan of (often simulated) crimped,
coloured ribbon but the British cockade has been black since the early 18th century. One example is
the pleated black silk feature under the loop of cocked hats. Most other nations adopted multi-
coloured cockades and made very widespread use of them on forage caps as well as on shakos, hats
and helmets etc.
01.160. COCKED HAT: still the Full Dress headdress of General and Staff Officers and
certain others, this hat was once available to most officers for certain occasions. Like the tricorn
variety still worn by In-Pensioners of the Royal Hospital, the fore and aft bicorn cocked hat evolved
from the large broad-brimmed hat of the 17th century. The decorative loop and button nominally
holds the turned up brim in place. The black cockade (q.v.) under the loop, an upright or falling
plume and possibly fixed tassels are other normal features.
01.161. COLLAR: the upright style of collar is mandatory in all Full Dress uniforms, and
features on the officers’ mess jacket in many regiments (in facing colour) and in all male No. 1 Dress
(except for Chaplains), where it is normally made in the uniform body colour. Other mess jackets
mostly have a rounded roll collar (generally in facing colour) or some form of step collar, the latter
few mostly with facing colour on the lapels. No. 2 Dress (Service Dress) has a step collar.
01.162. COLLAR BADGES: worn by most regiments on most formal uniforms but not
normally on those mess jackets which have silk-faced lapels. The design may be the same as the cap
badge or entirely different. On upright collars the centre of the badge should be 2 in. from the
opening.
01.163. COLLAR DOGS: informal name for collar badges (q.v.).
01.164. COMBAT DRESS: universal technically advanced clothing designed to new

principles for use in the field. This finally displaced serge battledress in the late 1950s. Early olive
drab clothing gave way to a succession of DPM versions (made of Disruptive Pattern Material) and
desert and jungle variants were later added to the temperate one.
01.165. CORD: used as trimming on some Full Dress uniforms, including the RHA jacket, it
may be round or square in section and it may be black, yellow or gold etc.
01.166. CROWN: unless otherwise stated, the Royal Crown depicted in all insignia is St.
Edward’s Crown.
01.167. CROWSFOOT: an ornamental figure of trefoil shape formed in braid or cord e.g. in
the trimming of a mess waistcoat pocket opening.
01.168. CUFF: the pointed cuff is the most widely used style for both Full Dress and less
formal uniforms, but the Household Cavalry, Scottish infantry and some others have a gauntlet-
shaped cuff in certain orders of dress, including Full Dress. In the latter, the Foot Guards, Generals
and Staff retain the slash (q.v.) cuff with its vertical flap. In Full Dress and Mess Dress, cuffs are
mostly of the Facing Colour (q.v.).
01.169. CUIRASS: consisting of breastplate and backplate, this was the essential element of
armour that was long retained by heavy cavalry on the continent where cuirassier regiments
abounded. In Britain, the long neglected cuirass was revived by George IV for the Household
Cavalry for ceremonial purposes.
01.170. CUMMERBUND (spelling varies, including KAMARBAND): usually silk, in

regulation regimental etc. colouring, wound round the waist (later a made up version), this was
adopted from the Indian Army for officers’ tropical mess dress.
01.171. DEE: a small metal loop to retain a strap, e.g. a gilt/brass (or silvered) wire fitting (at
the edge of a belt) from which a fixed or removable sword sling (q.v.) is suspended.
01.172. DICING: the chequered band, consisting of small coloured squares, historically worn
on the peaked forage cap by the Scots Guards and on some headdress by most Scottish infantry.
01.173. DIRK: a dagger with approx 12 in. blade worn (in a metal-mounted black scabbard
suspended from the waistbelt) by Scottish Pipers etc. The officer’s version may be richly decorated.
01.174. DIRK BELT: waistbelt from which the scabbard of the Dirk (q.v.) may be suspended
by a short strap.
01.175. DMS BOOTS: ankle boots with leather uppers but a direct moulded sole of rubber or
similar.
01.176. DOUBLET: an older term that was given to the special Scottish equivalent of a tunic
(with Inverness flaps below the waist) and can be applied to the undress version with a rounded skirt.
The equivalent for Irish Pipers can also be called a doublet.
01.177. DPM: Disruptive Pattern Material, which is used particularly for Combat Dress.
01.178. DRAB: a term (now obsolescent) for khaki and also for an early fawn coloured formal
version worn in the Indian Army.
01.179. DRAGOON: Dragoons, common to many armies, were originally in effect a form of
mounted infantry that later evolved into mainstream cavalry. Dragoon regiments in this country
greatly outnumbered the regiments of Horse, the true heavy cavalry dedicated to shock action.
Almost all British regiments of Dragoons were converted to Light Dragoons (thereby in principle
exchanging scarlet uniform for dark blue) and became Hussars or Lancers.
01.180. DRAGOON GUARDS: when from 1746 onwards the old regiments of Horse were
made practically similar to Dragoons, this was the title given to them to acknowledge their special
status as the original heavy cavalry regiments.
01.181. DUMMIES: a pair of small vertical padded "barrels" in the back seams at the lower
edge of some formal short jackets, notably certain cavalry mess jackets.
01.182. EMBROIDERY: the rich needlework decoration of Household Cavalry and Foot
Guards officers’ Full Dress collars and cuffs etc, RHA officers’ shoulder belt pouches and Foot
Guards RSMs’ Full Dress rank badges are prominent examples of hand embroidery but embroidery is
used much more widely: for example, officers’ rank and cap and collar badges and decoration on No.
1 Dress cap peaks may also be of wire embroidery and numerous badges of many kinds are machine-
embroidered. Embroidery involves thread or wire actually sewn through the material and should not
be confused with lace, which, in military uniform, is akin to braid (q.v.) and is merely applied to the
surface of the cloth.
01.183. EPAULETTE: a frequently misused term that correctly only applies to one large type
of shoulder ornament, as worn by the Gentlemen-at-Arms, officers of the Yeomen of the Guard and
the Military Knights of Windsor. These consist of a rigid “strap” ending in a rounded pan with
crescent-shaped outer edge beneath which bullions (q.v.) are suspended, adjoining the head of the
sleeve. Until 1855 most officers and many men wore epaulettes basically of this kind on their
coatees. By contrast, the cloth straps on the shoulders of No. 1 Dress (Non-Ceremonial) and No. 2
Dress and the equivalent on shirts, for example, can correctly only be called Shoulder Straps (q.v.).
01.184. EQUIPMENT: the term personal equipment broadly refers to substantial webbing or
leather belt, braces, pouches, packs, frogs, holsters etc. for carrying weapons, ammunition,
instruments etc. and sundry necessaries on the person.
01.185. EYE, EYELOOP: the simplest element of figuring (q.v.) in braid or cord.
01.186. FACINGS: in theory facings originated as individual regimental lining colour

exposed at cuffs and neck etc. to distinguish a standard red coat. Facings became an important
element of a regiment’s identity and invariably appear in Full Dress, at least on the collar and usually
the cuffs of virtually all regiments and corps. (Regular Hussars do not have facings as such, although
two Hussar regiments had coloured collars). Although less consistently displayed in Mess Dress,
facings are an important feature of that also. In principle the facing colour for Royal regiments of
Infantry of the Line is dark blue.
01.187. FEATHER BONNET: what became the Full Dress headdress of Highland regiments
developed from the ordinary woollen bonnet which had massed feathers applied to it after about
1760. The widespread extension of these ostrich feather bonnets to Pipers, eventually including
some outside the Highland regiments, occurred later.
01.188. FIELD BOOTS: officers’ (brown) leather riding boots, with laces at the instep and
with toecaps, worn in Service Dress by Generals, Staff, Cavalry, Foot Guards and RAVC. The RA
had a special version, the Greenley boot, with the leg section opening. In some regiments brown
Polo Boots (q.v.) were adopted instead.
01.189. FIELD OFFICER: dress distinctions for a Field Officer (Major etc.) typically may
include an embroidered edge to the peak of the No. 1 Dress peaked forage cap, spurs etc. (also for
Adjutants of any rank) in dismounted regiments and corps and sometimes the sword knot worn loose.
Some uniforms have additional embroidery, lace or braid, particularly in the Household Division.
01.190. FIELD SERVICE CAP (also called "SIDE CAP"): alongside stiff forage caps, by the
1880s the Army had a soft “Forage Cap for Active Service and Peace Manoeuvres". For normal Line
Infantry this was their Glengarry; for most others it was the simple boat-shaped Torin cap which a
few regiments still retain. The non-Scottish Glengarry and most Torin caps were before long
replaced by an Austrian pattern cap that could unfold more elaborately into a form of Balaclava,
fastening with two buttons. This remains the main style of Field Service Cap today.
01.191. FIGURING: decorative work in Russia braid (q.v.), typically on officers’ Full Dress
tunics, braided Frock Coats and Mess Vests.
01.192. FLASK CORD: the coloured cord attached down the centre of certain shoulder belts,
notably those of the Household Cavalry. Such cord originated to retain the powder flask required for
pistols and carbines.
01.193. FLY PLAID: a short plaid secured only at the shoulder and not wrapped around the
body. See also BODY PLAID.
01.194. FORAGE CAP: a term covering a succession of caps but it started as a light,
inexpensive headdress for chores such as foraging, in lieu of the proper, formal headdress (helmet,
busby etc.). The coloured peaked forage cap is now considered fairly formal but still remains
tolerated in Full Dress only as a temporary substitute e.g. on barrack guard duty or for bandstand
concerts.
01.195. FORMATION SIGN: whereas a TRF (q.v.) indicates the wearer’s regiment (in
combat dress etc.), this (if authorized) identifies their higher formation and is worn on the left upper
arm.
01.196. FROCK: this term, obsolescent except when used within the term Frock Coat (q.v.),
indicated a tunic-length garment (like the future No. 1 Dress jacket), but normally at first made in
Full Dress colours. It was less formal than Full Dress, and frequently had external pockets on the
chest and mostly also on the skirts. Used of scarlet, blue and Rifle green garments and also white,
the term did not long persist in reference to khaki clothing. The popular blue “patrols” frock of the
1930s led to the No. 1 Dress jacket of today.
01.197. FROCK COAT (also recently FROCKCOAT): this is a formal knee-length garment
for officers and WO1 Bandmasters that had evolved before 1830 (from the pelisse and the overcoat)
for daytime wear. The two main fundamental styles are the plain dark blue (or rifle green) double-
breasted garment; and the dark blue single-breasted garment, heavily decorated with black braid etc.
and "fastened" with black olivets (q.v.). Frock coats of the Household Division are all of the latter
basic style, which is also historically appropriate for Cavalry of the Line.
01.198. FROG: a bayonet frog or sword frog is a piece of equipment (leather, plastic or
webbing) with a sleeve to retain a scabbard and is generally suspended from a belt. For swords the
belt frog is normally only for the leather scabbard.
01.199. FROGGING: ornamentation consisting of loops of cord/braid etc. (on the front of a
garment) that evolved from the fastenings.
01.200. FULL DRESS: not No. 1 Dress but the classic historic most formal uniform,
normally including the characteristic headdress (e.g. helmet, shako or busby etc.), the distinctive
tunic (of fine cloth in historic body colour with facings (q.v.) and no patch pockets) often trimmed
with lace or cord, and formal trousers or overalls with side seam stripes etc..
01.201. FUSILIERS (earlier spelling varies): the original Fusilier regiments were those
specially armed with a fusil, a flintlock weapon superior to the matchlock. They wore mitre caps
(akin to those of Grenadiers), which would ultimately lead to the characteristic Fusilier fur cap.
Further regiments later received the status of Fusiliers as a distinction. The flaming grenade was an
emblem mutual to all these regiments.
01.202. GABERDINE: a fine quality substantial but thin cloth that was notably sometimes
used for officers’ tropical service dress as an optional substitute for coarse khaki drill.
01.203. GAITERS: various types of gaiter (some also referred to as leggings) of leather,
canvas or cloth etc., have been extensively used, most recently the anklet (q.v.). The pattern worn by
Drum Majors of the Foot Guards in State Dress, with a garter strapped over them at the knee, is of a
type worn 300 years ago. Long gaiters partly covering the shoe were historically called spatterdashes.
For the Highland and Lowland version, see under SPATS.
01.204. GARTER FLASH: nominally the outer end of a garter tape holding up the hose or
hose-tops, these developed distinctive regimental styles in Highland regiments etc. Different, simpler
versions were worn by most army units in some mid-20th century tropical dress.
01.205. GAUNTLETS: gloves with stiff protective tapering cuffs. Historically these are
particularly associated with regiments of Horse etc. from their earliest days and, in whitened buff
leather, remained a feature in Full Dress of Household Cavalry and all heavy cavalry and also
Lancers. A version is worn by the Gentlemen-at-Arms, whose uniform is based on the previous style
10
for heavy cavalry. They are also frequently worn by certain individuals such as Drum Majors.
01.206. GENERAL SERVICE (GS): this term may be given to a standard pattern that is for
issue very widely, if not throughout, the entire Army. The GS waistbelt clasp (displaying the Royal
Crest with motto Dieu et Mon Droit) was worn by soldiers of dismounted corps as well as the bulk of
the infantry. See also UNIVERSAL PATTERN.
01.207. GEORGE BOOTS: named after King George VI who is said to have conceived the
idea personally, these are elegant boots that are designed to be almost indistinguishable from
Wellingtons (q.v.) when actually worn, despite being essentially just enhanced ankle boots and
comparatively inexpensive.
01.208. GILDING METAL: an alloy primarily intended to be gilded but superior to brass
even when not gilded, and often used thus for badges.
01.209. GILT: strictly means gold-plated or otherwise gilded but the term is frequently used
rather loosely just for the metal colour.
01.210. GIMP: a particular variety of braid.
01.211. GIRDLE: somewhere between a waist sash and a waistbelt but normally without
visible clasp, the classic example is what Lancers wear in Full Dress. This has twin crimson lines of
the national sash colour along the wide band of gold lace for officers (yellow worsted with scarlet
stripes for soldiers) and is fastened at one side with small olivets (toggles) and cord loops. Not really
intended to carry accoutrements, the girdle has sometimes been modified to do so by adding leather
backing, e.g. to enable sword slings (q.v.) to be attached for wearing over a frock coat.
01.212. GLENGARRY: one of the two main styles of Scottish undress headdress, this is
essentially the same bonnet (q.v.) as a flat-topped or Balmoral bonnet but flattened instead from the
sides and with a crease to the top. This bears the toorie (usually red) and other trimmings are also
mostly mutual, such as the trailing ribbons at the back and the diced band that often encircles the
bonnet.
01.213. GOOD CONDUCT CHEVRONS (or BADGES): worn by soldiers, these take the
form of braid or lace chevrons (point up) on the left forearm in certain formal orders of dress.
01.214. GORGET PATCHES: informally called “tabs”, these were introduced to distinguish
generals and staff officers in working dress in late Victorian times. Besides scarlet, additional
colours for different branches evolved and eventually versions to wear in shirtsleeves etc. Each patch
bears a button with a line of gimp etc. (or embroidered oakleaves) extending to the edge. The gorget,
abolished in 1830, had been the last vestige of armour and had formerly been suspended from buttons
on officers’ collars. Other such patches have existed, in particular the white version worn by officer
cadets.
01.215. GREATCOAT: the term for proper military overcoats, including a short khaki
11
version for mounted troops but excluding cloaks (q.v.). The traditional colour was dark grey for
infantry and dark blue for others until khaki greatcoats were introduced in 1902. Officers’ greatcoats
are always double-breasted.
01.216. GRENADE: the round hand grenade with its plume of flames was the emblem of
Grenadiers throughout the infantry and beyond and became that of the Grenadier Guards. A similar
design also became the basic badge of all Fusilier regiments and is displayed by both the Royal
Artillery and the Royal Engineers.
01.217. GRENADIERS: the tallest soldiers were selected to throw grenades and constituted
the prestigious Grenadier Company that formed the right flank of infantry regiments. Their
distinctions of dress had famously included Mitre Caps [see under CAP] and later a white plume. To
commemorate the services at Waterloo of the 1st. Foot Guards, the whole of that regiment was made
Grenadiers.
01.218. GURKHA HAT: the special pattern of broad-brimmed double felt hat worn by
Gurkhas in No. 2 Dress etc.
01.219. HACKLE: a form of plume, generally short, made of cut feathers.
01.220. HAT: a headdress with a brim all round. Most notable was the original simple broad
brimmed 17th century felt hat which developed in various ways (see COCKED HAT) but later
reappeared in khaki, mainly for tropical service. The term is not correct for a cap (q.v.).
01.221. HAVERSACK: light canvas bag (originally for food), normally slung over one
shoulder.
01.222. HEAVY CAVALRY: in the British army (Household Cavalry aside) just Dragoon
Guards and Dragoons (q.v.). The classic uniform included plumed metal helmet, scarlet tunic and
wide yellow overalls-stripes but there were several exceptions, including the Bearskin Cap of the
Scots Greys (inherited by Scots DG).
01.223. HELMET: originating with armour, this term covers protective headgear for combat
etc. Today, in formal British military uniforms, it includes only the metal helmets of cavalry and the
“cloth helmets” (on a rigid foundation of cork or a stiff substitute) of infantry and corps and the
Wolseley Helmet (q.v.).
01.224. HELMET PLATE: see under PLATE.
01.225. HESSIAN BOOTS: a very special type of decorated knee boots worn (until 1939) by
Hussar officers for levées.
01.226. HOME SERVICE HELMET: formal term for the (blue etc.) cloth helmet (as still
retained by infantry and other bands) to distinguish it from the Foreign Service/Colonial (i.e. tropical)
Helmet. See also WOLSELEY.
12
01.227. HOSE: stockings, as worn in Highland dress etc.
01.228. HOSE TOPS: in effect footless stockings, extending between the knee and the ankle.
For kilted personnel, this is normally the whole decorative section. A similar system was also used
for other personnel for tropical wear with shorts.
01.229. HORSE (regiments of): see DRAGOON GUARDS. In addition the RHG, one of the
predecessors of the Blues and Royals, originated as the Royal Regiment of Horse.
01.230. HORSE FURNITURE: the horse’s equivalent of dress and accoutrements.
01.231. HUSSAR: the Hungarian Hussar inspired a particular style of dashing light cavalry,
and with it numerous exotic uniform details, in many armies. From 1806 onwards the British Army
converted Light Dragoon regiments into Hussars, which became the largest category of the regular
cavalry. This spectacular style of uniform was also widely adopted by Yeomanry regiments.
Characteristic features of Hussar Full Dress in its final form include the fur Busby with its falling
“bag”, plume and corded boss and the tunic fastened with ornate looping of cord etc. (with olivets,
q.v., for officers and ball buttons for soldiers).
01.232. INVERNESS CAPE: see under CAPE.
01.233. INVERNESS FLAPS: these are the four pointed flaps (each itself bearing a smaller
pocket flap with buttons) that form the greater part of the skirt of the normal Scottish dress doublet:
they are a feature of Full Dress and modern No. 1 Dress.
01.234. JACK (or JACKED) BOOTS: in the British Army this term refers to leather boots
with stiff fronts that extend as a protection above the knee, a classic type long associated with the
Household Cavalry. The word “jacked” in fact merely refers to the stiffening of the leather and can
be used of other boots and of some other leather items.
01.235. JACKET: this term (which excludes coats, coatees and Full Dress tunics) initially
meant a convenient, shorter garment of simpler construction than the 18th century uniform coat.
Although it sometimes had a short skirt, the jacket came primarily (but not exclusively) to mean a
waist length garment as particularly associated with light cavalry styles. In the Regular Army in Full
Dress since the advent of the tunic, only the RHA wears a jacket, their special dress distinction.
Stable and shell jackets (and therefore mess jackets) were also invariably waist length. However, the
No. 1 and No. 2 etc. Dress garment, despite its length, is called a jacket rather than a tunic in Dress
Regulations.
01.236. JUNGLE BOOT: a rubber-soled boot of green canvas (1940s on).
01.237. JUNGLE GREEN: a fairly deep, drab shade of green (for cotton etc. clothing and
equipment) introduced in 1942 for Far East service.
01.238. JUNGLE HAT: a soft hat with stitched brim entirely made of cotton drill or
comparable material. The design resembles a traditional type of fishing hat (1940s on).
13
01.239. KHAKI: the familiar British khaki serge of the two World Wars appeared when
service dress was first issued in Britain in 1902. In India, proper versions had been issued much
earlier and ad hoc dyeing of white clothing by soldiers with mud or tea etc. for tactical reasons can be
traced back to the 1840s. The word “khaki” means dust and covered a wide variety of colours and
shades, including grey. Current No. 4 and No. 6 Dress are quite similar to the stone shade of khaki
drill that was long used for tropical service, although a green shade of the same was worn for some
years.
01.240. KILMARNOCK: a Kilmarnock can mean either of two different styles of headdress:
the small round peak-less cap (evolved from the early “pork pie”) worn by Gurkha soldiers in formal
dress; or a much later stiff wide-topped dark blue cloth bonnet as worn by the Lowland Band (and
formerly the Royal SCOTS and KOSB) in Full Dress. Both have a woollen toorie (tuft) on top and
both take their name from the Scottish town that was the centre of bonnet manufacturing.
01.241. KILT: the principal feature of Highland dress, which first appeared in the British
army circa 1725 with independent companies that later became the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment
(The Black Watch). Also worn (normally in plain Saffron colour) by Irish Pipers.
01.242. KNEE BOOTS: these riding boots have shaped tops rising towards the knee at the
front where there is (normally) a small v-shaped notch. In 1914 they still formed part of the Full
Dress of most mounted soldiers and were long retained by the Household Cavalry for training.
Today soldiers of the King’s Troop RHA wear level-topped boots more akin to the Butcher Boots
(q.v.) worn by officers in Full Dress.
01.243. LACE: often mistakenly called braid (q.v.), lace is a much more sophisticated
alternative and can be extremely elaborate. Worsted examples include Drummer’s lace (“Crown and
Inch” for Line Infantry, which is white with scarlet crowns). Metallic examples, mainly gold, include
oak leaf, rose, thistle, shamrock etc. and many geometrical and other varieties. Some regiments have
a thin black line near the edge to commemorate an historical figure. The main pattern of gold lace
for NCOs’ No. 1 Dress chevrons is “Bias and Stand”. Lace is entirely different from embroidery
(q.v.), being supplied in continuous lengths and sewn on the surface of uniforms and belts etc. by
way of embellishment.
01.244. LAMBSKIN: this shaped saddle rug was used alone by way of a shabracque (q.v.)
after the latter were discontinued for officers of Cavalry of the Line, being held in place by the
surcingle (q.v.). Most Hussar officers used a leopardskin instead, which also had cloth edging in the
approved colour. Soldiers of the Household Cavalry have sheepskins in lieu.
01.245. LANCE CAP: see CHAPKA
01.246. LANCERS: when the lance was introduced into the British Army in 1816, Polish-
inspired uniform features came with it, particularly the Chapka headdress, whose square top is
commemorated in the four quarter-welts on Lancer No. 1 Dress caps today. Lancer Full Dress
14
includes, besides the Chapka (q.v.), elaborate caplines, girdle, gauntlets and a characteristic double-
breasted style of tunic with the breast (plastron) in facing colour and welts (q.v.) of facing colour up
the back seams of the tunic and its sleeves.
01.247. LANYARD: when worn on the person (around one arm or the neck) this is a cord in
various styles and colours to retain a pistol or clasp knife or whistle. It is generally for wear in No. 2
Dress and less formal uniform but not normally in No. 1 Dress and never in Full Dress.
01.248. LEGGINGS: see GAITERS.
01.249. LEVÉE DRESS: an extra special order of Full Dress was formerly worn by officers
of a (decreasing) number of regiments and corps at levées and some other court occasions. This
particularly applied to and lingered on in Hussar regiments, which wore special swords, pantaloons,
boots and spurs, and in Highland regiments which wore special sporrans, belts, hose and shoes.
01.250. LEVÉE SPURS: an alternative style of box spurs (q.v.) which are generally straight-
necked and often ornate, sometimes worn in mess dress.
01.251. LIGHT: an interval of exposed cloth, most typically between rows of lace and/or
braid.
01.252. LIGHT CAVALRY: in the British Regular Army just Hussars and Lancers (q.v.),
generally created by conversion from Light Dragoons.
01.253. MAMELUKE: refers to the style of curved sword with a particularly distinctive gilt
hilt with twin ivory scale grips, which has been the pattern for General Officers since 1830. Most
patterns of cavalry levée sword were of this same basic style.
01.254. MESS DRESS: officers normally had short undress “shell jackets” of Full Dress
colour (“stable jackets” in mounted regiments and corps) as a working dress. These gradually came
to be worn with a uniform waistcoat for mess dress purposes. Nearly all these uniforms were
trimmed with gold lace etc. but they were mostly replaced around 1902 with plain roll collared
jackets, worn with starched shirt and collar. When Mess Dress returned postwar in 1953, it was for
infrequent use and some of the older, grander styles were revived for officers. Officially approved
Mess Dress was also introduced for WOs and SNCOs. For tropical wear, the white cotton drill jacket
had long existed, usually worn with a regulation cummerbund and sometimes with white drill
netherwear.
01.255. MESS VEST: waistcoat. In general, apart from white washable waistcoats, these
match either the body colour of the jacket or the regimental facing colour (sometimes that of an
antecedent regiment). With upright collar jackets the vest may have a similar collar or be slightly
open at the top and it is usually embellished with some lace or braid etc. With roll collar etc. jackets
the normal vest is plain with a deep opening, possibly with collar, and fastens with buttons.
01.256. MOHAIR: a particular goat hair used in making hard-wearing, firm black braid as
15
used on braided frock coats and on certain uniforms of RIFLES officers.
01.257. MOROCCO: Officers’ Full Dress waistbelts, sword slings, pouch belts etc. are in
most cases consist of gold lace etc. on Morocco leather backing, often of a bright colour.
01.258. NETTED BUTTON: buttons such as a ball button, encased in black crochet work or
similar, fastening a braided frockcoat shoulder strap.
01.259. OLIVET: a form of fastening toggle particularly associated with Hussar style (and
hence also RIFLES style) formal uniform for officers. The black-covered version also appears on
braided frock coats. Olivets are almost always tapered towards the outer ends.
01.260. OVERALLS: originating as an outer garment worn over (usually white) breeches, the
term has come to mean close-fitting trousers cut to be worn when mounted on a horse. The legs are
shaped over the boot and fitted with foot straps (or chains) at the instep. They were issued to all
soldiers in mounted regiments and corps and can today be optionally worn in Mess Dress by their
WOs. The Scottish regiments and Foot Guards aside, in principle overalls are appropriate for officers
of all regiments and corps in Full Dress, Frock Coat and Mess Dress, although some officers now
wear ordinary trousers in Mess Dress.
01.261. PANTALOONS: a formal type of close-fitting breeches designed for mounted wear.
The (simulated) buckskin garments of the Household Cavalry are pantaloons; so, too, were the
(mostly blue cloth) garments with coloured side seam stripes issued to all mounted soldiers up to
1914 and still worn by all ranks of the Kings Troop RHA.
01.262. PASSING: a technical term for embroidery as worked through the peak of a cap etc.
01.263. PATROL CUT: tailoring term describing garments with twin back seams curving
outwards at the top to meet back seams of sleeves, giving more shape.
01.264. PATROL JACKET: normally a dark blue undress garment of tunic length trimmed
with black braid, including fastening loops on the front, and worn by officers and some WOs; this
became obsolete in 1902 except for rifle regiments whose Rifle Green version remained in use much
longer.
01.265. PELISSE: Long obsolete except in a very few Yeomanry regiments, this was the fur
trimmed, richly corded outer short jacket of classic Hussar dress uniform.
01.266. PICKERS: officers’ pouch belts (q.v.) of light cavalry style are ornamented with a
pair of small spikes (usually presented as arrows) on chains suspended from a boss above. Their
original purpose was for clearing the touch-holes of pistols.
01.267. PIPING: almost synonymous with WELT (q.v.) but may be filled. This term is
sometimes incorrectly used to mean cord or braid or lace (q.v.).
01.268. PLASTRON: the buttoned breast section of the double-breasted Full Dress Lancer
16
tunic. Originally the plastron could be reversed on occasion, to turn the facing-colour side inwards in
foul weather or on service.
01.269. PLAID BROOCH: large regimental ornament, usually round, pinning the plaid at the
shoulder. See BODY PLAID and FLY PLAID.
01.270. PLATE: in the context of “helmet”, “chapka”, etc. this indicates the very large badge,
in reality a large standard setting that contains the specific regimental emblems. See also
POUCH BELT PLATE, SHOULDER BELT PLATE AND WAIST BELT PLATE.
01.271. PLUGGED BUTTONS: buttons, not for buttoning but fixed firmly down with their
shanks penetrating through the cloth and secured beneath.
01.272. PLUME: this term came to include the hair as well as the feather variety and both
upright and falling styles. Mainly for headdress, plumes can also extend to a horse’s bridle as a
Throat Plume (q.v.), which is invariably of hair.
01.273. POLO BOOTS: brown leather riding boots, akin to Field Boots (q.v.) but without
lacing and without toecaps.
01.274. POMMEL:
(a) The raised front of the seat of a saddle.

(b) See under SWORD.
01.275. POUCH: sometimes called a cartouche. Cavalry and Yeomanry officers’ pouches
mostly have a bombé silver(ed) face to the flap, often bearing the Royal Cypher and Crown and/or
regimental devices in gilt. Some have a cloth-covered or leather flap with embroidered or other
decoration. For RIFLES the black pouch is plain apart from a small silver(ed) badge. For the RA the
plain black pouch bears a gilt gun badge but the dress pouch has a cloth-covered flap with gilt gun
and richly embroidered Royal Arms etc. Such pouches are worn at the middle of the wearer’s back.
See POUCH BELT.
01.276. POUCH BELT: whereas "shoulder belt" (q.v.) means two different items, this
alternative term specifically identifies the shoulder belt that retains a small pouch (originally mostly
for pistol or carbine ammunition) as opposed to the shoulder belt that carries a sword. Not worn by
normal infantry, such pouch belts are mainly worn by officers, particularly of cavalry, RA and some
mounted corps, by officers and NCOs of RIFLES and (in white with black pouch) by cavalry
soldiers. The white shoulder belt worn by Musicians to support their music pouch, can also be
termed a pouch belt. Most pouch belts are made in two sections and fitted with a large buckle, tip
and slide. For RIFLES they are in one piece. Cavalry officers often also wore an all brown bridle
leather version in India and something similar has been adopted by the RA and others for use in No.
2 Dress. See also PICKERS; and WHISTLE.
01.277. POUCH BELT FITTINGS: as an exception to the general rule, for cavalry and
17
yeomanry, these do not have to match the regiment’s button colour, so gold-laced pouch belts very
commonly have silver(ed) fittings. These typically consist of a large buckle, tip and slide en suite
and of pickers (q.v.) suspended on chains from a chain-boss above and held on a matching picker-
plate below. For RIFLES, the fittings are invariably silver or white metal and there is no buckle, tip
and slide. Instead of pickers, RIFLES have a whistle suspended on chains from a chain boss above
and held in an ornate whistle-holder below, with the Pouch Belt Plate (q.v.) located between these.
For the RA and others there is only an ornate buckle tip and slide, always gilt to match the gold lace.
01.278. POUCH BELT PLATE: a large badge traditionally worn on the front of the pouch
belt (q.v.) in rifle regiments.
01.279. PURSE: sporran (q.v.)
01.280. PUTTEES: a bandage-like (usually spiral) woollen binding that evolved in India as a
protection for the lower legs. Puttees spread to many armies but were very little worn in the British
Army after 1938. However, short puttees, just around the ankle, were quite widely worn later in lieu
of anklets (q.v.), particularly in tropical areas.
01.281. ROUND CORD: see CORD.
01.282. ROYAL ARMS: the full Royal Arms include the complete shield (with its quarters)
encircled by the Garter and normally flanked by the Lion and Unicorn supporters and surmounted by
the Royal Crest (q.v.). In the military context, mantling is not included.
01.283. ROYAL CREST: this consists of just the Royal Crown surmounted by a crowned
Lion statant guardant.
01.284. ROYAL CYPHER: this consists of the Royal letters CR with the Roman numeral III
between them. It is mostly displayed with the Royal Crown above.
01.285. ROYAL REGIMENTS: for Royal regiments of Infantry of the Line there are some
consistent dress principles. There is a standard Royal facing colour, which is dark blue (not the shade
popularly called “Royal blue”) and this features on the scarlet Full Dress tunics. (An exception may
be allowed to a regiment becoming Royal after long use of another colour). Buglers’ dress cords are
normally red, blue and yellow mixed. Peaked forage caps are dark blue with a scarlet cap band and
scarlet crown welt.
01.286. RUSSIA (BRAID): see under BRAID.
01.287. RUSSIA LEATHER: a fine supple leather used for a few officers’ Full Dress
accoutrements, particularly for embroidered items, e.g. RE shoulder belt as worn by the DoM.
01.288. SADDLE CLOTH: a highly formalised form of horse blanket of moderate size, used
by Staff, Infantry and other officers and retained by the Foot Guards. The ornate pattern for a
General Officer is also still in use, together with its matching holster cover and flounces (now
covering wallets).
18
01.289. SAM BROWNE BELT: devised by General Sir Sam Browne, VC after the loss of
his arm made a slung sword problematic, this belt and (originally two) braces carried pistol and
ammunition, as well as the sword suspended in a frog (q.v.). It is normally brown with brass
furniture. It is still quite widely worn by officers and WO1s in No. 2 (Service Dress) etc. and is
sometimes also worn in No. 1 Dress (Non-ceremonial).
01.290. SASH: coloured fabric, often silk, worn around the waist or worn over one shoulder
and believed to have originated as a potential litter for retrieving the wearer if wounded. This became
an emblem, particularly of officers on duty. By an ancient convention of uniform, armies normally
follow a national sash colour, often that of their sovereign’s dynasty. The British colour is red,
interpreted as crimson for officers and scarlet for Sergeants: the addition of gold or silver does not
affect this identity. Today Sergeants and WOs wear shoulder sashes but officers wear theirs around
the waist, except the Scottish pattern, which is more voluminous. In State Dress, Foot Guards Drum
Majors wear a wide, gold-fringed crimson sash around the waist, fastened with an ornamental pin.
Sashes are essentially an infantry feature and would now be contrary to “mounted” (and RIFLES)
tradition. The rare Barrel Sash (q.v.), which is an old Hussar item worn with a short jacket, is one
obscure exception but is not relevant to this convention.
01.291. SCABBARD: sword scabbards are normally bright chromium or nickel-plated metal
(with two suspension rings for sword slings) except those worn with the Sam Browne (q.v.), which
are (wood) covered with leather to match the belt and have a tab to fasten to the frog stud. A small
projecting flange protecting the lower end is called the shoe. Bayonet scabbards, generally now all-
metal, may be entirely covered by the current pattern frog. See also CHAPE.
01.292. SCREW BUTTONS: for fastening Shoulder Cords (q.v.), a small threaded socket
may be fixed adjoining the collar to receive a corresponding button with threaded shank.
01.293. SERGE: a substantial, diagonally-woven cloth used from late Victorian times
onwards for working (and warm climate) clothing and still used for soldiers’ No. 1 Dress.
01.294. SERVICE DRESS: this Order of Dress dates back to the then innovative introduction
in 1902 of a khaki uniform for active service in temperate climates. In 1913 the officers’ pattern
jacket was modified to display the shirt-collar and a tie and this became the basis of modern No. 2
Dress, both for officers and for soldiers.
01.295. SETT: the formal term for what is often called a tartan, when meaning the fixed
pattern for a particular clan etc., as opposed to the actual cloth.
01.296. SHABRACQUE (or SHABRAQUE): an extensive cloth horse-covering, larger than

a saddle cloth, to go over the saddle, with a lambskin (or equivalent) on top of it. Ornate regimental
versions are still used by Household Cavalry and RHA officers and others formerly existed for
officers of Cavalry of the Line. Smaller, undress shabracques are normally of animal skins, such as
lambskin, which the Blues and Royals retain.
19
01.297. SHAKO (or CHACO): formal military headdress of stiffened felt or leather etc. with
a peak (from which its name derives). This ubiquitous headgear came in very varied shapes in the
British Army between 1800 and 1878, after which the only regular regiments to retain it into modern
times were the Cameronians and the HLI (in Full Dress).
01.298. SHEEPSKIN: see under LAMBSKIN.
01.299. SHELL JACKET: see under MESS JACKET
01.300. SHIRT: with formal uniform, white shirts are normal. In mess dress, the stiff-fronted
shirt worn with separate starched wing collar has been virtually displaced by soft shirts with turned-
down collar. For officers in most regiments these are usually of “golf ball” texture (marcella) but
there is also a finely ribbed texture (piqué). Studs and cufflinks are generally plain gilt. For
everyday wear the considerable range of shirts is mostly in widely varying shades of khaki or similar
but in a very few regiments officers have retained grey or blue-grey (not worn in No. 2/No. 4 Dress).
The grey colour echoes that of the traditional Other Ranks’ shirt that was still issued long after the
advent of khaki uniform.
01.301. SHORTS: shorts of khaki drill etc. were widely worn in tropical areas over a 50 year
period (including WW I and WWII), with stockings etc. on formal occasions. See HOSE TOPS.
01.302. SHOULDER BELT: (a) to carry the sword, the wide shoulder belt, traditionally of
whitened buff leather, was worn over the right shoulder by infantry officers. The version still
retained by Scottish infantry officers has two sword slings but the other version, as for the Military
Knights of Windsor, ends in a frog. They all fasten at the front with an elaborate rectangular gilt
shoulder belt plate.
01.303. (b) the same term, confusingly, is also used for a pouch belt (q.v.), which is worn over
the left shoulder.
01.304. SHOULDER BELT PLATE: a rectangular metal plate with concealed fastening
beneath it for a Shoulder Belt (q.v., to carry sword) or a colour belt. In style and finish it resembles a
Waistbelt Plate (q.v.)
01.305. SHOULDER CHAINS: widely used by cavalry in India to protect the shoulder from
sword cuts, these were fully adopted by British Cavalry of the Line in 1887 (and for a period by the
RHA). They remain a key feature of No. 1 Dress for regular cavalry and have been very extensively
worn in the Yeomanry.
01.306. SHOULDER CORDS: almost all officers’ Full Dress tunics acquired shoulder cords
of various patterns in 1880 when rank insignia returned to the shoulder. Twisted gold shoulder cords
had existed earlier on some shell jackets (q.v.) and are still worn on the mess jacket by a few
regiments. For most officers the pattern since 1880 has been of triple cord simply twisted but the
patterns for Cavalry, RA and RIFLES are plaited, as is the large model worn by Generals. A version
20
with blue lining is currently worn by most officers in No. 1 Dress (Ceremonial) and General (and
senior Staff) Officers have long worn theirs also on the Frock Coat. In some regiments a line of
black Russia between strands of gold commemorates an historical figure. On gold shoulder cords
rank insignia should be silver in colour (and vice versa). Such insignia for No. 1 Dress is frequently
of metal in lieu of being embroidered as in Full Dress etc.
01.307. SHOULDER STRAPS: this is the correct term for cloth etc. straps, on any garment,
extending from the point of the shoulder towards the collar where they may be buttoned. They are
often incorrectly called epaulettes (q.v.), which are entirely different. Foot Guards officers wear
shoulder straps in Full Dress. As these have gold embroidered edges, the rank insignia are in silver
embroidery to contrast. This rule also applied to the gold-laced shoulder straps worn by Generals and
Staff Officers in Mess Dress.
01.308. SHOULDER TITLE: the designation of a unit was frequently shown by its title
(mostly abbreviated) being embroidered into the shoulder straps of the soldiers’ uniforms. Later
these were mainly replaced by detachable brass versions. On khaki uniforms such brass titles have
also been worn but for considerable periods an embroidered or printed curved “shoulder title” has
been worn instead at the very top of the sleeve.
01.309. “SIDE CAP”: an informal term: see under FIELD SERVICE CAP. Although a cap,
it is sometimes misleadingly called a “hat” (q.v.).
01.310. SKEAN DHU: (spelling varies, including SGIAN DUBH): very small flat-hilted
knife with scabbard worn in the top of the right stocking in Highland Dress by officers and certain
others.
01.311. SKIRT(S): in male uniform, that part of a tunic, coatee, frock coat or No. 1 Dress etc.
jacket that extends below the waist. Informally called “tails” in the case of a coatee.
01.312. SKIRT ORNAMENT: normally a badge placed where the turnbacks (q.v.) meet near
the bottom of each “tail” of the coatee (q.v.).
01.313. SKIRT SLASHES: the pair of simulated pocket-flaps with buttons located at the
back of some Full Dress tunics etc., on the skirts.
01.314. SLASH: in British uniforms this now refers to a three-pointed vertical flap with
buttons, as seen in the slash cuffs on Foot Guards and General and Staff Officers’ tunics; it also
extends to Skirt Slashes (q.v.), although the shape there varies slightly. Technically the flap on the
sleeve does not count as part of the actual cuff, which is of the simple round type.
01.315. SLOUCH HAT: see BUSH HAT.
01.316. SNAKE-HOOK CLASP: a style of waistbelt clasp most particularly associated with
RIFLES but also latterly with soldiers of heavy Line Cavalry regiments in Full Dress. The S-shaped
hook is made in the form of a serpent.
21
01.317. SPATS: this abbreviation of spatterdashes is sometimes informally used in reference
to the traditional white canvas gaiters of Highlanders and particularly to those sometimes worn
beneath the trews in Lowland regiments.
01.318. SPORRAN: a purse (in various styles) suspended on a chain or strap at the front of a
kilt, normally bearing a badge. The metal top is the “cantle” and on hair sporrans there are generally
two or more contrasting long hair tails or several shorter ones. Levée sporrans, often with these latter
encased in bullion tassels, could be used in Mess Dress.
01.319. SPURS: these are only for mounted or theoretically-mounted personnel which, in the
infantry for example, normally involves just Field Officers and Adjutants. They are never worn with
ordinary trousers. When worn with overalls and therefore with Wellington or George Boots, they are
fastened only to the heel, usually by means of a spike plugging into a metal “box” socket set in the
heel. These are Box Spurs and are generally of swan-neck form (i.e. with double bend) although
some box spurs (particularly levée spurs of cavalry officers) are straight-necked. The large spurs for
the various types of riding boot also vary considerably but are generally secured by a chain under the
instep and a strap (sometimes with leather spur-shield covering any lace-holes) over the top. The
heavy spurs on issue to mounted soldiers in 1914 (for both the Full Dress knee boot and the Service
Dress ankle boot) were termed Jack Spurs but officers sometimes used light hunting spurs in Service
Dress.
01.320. SQUARE CORD: see CORD.
01.321. STABLE BELT: allegedly developed from pieces of coloured webbing girth used
informally as a belt by soldiers working in the stables, the stable belt is intended to be soft and
comfortable (for stooping). The traditional fastening is therefore a flexible one (usually twin small
straps). Such belts eventually spread almost throughout the army, many regiments and corps
choosing coloured striping related to their regimental ribbon or tie and some adopting large metal
clasps. Scottish regiments generally wore tartan versions.
01.322. STABLE JACKET: see under MESS JACKET.
01.323. STAR (indicating officer rank): the standard design of star for officers’ rank badges is
that of the Order of the Bath (of which a slightly modified version, known as the Eversleigh star, is
used by certain regiments). The star of the Order of the Garter is the basis for the Household Cavalry
and the Grenadier, Coldstream and Welsh Guards rank stars. The Scots and Irish Guards use the star
of the Order of the Thistle and that of the Order of St. Patrick respectively. The HAC Infantry follow
the Grenadier Guards in all such details.
01.324. STAR LOOP: cocked hats of the Household Cavalry (for Surgeon, Vet etc.) have this
distinctive form of ornate wirework loop, a classic historical feature. (see COCKED HAT).
01.325. STATE DRESS: not a regimental military uniform but essentially an extremely
grand form of Royal livery. The gold-laced velvet coats bearing the sovereign’s cyphers have
22
changed little since the end of the 17th century.
01.326. SURCINGLE: a wide leather strap that completely engirdles horse and saddle,
passing over the girth straps and over any shabracque (q.v.) and any lambskin (q.v.) etc.
01.327. SWAN NECK: see under SPURS.
01.328. SWORD: the essential parts of the sword (Mameluke, q.v., aside), apart from the
blade, are the grip and the protective guard, together effectively constituting the hilt, with a
pommel at its top. The main types for officers, apart from Mameluke and Claymore (q.v.), and
special Household Cavalry patterns, are:- Cavalry 1912 pattern with a long blade and large scroll-
decorated bowl guard; RA pattern (RLC similar) with the historic simple three-bar guard; Foot
Guards and RIFLES with “Gothic” guard, bearing appropriate badge; and Line Infantry pattern (also
worn by Staff, RE and many others) with minimally pierced guard bearing Royal Cypher and Crown.
01.329. SWORD KNOT: a short loop of strap or cord fastened to a sword hilt, originally for
winding around wrist when in action, to avoid loss of the weapon. Sword knots are mostly brown
leather straps when leather scabbards are used but otherwise mostly gold cord or lace. Nearly all end
in an acorn (q.v.) finial.
01.330. SWORD SLINGS: the short sling hangs at wearer’s left (in front of any sash ends)
and the long (rear) sling is suspended from centre back (passing between any waist buttons, q.v.).
For most officers a leather billet, which closes with a stud, is fastened by a billet buckle near the
lower end of each sling.
01.331. TAB: see GORGET PATCHES.
01.332. TAG: the metal finial at each of the two free ends of the aiguillette (q.v.). For certain
officers the tag bears the Royal Cypher and Crown.
01.333. TAM O'SHANTER: the khaki bonnet worn by Scottish battalions in working dress.
In some regiments the officers formerly wore the alternative (fawn) shade of khaki. The toorie (q.v.)
matches the headdress.
01.334. TARTAN: a term mainly used informally to mean both “sett” (q.v.) and material
made in a particular sett. Technically “tartan" may refer to the relatively loosely woven woollen
material itself, whether it is patterned or plain.
01.335. "TENT HAT": name given to a particular distinctive side cap (not correctly termed
“hat”) that, in the British Regular Army, is now unique to QRH but which has been extensively used
in the French and other armies, having evolved two centuries ago.
01.336. THROAT PLUME: a coloured hair plume 18 in. long, which may be suspended
beneath the neck of an officer’s charger or a drum horse etc. It is sometimes referred to as a "beard".
01.337. TIE: any bow tie worn in Mess Dress is invariably black (with the historical exception
23
of the white tie worn by the Oxf. & Bucks. Light Infantry).
01.338. TOORIE (spelling varies): the woollen tuft ornament on the top of certain Scottish
bonnets (q.v.).
01.339. TORIN CAP: see under FIELD SERVICE CAP.
01.340. TRACING: ornamentation, typically Russia braid (q.v.), that runs alongside another
feature, typically lace, flat braid or cord: for example, a RIFLES officer’s Full Dress cuff bears an
Austrian knot of cord with a tracing of braid round it.
01.341. TRAIN: a stripe (e.g. red silk) in gold or other lace (q.v.). Also known as a "worm”.
01.342. TREWS: trousers of special cut, in regimental tartan (q.v.), as worn in Scottish
infantry battalions. Officers’ strapped trews are a version fitted with foot straps and resembling
Overalls (q.v.) in cut.
01.343. TRF: Tactical Recognition Flash. TRFs identify the regiment or corps of an individual
and are frequently based on the stable belt striping. They are worn on the right upper arm of combat
dress below any Para/SAS qualification badge with the centre of the badge placed 12cm from the
shoulder seam. Overall dimensions are not to exceed 6x6 cms.
01.344. TRICORN: see under COCKED HAT and HAT. Tricorns are worn in British
military uniform only by In-Pensioners and Warrant Officers of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
01.345. TUNIC: except in the RHA, the tunic, the centrepiece of formal uniform, replaced
both the coatee (q.v.) and the Full Dress jacket in the Regular Army in 1855. Tunics, which have the
skirt extending below the waist all round, had existed earlier in other armies. The term essentially
refers to the Full Dress garment but is sometimes informally used of No. 1 Dress and No. 2 Dress
(Service Dress) etc. jackets.
01.346. TURNBACKS: on military coatees (q.v.), the two “tails” each have a narrow tapering
triangular “turnback” of the facing colour, or of white cloth, up both edges.
01.347. TWIST: very fine cord, sometimes sewn onto Mess Jackets and Full Dress tunics etc.
to form a dummy buttonhole.
01.348. UNDRESS: uniforms or uniform items one step below Full Dress in level of
formality. The term covered Frock Coats, Patrol Jackets, and Stable and Shell Jackets and Mess
Dress, although perceptions of formality subsequently changed.
01.349. UNION LOCKET: see under WAISTBELT CLASP.
01.350. UNIVERSAL PATTERN: a pattern designed to be worn by all, or almost all,

soldiers, e.g. the Universal Pattern button bearing the Royal Arms, which was widely worn from the
1870s to the 1950s.
01.351. VELVET FACINGS: historically, in the Regular Army, these are only available to
24
the Life Guards, regiments of Dragoon Guards (not all adopted velvet), the RE, RTR and RLC and
(formerly) to the Royal West Kent Regiment and the Rifle Brigade. The several Body Guards also
have velvet. Although the collar and cuffs of General Officers’ frock coats are of blue velvet, these
do not count as Facings (q.v.) as such.
01.352. WAISTBELT: waistbelts worn by Regular Army officers in Full Dress (other than
concealed web belts) are almost invariably faced with gold lace (or bear gold embroidery) and any
sword slings match. For soldiers, the normal Full Dress belt is 1¾ in. wide, black for RIFLES but
otherwise almost always white. The latter may be of traditional whitened buff leather or a heavy
matt plastic substitute. In No. 1 Dress and No. 2 Dress many soldiers wear a wider white woven
nylon belt, of which a green version also exists that is sometimes worn in No. 2 Dress. Some woven
belts just have a plain clip fastening, as on 1937 pattern webbing. See also SAM BROWNE; and
WEB BELT.
01.353. WAISTBELT CLASP: aside from the rarer Snake Clasp (q.v.) the normal clasp for
Full Dress belts is the union locket, in which a disc locks into a circlet. The five Foot Guards
regiments have cast brass regimental versions and the General Service (q.v.) pattern (also cast brass)
was devised for Infantry of the Line and others. Some officers had fine Full Dress clasps on similar
lines but others had Waistbelt Plates (q.v.) instead. In all these cases the clasp matches the button
colour (normally brass/gilt), although this does not prevent small details mounted on the surface
being silver colour.
01.354. WAISTBELT PLATE: a rectangular metal plate with concealed belt-fastening

beneath it. This style of fastening is worn in Full Dress by among others, all ranks of the Household
Cavalry and by officers of heavy cavalry and of Scottish infantry. The plate itself is of slightly
curved cross-section and by regulation and by old custom matches the button colour (historically gilt
for Regular Army) but applied regimental devices and decoration can include silver. A much simpler
version, usually bearing a badge, is used for the wider woven nylon Waistbelts (q.v.) now worn by
many soldiers in No. 1 and No. 2 Dress.
01.355. WAIST BUTTONS: the pair of buttons at the waist seam on the back of double-
breasted frock coats and most Full Dress tunics. These are normally no more than 4 in. apart (centre
to centre) and any sword belt may rest on them (on the shanks), with the longer sword sling located
between the buttons.
01.356. WEB BELT: for economy and convenience, when Full Dress sword slings are worn
with a waistbelt that is concealed (e.g. under the tunic), a thin worsted web belt is substituted,
sometimes supported by a web brace over the shoulder, also concealed.
01.357. WEBBING: term broadly covering both the substantial material (originally a form of
heavy cotton canvas, later synthetic mixtures) and the equipment (waistbelt, braces, ammunition
pouches, packs) etc. made of it. Webbing equipment was adopted for universal use by British
25
soldiers in 1908.
01.358. WELLINGTON BOOTS: calf length boots with a supple leg section for wearing
under overalls (q.v.) or trousers. These (or George Boots, q.v.) are worn by most officers in Full
Dress, Frock Coat, No. 1/No. 3 Dress and Mess Dress.
01.359. WELT: a narrow fold of cloth, usually of contrasting colour, projecting from a seam
or at an edge, e.g. ¼ in. scarlet welts in the side seams of Guardsmen's trousers and line infantry
officers’ overalls. On side caps, welts may be formed of gold French Braid. Peaked forage caps
normally have a welt in the crown seam and at upper and lower edges of the cap band.
01.360. WHISTLE: widely carried by officers, particularly in Service Dress etc. in a breast
pocket attached to a small whistle cord or on the front of the Sam Browne brace. In rifle regiments
the whistle is given great prominence for officers and usually for SNCOs and it features on the front
of the pouch belt worn in formal dress. Light Infantry latterly had the same for officers and also had
an unique SNCOs’ whistle with long chain and boss worn on the uniform or the sash.
01.361. WHISTLE CORD: cord to retain the whistle. This may also be called a lanyard
(q.v.), particularly if it is rather substantial.
01.362. WINGS: a very historic uniform distinction, these half-moon shaped features at the
shoulder project over the head of the sleeve. They remain a key feature of the Full Dress and No. 1
Dress of Drummers, Buglers, Pipers and Musicians, mainly for infantry. They are never worn on
cavalry uniform. They were formerly also a distinction of the flank companies of infantry (i.e.
Grenadier and Light Companies).
01.363. WOLSELEY HELMET: named after Maj Gen Sir Garnet Wolseley. This was the
final, broad-brimmed, pattern of formal tropical (Foreign Service) helmet and remains in general use
in the Royal Marines. In c.1902 it replaced, in both white and pale khaki, a pattern modelled on the
Home Service helmet (q.v.). The colonial white Wolseley helmet may have a white (or other) pugri
wound round it and can be fitted inter alia with the same spike or ball ornament (but with a special
base) as the Home Service helmet and with a chin chain. It cannot correctly bear the full size helmet
plate designed for the Home Service helmet.
01.364. YEOMANRY UNIFORMS: by tradition these have always covered a uniquely wide
range of (cavalry) styles, many exotic, and they often display unusual colouring and some archaic or
foreign features. Their buttons and lace, unlike those of the Regular Army, can as easily be silver as
gilt.
26

Army Dress Regulations Part 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Army Dress Regulations Part 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

ARMY DRESS REGULATIONS (ALL RANKS)

ARMY DRESS COMMITTEE - FUNCTIONS AND PROCEDURES

b. Army Brand Manager.

c. The Army Historical Adviser.

d. Army Historical Branch.

c. The relevant chain of command.

d. Agreement of other regiments or corps who may be affected.

KEY SIGNIFICANCE OF FULL DRESS

REGIMENTAL UNIFORM COLOUR - FULL DRESS AND MESS DRESS

BUTTON AND LACE COLOUR.

SUMMARY OF THE FORMAL/CEREMONIAL ORDERS OF DRESS

01.93. - 01.99 Spare

See Para 01.70

MOUNTED CORPS AND REGIMENTS OF THE BRITISH ARMY

All Cavalry Regiments (excludes RTR)

Royal Regiment of Artillery

Corps of Royal Engineers (includes Queen’s Gurkha Engineers)

Royal Corps of Signals (includes Queen’s Gurkha Signals)

Army Air Corps

Royal Logistic Corps (includes Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment)

Royal Army Veterinary Corps

DISMOUNTED CORPS AND REGIMENTS OF THE BRITISH ARMY

Royal Tank Regiment

All Infantry Regiments

Special Air Service

Special Reconnaissance Regiment

Royal Army Chaplain’s Department

Royal Army Medical Corps

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Adjutant General’s Corps

Small Arms School Corps

Royal Army Dental Corps

Army Physical Training Corps

Queen Alexandra’0s Royal Army Nursing Corps

Corps of Army Music

Part 1 – Section 2 Annex A

Full Dress Full Dress

developed (by 1950) No.3 Dress

Shirts; Fatigue smocks & trousers

01.104. ANKLETS: very short canvas or leather gaiters.

01.122. BOX SPURS: see under SPURS.

(b) Peaked Forage Cap (coloured or khaki)

01.148. CAUBEEN: the Irish pattern bonnet.

01.149. CHACO: alternative spelling of SHAKO (q.v.)

01.163. COLLAR DOGS: informal name for collar badges (q.v.).

01.164. COMBAT DRESS: universal technically advanced clothing designed to new

01.170. CUMMERBUND (spelling varies, including KAMARBAND): usually silk, in

01.186. FACINGS: in theory facings originated as individual regimental lining colour

01.210. GIMP: a particular variety of braid.

01.219. HACKLE: a form of plume, generally short, made of cut feathers.

01.224. HELMET PLATE: see under PLATE.

01.230. HORSE FURNITURE: the horse’s equivalent of dress and accoutrements.

01.232. INVERNESS CAPE: see under CAPE.

01.236. JUNGLE BOOT: a rubber-soled boot of green canvas (1940s on).

01.245. LANCE CAP: see CHAPKA

01.248. LEGGINGS: see GAITERS.

(a) The raised front of the seat of a saddle.

01.279. PURSE: sporran (q.v.)

01.281. ROUND CORD: see CORD.

01.286. RUSSIA (BRAID): see under BRAID.

01.296. SHABRACQUE (or SHABRAQUE): an extensive cloth horse-covering, larger than

01.298. SHEEPSKIN: see under LAMBSKIN.