UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA OF FOREIGN ARMIES AND NAVIES
The uniforms and insignia of the armies and navies of foreign powers
present such a great variety in design, style and color as to preclude
the possibility of giving a detailed description of them within the
limits of this book.
However, in order that the rank of the officers and enlisted men of
these foreign services may be readily recognizable under the conditions
that ordinarily prevail on active service ashore or afloat, there is
included in this chapter a short description of the service uniforms
and insignia worn by the officers and enlisted men of the armies and
navies of Great Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Russia, Germany
and Austria-Hungary.
It will be noted that the uniforms of the navies of the world bear more
similarity to each other than do those of the armies, thus the rank of
naval officers of all the great powers is indicated by stripes of braid
worn on the sleeves between the elbow and the lower edge of the cuff,
and in most cases by similar stripes or other insignia worn upon straps
placed on the shoulders between the base of the collar and the sleeve
at the shoulder seam.
In the different armies there is much more diversity in design and
color as well as in the method of indicating rank and corps; stripes
and various designs upon the cuffs, insignia and stripes upon shoulder
straps and insignia of many different designs upon the collar being the
most common means.
In one respect all of the naval and military services of the world
follow the same custom, medals and decorations awarded for especial
deeds of gallantry, for long and faithful service or to commemorate
some special event in war or peace are worn upon the left breast with
dress uniforms, almost always suspended from a ribbon of distinctive
color design, while a small section of this distinctive ribbon is
worn with undress uniform and service uniforms. As a special mark of
distinction the medals considered the highest in rank are frequently
worn on the right breast or suspended from a ribbon or chain around the
neck.
A marked tendency toward simplification in design both of uniform and
insignia and toward the use of neutral or dull colors is also evident
in recent years. This is largely due to the necessity of making the
soldier as inconspicuous as possible when on the firing line, but also
to the great expense incurred in fitting out very large forces of men
in elaborate dress uniforms for which there is no use in the field.
Nevertheless it may be expected that when the world returns to a basis
of general peace time conditions the dress uniforms and bright insignia
and buttons that add so much to the brilliancy of military gatherings
will again be in evidence; especially since there is so much of the
tradition of the past associated with these uniforms and badges of rank
and corps.
Attractive uniforms induce a corresponding pride in the smartness
and neatness of the soldier or sailor and the distinctive badges of
regiments and corps with long histories of creditable achievement
go far to establish the _esprit de corps_ which so surely makes for
efficiency and contentment.
UNIFORMS OF THE BRITISH NAVY
In Great Britain the Navy is known as “The Senior Service” as it was
organized as a regular service prior to the organization of a regular
national Army.
In general the uniforms of the British Navy correspond quite closely to
those of the United State Navy in composition and design and are worn
upon similar occasions, although they are somewhat more elaborate, but
the insignia are of different design.
Commissioned officers must provide themselves with full dress, ball
dress, frock coat dress, blue mess dress, white mess dress, blue
undress and white undress.
The full dress is very nearly the same in style and design to the
special full dress of the United States naval officer, the ball dress
is practically the same as the evening dress of the United States naval
officer and the frock coat dress and blue and white mess dress the same
as the corresponding United States naval uniforms. The blue undress
uniform of the British naval officer differs from the service dress
of the United States naval officer in that the coat worn with it is a
square cut, double-breasted sack coat with turn-down collar and rolling
lapels with two rows of four buttons each down the front. The white
undress of the British officer is the same as the white service dress
of the American officer.
The rank of British naval officers is shown by insignia of rank on the
tops of the epaulets with uniforms with which epaulets are worn, but
with all of the blue uniforms the rank is also indicated by stripes
of gold lace braid around the sleeves of the coat above the cuff.
The number and arrangements of these rank stripes are shown in the
accompanying illustration.
[Illustration: British Navy. Officers’ sleeve decorations indicating
rank
1. Admiral of the Fleet 2. Admiral 3. Vice Admiral
4. Rear Admiral 5. Commodore 6. Captain
7. Commander 8. Lieutenant Commander 9. Lieutenant
10. Sub Lieutenant 11. Chief Gunner and Chief Boatswain
12. Midshipman]
[Illustration: British Navy. Officers’ shoulder straps
1. Admiral of the Fleet 2. Admiral 3. Vice Admiral
4. Rear Admiral 5. Commodore, 1st Class 6. Commodore, 2nd Class]
With the white mess dress and the white undress the rank is indicated
by the stripes of gold braid or by other insignia of rank worn upon the
shoulder straps. These shoulder straps are also worn with the great
coat. There are no sleeve stripes on the white coats or the great coat.
The insignia of rank used on the shoulder straps of Flag Officers
and the stripes indicating rank used on the shoulder straps of
officers below the rank of Flag Officer are shown in the accompanying
illustrations.
The Corps or Branch of the service to which an officer belongs is shown
as follows on the sleeves and shoulder straps:—
Officers of the Line By the circle or “curl” on the upper
stripe of gold lace braid.
Engineer Officers By the circle or “curl” as above with
the addition of stripes of purple cloth
between the gold stripes.
Medical Officers The circle or “curl” is omitted and there
are stripes of scarlet cloth between the
gold stripes.
Accountant or Pay
Officers The circle or “curl” is omitted and
there are stripes of white cloth between
the gold stripes.
Naval Instructors The circle or “curl” is omitted and there
are stripes of light blue cloth between
the gold stripes.
It will thus be seen that the system of stripes on the sleeves and
shoulder straps to indicate rank is practically the same in the British
and United States navies, the “curl” in the British navy being used
for the same purpose as the gold star in the United States navy, that
is, to show that the officer wearing it belongs to the Line, or the
command branch of the service.
The officers’ overcoat or “great coat” in the British navy is a double
breasted coat of ulster style reaching to just below the knees. It has
a rolling collar with notched lapels and is closed by two rows of gilt
service buttons down the front and has shoulder straps to indicate
the rank of the wearer but no stripes on the sleeves. In the back the
fulness is held in by a strap secured by two gilt buttons.
The service buttons of the British navy bear a raised design of a
vertical foul anchor surmounted by a royal crown, the edge being
surrounded by a raised rope design.
The caps and cocked hats of the British Navy are similar to those worn
by United States naval officers except that there is more bell to
the crown of the British cap. The cap insignia worn by commissioned
officers are embroidered on the front of the cap and consist of a
vertical foul anchor surrounded by a gilt wreath and surmounted by a
royal crown in gilt and scarlet; the anchor being silver in the case of
officers of the Line and gilt for officers of the Staff Corps.
The sword worn by British naval officers is much the same in general
appearance as that worn by American officers, the differences being
in the carved designs upon the hilt and blade of the sword and upon
the bands of the scabbard. This is due to the fact that the American
sword like the other parts of the American naval uniform was originally
adopted from the British Navy.
[Illustration: British Navy. Officers’ shoulder straps
1. Captain 2. Commander 3. Lieutenant Commander 4. Lieutenant
5. Sub Lieutenant, Chief Gunner and Chief Boatswain
6. Gunner and Boatswain]
The officers of the British Naval Air Service wear as a distinguishing
mark of their service a gilt spread eagle on each sleeve above the rank
stripes and a silver spread eagle in the center of the cap insignia in
place of the anchor worn there by other officers. Their service buttons
also have the spread eagle in place of the anchor for other officers.
Officers of the Royal Naval Division detailed for duty on shore wear a
uniform of khaki-colored cloth similar in design to the service uniform
of British Army officers; their sleeves bearing the rank stripes of the
same widths, number and arrangement as for other naval officers but
made of braid of a slightly different shade than the material of the
coat, and their shoulder straps bearing the same insignia of rank as
that worn by the corresponding grades in the army.
Officers of the British Royal Naval Reserve wear the same uniforms
as those prescribed for officers of the regular service, except that
the stripes on the cuffs and on the shoulder straps while of the same
number for the different grades are of a different design. The design
of these stripes represents a rope twisted of two strands and in place
of the “curl” above the upper stripe to indicate officers of the line
there is a star shaped design made up of two interlocked triangles of
narrow gold braid. The corps or branch of Staff officers of the Royal
Naval Reserve is indicated by stripes of cloth between the twisted
strand stripes, the distinctive colors for the different corps or
branches being the same for Staff officers of the regular navy.
Officers of the British Naval Volunteer Reserve wear the same
uniforms as those prescribed for the officers of the regular naval
establishment, except that the stripes on the sleeves and shoulder
straps to indicate rank, while being of the same number and
arrangement for the different grades, are laid on in waving lines
instead of in straight lines as in the case of the regular officers.
The distinctive color stripes to indicate the various corps or branches
for Staff Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve are the same as
for the regular service.
Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve and of the Royal Naval Volunteer
Reserve attached to the Royal Naval Air Service wear their respective
uniforms with the addition of the spread eagle design above the rank
stripes on the sleeves and shoulder straps.
Officers of the British Colonial Naval Establishments maintained by the
greater colonial divisions of the British Empire wear distinctive marks
to indicate their especial service. These naval establishments comprise
the Royal Indian Marine, the Australian Navy and the Canadian.
The enlisted men of the British Navy wear uniforms very similar in
general design to those worn in the United States Navy with minor
differences in the dimensions and cut of the various garments. The
Chief Petty Officers wear uniforms of blue or white consisting of a
bell-crowned cap with a black mohair band, a black patent leather
visor and insignia consisting of two concentric circles surrounding a
vertical foul anchor surmounted by a British crown; a double-breasted
sack coat with two rows of gilt service buttons; and plain trousers.
Other petty officers and seamen wear the sailor cap, wide collared
shirt and bell-mouthed trousers common to the American service, the
collar having three rows of narrow white braid around the edges with
a black neckerchief knotted beneath it. The three rows of braid
commemorate Nelson’s three great victories—Copenhagen, the Nile and
Trafalgar—and the black neckerchief was first worn as a badge of
mourning for this great sea fighter. The cap has a black silk ribbon
around the band upon which is the name of the ship in gilt block
letters, thus,
H. M. S. DREADNOUGHT
the letters H.M.S. being the abbreviation of “His Majesty’s Ship.”
Rating badges to indicate the rank or rating of petty officers and men
on special duties are worn on the sleeves between the shoulder seam and
the elbow and are very numerous and complex, some of the principal ones
being, in red,
Petty officer first class Two crossed foul anchors with
a crown above and three
chevrons, points down, below.
Petty officer second class One vertical foul anchor with
a crown above and two
chevrons, points down.
Petty officer third class The same, omitting the crown
and with but one chevron.
Gunner’s Mate and Gunlayer
first class Two crossed cannon with one star below
and a star and a crown above.
Gunner’s Mate The same, omitting the lower star.
Gunlayer first class Two crossed cannon with a star
above and a star below.
Gunlayer second class The same omitting the lower star.
Gunlayer third class The same omitting the stars.
Seaman Gunner A horizontal cannon with a star above.
Torpedo Gunner’s Mate
Higher Grade Two crossed torpedoes with a star and
a crown above and a star below.
Torpedo Gunner’s Mate The same omitting the lower
star.
Torpedo Coxswain Two crossed torpedoes with a
steering wheel above.
Leading Torpedoman Two crossed torpedoes with a
star above.
Seaman Torpedoman A horizontal torpedo with a
star above and a star below.
Chief Signal Yeoman Two crossed flags with a star and a
crown above and two stars below.
Signal Yeoman The same omitting the crown.
Leading Signalman The same omitting one of the
lower stars.
Signalman The same omitting the lower stars.
Ordinary signalman Two crossed flags.
Mechanician A propeller with one star and
a crown above and a star below.
Chief Stoker A propeller with a crown above
and a star below.
Stoker petty officer A propeller with a star above
and a star below.
Leading stoker The same omitting the lower star.
Stoker A propeller.
Chief Telegraphist A bar of forked lightning with wings
on each side and a crown below.
Leading Telegraphist The same design but with a
star above in place of the
crown and a star below.
Telegraphist The same omitting the lower star.
Ordinary telegraphist The same design omitting stars.
Blacksmith, Plumber, and An axe and a hammer crossed
Painter, first class with a star above.
Other Artisans The same design omitting the star.
Physical training instructor,
first class Two crossed Indian clubs with star
and a crown above and a star below.
Physical training instructor,
second class The same design omitting the
lower star.
Sick Bay attendants A Geneva cross surrounded by
a circle.
Bugler A bugle horizontal.
Markmanship badge,
first class Two crossed rifles with a star
above.
Markmanship badge,
second class The same without the star.
Markmanship badge,
third class A rifle horizontal.
Badges of other colors are:
Cook A white star.
Schoolmaster A yellow star.
Steward A yellow star.
Good shooting badge,
third class A yellow rifle horizontal.
UNIFORMS OF THE BRITISH ROYAL MARINES
The Royal Marines perform duties similar to those performed by the
United States Marines both afloat and ashore and hold a high record for
efficiency and loyalty. They are divided into two branches, the Royal
Marine Artillery and the Royal Marine Light Infantry, the former being
popularly known as the “Blue Marines” on account of the fact that their
dress coats are of blue cloth and the latter as the “Red Marines” since
their dress coats are of red cloth.
Both branches are also provided with khaki-colored uniforms for field
service ashore.
The rank of the officers is indicated by insignia of rank worn on the
shoulder straps, these insignia being the same for the various ranks as
those worn by officers of the British Army.
The titles for the different grades of rank of the officers are the
same as those for the British Army, namely, General, Lieutenant
General, Major General, Brigadier General, Colonel, Major, Captain,
Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant.
The ranks of the enlisted men are indicated by badges or chevrons worn
upon the sleeves between the shoulder seam and the elbow, as follows:
Sergeant Major The coat of arms of Great
Britain in gold, red and
white embroidery.
Quartermaster Sergeant of
Infantry A British crown in gold and
red embroidery.
Quartermaster Sergeant of
Artillery Two crossed cannon in gold
with a British crown above
them embroidered in gold
and red.
Quartermaster Sergeant,
Musketry Instructor Two crossed rifles in gold with
the crown in gold and red
above them.
Sergeant A chevron of three stripes
worn with the points down.
Corporal A chevron of two stripes worn
with the points down.
Lance Corporal A chevron of one stripe worn
with the point down.
Private No distinctive badge.
The Corps insignia of the Royal Marines are the eastern hemisphere
in silver surrounded by a gold laurel wreath, the insignia being
surmounted by two gold cannon crossed for the Marine Artillery and by
gold bugle trumpet for the Marine Light Infantry. These insignia are
commonly referred to in the British service as “The Globe and Laurel.”
UNIFORMS OF THE BRITISH ARMY
At the beginning of the present world war the Land Forces of the
British Empire embraced the regular troops commonly known as the
“Home Army” and the troops of her far-flung colonial possessions
and dependencies, such as the Indian Army, the Australian Army, the
Canadian Army, the South African Forces, the West Indian regiments,
the New Zealand troops, and the Police and Constabulary troops of many
minor colonies and possessions.
In the “Home Army” there were many varieties and colors in the uniforms
and when we add to this the distinctive uniforms of the various
Colonial Forces and the picturesque native uniforms of the Indian
forces the resultant assemblage is one which would require many volumes
to adequately describe.
In one respect however the clothing of the various units collected
from all over the vast British Empire to make up the great “New Army”
of Great Britain is practically the same,—the service or field uniform
of all is cut on the same lines and the insignia of rank worn with
this uniform are the same for all, the variations being in the corps
and regimental badges which indicate the portion of the empire from
which the regiments come and the arm of the service in which they are
serving.
The British were the first to adopt the neutral brown shade known as
“khaki” for their field or service uniforms and its practicability and
serviceability became so evident to them that its use was extended to
all of their armed land forces, with the result that they now have a
uniform and equipment which for serviceability, efficiency, comfort and
smartness of appearance is excelled by no other nation.
The British Army officers’ uniform is made of a standard dark khaki
colored cloth or serge and consists of a single-breasted coat with
turn-down collar and rolling notched lapels, closed in front by a row
of four gilt buttons, cut to fit snugly at the waist, easy across the
breast and shoulders and with enough flare to the skirt to make it hang
well over the full breeches that are worn with it; breeches which lace
below the knee; tan leather strap puttees and shoes or tan leather
boots; a bell-crowned cap with a sharply sloping visor; and the “Sam
Browne” sword and pistol belt. Wrap puttees of khaki-colored cloth are
also worn for garrison and field service.
The coat has a pleated patch pocket on each breast closed by a buttoned
flap, and a large bellows patch pocket on each side below the waist
which is also closed by a buttoned flap, and cloth shoulder straps on
each shoulder secured by a small button at the collar end.
[Illustration: _Photo. Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
British Army. Officers’ service uniform]
[Illustration: British Army. Officers’ service uniform sleeve
decorations indicating rank
1. Colonel 2. Lieutenant Colonel 3. Major 4. Captain
5. Lieutenant 6. Second Lieutenant]
[Illustration: British Army. Officers’ shoulder strap insignia
indicating rank
1. Field Marshal 2. General 3. Lieutenant General 4. Major General
5. Brigadier General 6. Colonel 7. Lieutenant Colonel 8. Major
9. Captain 10. Lieutenant 11. Second Lieutenant
12. Chaplain, with rank of Colonel]
The rank of an officer in service uniform is indicated by metal
insignia of rank worn upon the shoulder straps and also (for officers
below the rank of Brigadier General) by stripes of worsted braid
around the sleeves just above the lower edge and by worsted insignia
of rank worn on a three-pointed strap which crosses the sleeve stripes
on the cuffs. These insignia of rank are shown in the accompanying
illustrations and are as follows for the various grades of rank:—
Field Marshal Two crossed batons in red surrounded by
a wreath of gold laurel leaves and surmounted
by a British crown in gold and red.
General A baton and sword crossed with a diamond
shaped device above it and a crown
above the diamond, all in gold.
Lieutenant General A baton and sword crossed with a crown
above it, all in gold.
Major General A baton and a sword crossed with the
diamond above, all in gold.
Brigadier General The same omitting the diamond.
Colonel Two diamonds and a crown in a vertical line.
Lieutenant Colonel The same omitting one of the diamonds.
Major A crown.
Captain Three diamonds in a vertical line.
Lieutenant Two diamonds in a vertical line.
Second Lieutenant One diamond.
The officers of the Scottish and Highland regiments wear the stripes
on the cuffs in a curve from the outer edge of the sleeve to a higher
point at the inner edge of the sleeve and the insignia of rank beneath
these stripes in a horizontal line instead of in a vertical line as
described and illustrated for the other officers.
The wearing of the insignia of rank upon the shoulder straps except by
officers of the rank of Brigadier General and higher has been suspended
when on actual duty in the field.
The insignia worn upon the front of the cap by a Field Marshal consists
of two crossed batons in red surrounded by a gold wreath and surmounted
by a gold and red crown above which is a gold British lion; for General
officers it is the same except that instead of the two batons there
is one baton and a sword crossed; permanent Staff officers wear the
crown and lion only on the cap; and a Field Marshal, General officers
and permanent Staff officers of field rank or above wear a scarlet band
around the cap.
For regimental officers the insignia worn on the front of the cap are
the distinctive “Regimental badges” adopted for the regiment. These
regimental badges present a great variety in design and often refer to
some historic battle in which the regiment has taken part or to some
distinctive feature of the county or colony from which the regiment
comes.
In many cases the name by which the regiment is commonly known is
contained in the design, in others the number of the regiment in its
corps is given in the design, and not infrequently the regimental motto
has a prominent place.
Thus the regimental badge of the 4th Hussars, a famous cavalry
regiment, is a gold circle bearing the inscription “Queen’s Own
Hussars,” surmounted by a gold crown, and having on the center the
number of the regiment “IV,” and on a scroll beneath the motto “Mente
et Manu.”
The Irish Rifles have the Irish harp surmounted by a royal crown with a
scroll beneath bearing the motto “Quis Separabit,” all in green enamel.
The 17th Lancers have as their insignia a skull and cross bones with
the words “or Glory” on a scroll beneath, the motto of the regiment
being “Death or Glory.”
The 12th Canadian Infantry has a gold maple leaf bearing the number of
the regiment in silver and the word “Canada” also in silver.
The Grenadier Guards regiments have a gold spherical bursting shell.
Chaplains wear a Maltese cross surmounted by a crown in black enamel.
Officers of the Army Pay Corps wear the monogram “A.P.C.” surmounted by
a crown.
The insignia of the Royal Army Medical Corps consist of the rod of
Esculapius with a single serpent entwined about it surrounded by a
wreath and surmounted by a crown with the scroll beneath bearing the
inscription “Royal Army Medical Corps,” all in gold.
Both officers and enlisted men in the British Army habitually wear gilt
buttons and insignia on their service khaki-colored uniforms, although
when in the field these buttons and insignia are allowed to tarnish or
bronze, and in many cases leather buttons are used on field service in
place of the gilt buttons.
The overcoat, or great coat, worn by the officers of the British Army
is a double-breasted ulster quite similar in design to that worn by
officers of the United States Army, but having a lapel collar and
reaching only to the knee. It is made of cloth of the same color as the
service uniform and has shoulder straps upon which the insignia of rank
are worn.
The service uniform of the enlisted men of the British Army is of the
same khaki-colored cloth as the officers’ uniform and consists of a
cap similar to that worn by officers with a visor of tan leather or of
khaki-colored cloth upon the front of which the regimental or corps
insignia are worn; a single-breasted sack coat buttoning to the neck
with a standing turn-over collar, a patch pocket on each breast and a
bellows patch pocket on each side below the waist, and shoulder straps
upon which are worn, near the arm seam, the regimental badges; breeches
of the same color as the coat; wrap khaki-colored cloth puttees; and
heavy tan leather laced shoes. The overcoat is a short double-breasted
coat with rolling collar and back straps.
In hot weather khaki cotton drill uniforms of the same design are worn.
As variations of this general uniform, the Scottish and Highland troops
still wear the kilts as their winter uniform, although in hot weather
they also wear the full khaki summer uniform, the troops from Australia
and Canada to a great extent wear the wide brimmed felt hat common in
the American service, and the Indian troops wear their native turbans
and trousers although these are of the standard khaki color.
The rank of the noncommissioned officers is indicated in the British
Armies by badges worn upon the sleeves between the elbow and the
shoulder, as in the United States Army, many of these insignia being
nearly the same for the various grades, doubtless due to the fact that
the American insignia were originally taken from the British during the
revolutionary period.
The principal insignia of rank worn on the sleeves of noncommissioned
officers and enlisted men holding special assignments of duty are as
follows:
Staff Sergeant Major, Army
Service Corps A crown surrounded by a wreath.
Master Gunner 1st and 2nd
class, Field Artillery A field gun with a crown above it.
Master Gunner 3rd class.
Field Artillery The same without the crown.
Sergeant Major A crown.
Bandmaster A lyre with leaves at the base
and a crown above it.
Cavalry Squadron Corporal
Major A chevron of four stripes
worn point up with a crown
above it.
Regimental Quartermaster
Sergeant A chevron of four stripes worn
point up with a twelve
pointed star above it.
Quartermaster Sergeant A chevron of four stripes worn
point up.
Company Sergeant Major A chevron of three stripes
worn point down with a
crown above it.
Color Sergeant A chevron of three stripes
worn point down with
crossed flags and a crown
above it.
Sergeant A chevron of three stripes
worn points down.
Corporal A chevron of two stripes worn
points down.
Lance Corporal A chevron of one stripe worn
point down.
Infantry Pioneer Two axes crossed.
Roughrider of Cavalry A spur worn rowel up.
Scout Corporal A three-pointed lance head
with a cross below it.
Squadron Scout, Cavalry A three-pointed lance head.
Bugler A horn bugle with cords.
Bugler of Rifle Regiments Two such bugles.
Sergeant Trumpeter Two straight trumpets crossed
with a three-pointed lance
head vertical in the center.
Drummer A snare drum.
Machine Gunner The letters “M. G.” surrounded
by a wreath.
Horseshoer A horseshoe worn toe up.
Saddler A horse’s bridle curb bit.
Wheelwright and Carpenter A wagon wheel.
Flight Sergeant of Royal
Flying Corps Chevrons as for other sergeants
with a four-bladed propeller
and a crown above it.
Sergeant of Royal Flying
Corps The same without the crown.
Flying Corps Badge The words “Royal Flying Corps”
on a blue ground.
Qualified Pilot, Flying Two horizontally spread wings
Corps with a crown above and the
initials “R. F. C.” in the
center.
Engineer Noncommissioned
Officers The same chevrons as other
noncommissioned officers
with a bursting bomb above.
Royal Army Medical Corps
enlisted men A scarlet Geneva cross in a
yellow circle.
Excellence in target practice with rifles and guns is indicated by
special badges worn on the sleeves between the elbow and the shoulder
as follows:
Best rifle shot in Regiment Two rifles crossed surrounded
by a wreath with a crown
above it.
Best shooting squadron or
company in a Regiment The same without the wreath.
Best shot in squadron,
company or band Two rifles crossed with a star above.
First Class Gunner, Artillery Two cannon crossed with a
crown above.
Best swordsman in Regiment,
Cavalry Two sabers crossed with a
crown above.
Best swordsman in Troop,
Cavalry Two sabers crossed with a star above.
Best swordsman in every
twenty men. Cavalry The same without the star.
First Prize Gunner, The letter “G” with a wreath
Artillery beneath and a crown above.
Second Prize Gunner, The same with a star instead
Artillery of the crown.
Gun Layer, Artillery The letter “L” with a wreath
beneath.
A new type of distinguishing mark adopted during the present war
consists of pieces of cloth of various shapes worn in the center of
the back between the shoulders to enable officers to distinguish the
organization to which a man on the firing line belongs.
UNIFORMS OF THE FRENCH ARMY
Up to within a few years the uniform of the troops of the Line of the
French Army consisted of a dark blue coat and red trousers, with caps
of the _kepi_ design and white gaiters or short leggings. This uniform
was decorated with gold and silver ornamentation and rank insignia and
as a variation in the headdress the cavalry wore helmets with plumes.
At the time of the Boer War in South Africa the question of a less
conspicuous uniform was agitated with the result that a coat of
mignonette green (or _reseda_ as it was called in France) was adopted
although the red trousers were retained. With this uniform a helmet
of the same color as the coat was adopted. Some of the troops still
retained the dark blue coats however and discussion as to the uniform
to be finally adopted continued.
In 1912 a single-breasted sack coat of a light gray-blue color was
tried with the blue and red _kepi_, and red trousers which were worn
tight around the calves of the legs. The wrap puttee was also worn to
some extent.
Shortly after the beginning of the present war it was demonstrated by
service in the field that the red trousers and gold trimmings were too
conspicuous for modern field service, and as a result a uniform of
the light gray-blue color, known as “horizon blue,” was adopted for
both officers and enlisted men on field service, but the old dress
uniforms were not abolished though not worn during war. In this uniform
simplicity was sought and all bright buttons, insignia and trimmings
were reduced to a minimum with the object of securing a serviceable and
inconspicuous uniform.
The officers’ service uniform consists of a single-breasted sack coat
with a standing turn-down collar, shoulder straps and four outside
patch pockets similar to the service coat of United States Army
officers; breeches; tan leather strap puttees and shoes, or tan leather
boots, and a cap (_kepi_) of the same color as the coat and trousers.
The color of this uniform is a light blue-gray. The buttons are of
silver-bronze.
The cap, or _kepi_, has a sloping visor of black patent leather with
a band covered with gold lace for general officers and of distinctive
colored cloth with narrow gold stripes indicating rank for other
officers, and the top of the crown is slightly less in diameter than
the band. In the case of general officers the visor is ornamented with
gold decorations.
In the trenches when under fire a steel helmet is worn as a protection
against long range rifle bullets and pieces of shrapnel. This helmet is
of the same color as the service uniform and it has a distinctive corps
insignia on the front in metal of the same color.
[Illustration: _Photo. Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
French Army. Officers’ service uniform]
[Illustration: French Army. Officers’ sleeve decorations indicating
rank and service
All of the stripes are gold, except in the case of Lieutenant Colonel,
where the second and fourth are silver
1. Marshal of France 2. General 3. General of Division
4. General of Brigade 5. Colonel 6. Lieutenant Colonel
7. Major 8. Captain 9. First Lieutenant 10. Second Lieutenant
11. War service chevron]
When on duty away from the actual battle front the dress cap of red or
blue (according to the corps) is frequently worn.
The rank of officers in the French Army was formerly indicated by stars
on the cuffs for General officers and by gold or silver stripes around
the cuffs of the coats for other officers, the widths, number and
arrangement of the stripes being practically the same as those worn by
officers of the same relative rank in the navy. These stripes proved
too conspicuous for field service and a small section of the stripes
showing on the front of the sleeve only was adopted for the service
coats. These short stripes or _galons_ are of dull gold or silver
depending on the rank and are as shown in the accompanying illustration.
The insignia for the different grades of rank are as follows:
Marshal of France Seven stars on each cuff, arranged in
three vertical rows, the center row
having three stars and the outer
rows having two stars each.
General Four stars on each cuff, two placed
horizontally in the center and one
above and one below.
General of Division Three stars on each cuff arranged in
a triangle with the point up.
General of Brigade Two stars placed on each cuff horizontally.
Colonel Five gold stripes, or _galons_, on each cuff.
Lieutenant Colonel The same as for Colonel except that the second
and fourth stripes are of silver.
Major Four gold stripes.
Captain Three gold stripes.
Lieutenant Two gold stripes.
Second Lieutenant One gold stripe.
The corps or branch of the service is indicated in the French Army by
distinctive insignia or color patches worn on the collar at the front
on both sides of the neck opening.
A distinctive feature of the French Army uniforms for both the officers
and enlisted men is the “war service chevrons” worn on the right sleeve
between the elbow and the shoulder with the point of the chevron up. A
chevron of one stripe shows that the wearer has had one year’s active
service at the front during the present war and an additional stripe is
added to the chevron for each additional period of six months service
at the front. These service chevrons are of dull gold.
Officers of the Algerian Corps and of the Colonial Infanterie wear
winter service uniforms of khaki-colored cloth and hot weather uniforms
of khaki cotton material; the design of the garments being the same as
for those of the home troops except that the Algerians wear very loose
baggy trousers cut after the “Zouave” style.
Officers in the Aviation service also wear khaki-colored uniforms.
The officers’ overcoat is single-breasted reaching to about three
inches below the knees, closed with a single row of bronze buttons down
the center of the front, buttoning to the neck, with a wide falling
collar, and a large pocket on each side. Like the enlisted men’s
overcoat it is fitted to have the fronts of the skirt button back to
permit freedom of the legs in marching. The same stripes indicating
rank are worn upon the sleeves as upon the service coat.
In the French Army there is a rank called “Adjutant” which corresponds
to that of Warrant officer in the United States Navy and Marine Corps
but for which there is no corresponding rank in the United States Army.
His service uniform is similar to that worn by commissioned officers;
his cap bears no rank stripes, and his rank is indicated by a narrow
gold cuff stripe broken with sections of black.
The sword belt for officers is of tan leather with a cross strap over
the right shoulder and diagonally to the left side above the hip, very
similar to the British “Sam Browne” belt. It is worn by officers at all
times when on duty in service uniform.
The enlisted men of the French Army have service uniforms of the same
color as those for officers. The uniform consists of a single-breasted
sack coat, with standing collar and a patch pocket with buttoned flap
on each side below the waist, cut to fit easily; breeches cut full
above and close fitting below the knees; wrap puttees of cloth of the
same color as the coat and breeches; tan leather shoes; and a plain cap
of the kepi pattern with sloping visor.
The Algerian troops wear uniforms of the same design but of
khaki-colored cloth and very loose “Zouave” style breeches.
The Colonial Infantry wear service uniforms of the same design as those
for the home troops but of khaki-colored material.
Mounted troops and field artillery wear tan leather boots or tan
leather leggings and shoes.
The overcoat for enlisted men is single-breasted, reaching a little
below the knee, with side pockets, and fitted to have the skirts
buttoned back from the front so as not to interfere with the freedom of
the legs in marching. The overcoats are of the light blue-gray cloth.
The rank of noncommissioned officers is indicated by short stripes of
cloth worn diagonally across the outer side of the coat sleeves between
the elbow and the lower edge, as follows:
Sergeant Major Three stripes of dull gold braid.
Sergeant Two stripes of dull gold braid.
Corporal Two stripes of cloth of the distinctive
color of the arm of the service.
First class private One stripe of cloth of the distinctive
color of the arm of the service.
The arm of the service to which an enlisted man belongs is shown by
color patches upon the collar on both sides of the front opening. These
patches are of yellow for infantry, blue for cavalry, red for artillery
and black for engineers, and have the number of the regiment upon them
in black figures for infantry, white for cavalry and artillery, and
red for engineers. Aviators wear an insignia consisting of two eagle’s
wings upon each side of the collar.
The belts, belt suspender straps and cartridge boxes are of tan
leather, though webbing is also in use. The water bottle (canteen) is
covered with cloth of the same color as the uniform.
The buttons worn by enlisted men upon the service uniform coat and
overcoat are plain and of the same color as the material of the coats.
In some special corps of the French service there are variations from
the standard uniform above described, thus the Chasseurs Alpin wear a
uniform of dark blue cloth with a dark blue _beret_, a full-crowned
visorless hat something after the style of the tam-o-shanter, and the
Algerian troops wear a round turban of khaki-colored cloth with a
tassel in the center, after the style of the fez.
UNIFORMS OF THE FRENCH NAVY
The uniforms of the officers and men of the French Navy, while
following in general the usual naval style present some variations
as to the combination of garments, the decorations, the number and
arrangements of the rank stripes on the sleeves and the designs of the
insignia of rank and corps.
Commissioned officers are provided with five separate uniforms, full
dress, No. 1 dress, No. 2 dress, No. 3 dress blue, and No. 3 dress
white.
The full dress corresponds to the United States naval officer’s special
full dress uniform, and consists of a cocked hat, a dark blue double
breasted cutaway frock coat, gilt epaulets, dark blue cloth trousers
decorated with gold lace stripes down the outer seams.
No. 1 dress corresponds to the United States naval officer’s full dress
uniform and consists of a cocked hat, blue cap or white cap, a dark
blue double-breasted frock coat with epaulets, and plain dark blue or
white trousers.
No. 2 dress corresponds to the undress uniform of the United States
naval officer and consists of the blue or white cap, the dark blue
frock coat or the white tunic and dark blue or white trousers.
No. 3 dress, blue, corresponds to the blue service dress of the United
States naval officer and consists of the dark blue cap, dark blue frock
coat or dark blue tunic (sack coat) and dark blue or white trousers.
No. 3 dress, white, corresponds to the white service dress of the
United States naval officer and consists of the white cap, white tunic
and white trousers.
Black shoes are worn with all except white uniforms, with which white
shoes are worn.
The rank of commissioned officers is shown by means of insignia on the
tops of the epaulets, with uniforms of which epaulets form a part,
and by decorations on the cuffs of the sleeves of the frock coat
and service sack coat. These sleeve decorations are as shown by the
illustrations:—
Admiral of France Two batons crossed in gold embroidery.
Vice Admiral Three silver stars.
Rear Admiral Two silver stars.
Captain Five stripes of gold braid.
Commander Five stripes of braid, the second
and fourth being silver and the
other three gold.
Lieutenant Commander Four stripes of gold braid.
Lieutenant Three stripes of gold braid.
Lieutenant, Junior Grade Two stripes of gold braid.
Ensign One stripe of gold braid.
Midshipman One stripe of gold braid broken by
interwoven stripes of blue silk.
The officers of the Line or Command branch wear the rank insignia on
the dark blue cloth of the coat sleeve; while the officers of the Staff
Corps have cuffs of distinctive color beneath the stripes, these colors
being for:—
Engineer officers violet velvet.
Medical officers red velvet.
Constructors and Ordnance officers black velvet.
Paymasters brown velvet.
On the white service tunic or coat the rank is indicated by stripes
upon shoulder straps, these stripes being similar to those worn on the
sleeves of the blue frock coat and tunic.
[Illustration: French Navy. Officers’ sleeve decorations indicating rank
All of the stripes are gold with the exception of those for Commander,
in which case the second and fourth stripes are silver
1. Vice Admiral 2. Rear Admiral 3. Captain 4. Commander
5. Lieutenant Commander 6. Lieutenant 7. Lieutenant, Junior Grade
8. Ensign 9. Midshipman]
The cap for Flag Officers is of blue cloth with a patent leather visor
and a band of gold embroidery, and it has an insignia on the front
consisting of a gold anchor with various decorations of leaves for the
different grades and corps.
The cap for officers below the rank of Rear Admiral is of the same
design, with narrow stripes of gold braid around the band to indicate
the rank of the wearer. On ordinary service aboard ship a cap of the
same design with a band of black silk ribbon is worn. The device worn
on the front of the cap by these officers is a gold foul anchor placed
vertical.
Warrant officers wear dress uniforms similar to those worn by
commissioned officers; their cap has one narrow gold stripe around
the band and a gold anchor on the front, and their sleeves have three
narrow stripes, the upper one of gold one-quarter of an inch wide, the
middle one a twisted silver rope one-eighth of an inch wide and the
lower one of gold of the same rope design.
The enlisted men of the French Navy wear uniforms of dark blue cloth
for cold weather and of white for hot weather, those for the chief
petty officers consisting of a plain cap with black leather visor, a
sack coat with gilt buttons and plain trousers, and those for enlisted
men of lower ratings consisting of a flat sailor cap, overshirt and
trousers of a design similar to those worn in the British Navy. A
prominent feature of their uniform cap is a red pompon in the center of
the top of the crown.
The overcoats are of dark blue cloth of the design commonly styled “pea
jackets.”
The rating or rank of the petty officers is indicated by distinguishing
marks worn upon the sleeves; some of the principal ones being:—
_Chief Petty Officers._
Seaman Branch Two narrow gold stripes on each
sleeve above the cuff, and on the
cap a gold anchor and a narrow
gold stripe around the band.
Commissary Branch The same except that the sleeve
stripes are silver.
Musicians Two twisted gold stripes on the
cuff and a gold lyre on each side
of the collar.
_Petty Officers, First Class._
Seaman Branch One gold stripe on each sleeve
above the cuff, and a gold anchor
on the cap.
Commissary Branch The same except that the sleeve
stripe is silver.
Buglers and Drummers One gold stripe on each sleeve,
worn diagonally.
Musicians One twisted gold stripe on each
sleeve and a gold anchor on each
side of the collar.
_Petty Officers, Second Class._
Seaman Branch Two stripes of red cloth on each
sleeve between the elbow and the
cuff.
Yeoman Branch One broken gold stripe on each
sleeve between the elbow and the
shoulder.
Musicians Two stripes of red cloth on each
sleeve between the elbow and the
cuff.
Stewards Two stripes of orange colored cloth
on each sleeve between the elbow
and the cuff.
Buglers and Drummers One diagonal gold stripe on each
sleeve.
All petty officers of the second class and also seamen wear two anchors
crossed on the upper part of the right sleeve.
There are also a number of specialty marks for such special ratings as
cook, tailor, shoemaker and armorer.
The distinctive mark of band musicians is a gold lyre worn on each side
of the collar, and that of the hospital corps is the red Geneva cross.
UNIFORMS OF THE ITALIAN ARMY
In the Italian Army the peace time dress uniforms consist, as a rule,
of a dark blue braided coat, light gray trousers with stripes of
distinctive corps color down the outer seams, and black leather boots
for officers and leggings for enlisted men. The head dress varies with
the corps and arm of the service, the infantry wearing a dark blue cap
trimmed with colored braid, the cavalry a metal trimmed helmet or a fur
busby, the field artillery a black shako with bright brass ornaments,
and the Bersaglieri a black felt hat with a plume of feathers falling
over the left shoulder.
The field service uniform is of gray cloth having a greenish tinge and
is practically the same for all arms of the service and for all corps,
except that the Bersaglieri wear their regular uniform of dark blue
with red facings and their distinctive head dress.
The officers’ field uniform consists of a short sack coat with a
standing-falling collar and a patch pocket on each breast; breeches or
trousers cut to fit the legs tightly below the knee, black boots or tan
leather shoes and leggings, and a straight crowned cap with sloping
visor of black leather and a band of distinctive corps color. The coat
is closed by buttons down the front concealed by a fly or by concealed
hooks and eyes. On each side of the collar at the front is a silver
star with a circular disc in the center upon which are the insignia
indicating the corps or arm of the service to which the officer belongs.
The rank is indicated by the shoulder straps and the insignia worn upon
them. The shoulder knots for General officers are covered with silver
and bear gold stars to indicate the rank, those for Field officers
having a narrow edging of silver braid and silver stars to indicate the
rank, and those for company officers having only the silver stars to
indicate the rank; as follows:—
General Silver covered shoulder straps with three
gold stars.
Lieutenant General Silver covered shoulder straps with two
gold stars.
Major General Silver covered shoulder straps with one
gold star.
Colonel Shoulder straps edged with silver braid
and with three silver stars.
Lieutenant Colonel Shoulder straps edged with silver braid
and with two silver stars.
Major Shoulder straps edged with silver braid
and with one silver star.
Captain Plain shoulder straps with three silver
stars.
First Lieutenant Plain shoulder straps with two silver
stars.
Second Lieutenant Plain shoulder straps with one silver star.
The rank of officers is also shown by the braid around the cap; the cap
for General officers having a red band embroidered in silver with bands
of narrow gold braid above it, three for general, two for lieutenant
general and one for major general; the cap for Field officers having
one wide silver stripe around the band with narrow stripes of silver
braid above it, three for colonel, two for lieutenant colonel and one
for major; and the cap for company officers having stripes of narrow
silver braid around it, three for captain, two for first lieutenant and
one for second lieutenant.
The corps of officers is shown by patches of distinctive color upon the
collar at each side of the neck opening and also by the insignia upon
the center of the silver star worn on each side of the collar.
The enlisted men wear service uniforms of the same color as that of the
officers, the coat and trousers being similar to that for officers and
the cap being a plain cloth kepi of the same color as the coat with
a sloping visor of black leather. The cavalry wear gray helmets, the
Bersaglieri wear their own distinctive plumed hat and all men on duty
in the trenches wear steel trench helmets similar to those worn by the
American, British and French soldiers.
The rank of noncommissioned officers is indicated by chevrons worn
points up on the sleeves between the elbow and the bottom edge of the
cuff, as follows:—
Sergeant Major Chevron of four stripes in silver.
Sergeant Chevron of three stripes in white cloth.
Corporal Chevron of three stripes in red cloth.
Distinctive badges are also worn on the sleeves to indicate special
duties or assignments of enlisted men.
The arms of the service and corps of an enlisted man is indicated
on his uniform by patches of the distinctive corps color upon the
collar at each side of the front opening, and the regiment is shown by
numerals on these color patches.
UNIFORMS OF THE ITALIAN NAVY
The uniforms for the officers and enlisted men of the Italian Navy are
made of dark blue cloth for dress uniforms and for undress uniforms
for winter wear and of white cotton duck or linen for wear in hot
weather. In general the design of the uniform is similar to those
of the British Navy with the exception of the undress coat which is
similar to the service coat for officers of the United States Navy.
Commissioned officers are required to have special full dress, full
dress, dress, blue undress and white undress uniforms.
The special full dress uniform consists of a cocked hat very similar to
that worn by American naval officers, a double-breasted cutaway frock
coat with turn-down collar and notched lapels buttoned down the front
with two rows of service gilt buttons; dark blue trousers with gold
lace braid stripes down the outer leg seams, and black shoes. Epaulets
similar to those worn in the United States Navy and a sword belt
covered with gold lace are worn with this uniform, and a blue silk sash
is worn from the right shoulder diagonally across the body to the left
side where it is knotted and the ends have tassels.
The full dress uniform consists of a double-breasted frock coat very
similar to that worn in the United States Navy; a bell-crowned cap
of dark blue cloth with a sloping visor; plain dark blue trousers,
and black shoes. Epaulets and the full dress belt are worn with this
uniform.
The dress uniform is the same as the full dress with the exceptions
that the epaulets are omitted and the sword belt is of black leather.
The blue undress uniform consists of the blue cap, a single-breasted
sack coat on the lines of that worn by officers of the United States
Navy with black braid trimming around the edges and collar and down the
front with which shoulder straps are worn.
[Illustration: _Photo. Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
Italian Army. Officers’ service uniform]
[Illustration: Italian Navy, Officers’ sleeve decorations indicating
rank
1. Admiral 2. Vice Admiral 3. Rear Admiral 4. Captain
5. Commander 6. Lieutenant Commander 7. Lieutenant
8. Sub Lieutenant 9. Midshipman]
The white undress uniform is of the same description as the blue
undress except that the material is white cotton or linen duck.
The rank of officers in the Italian Navy is indicated by gold braid
stripes around the sleeves above the cuffs as shown in the accompanying
illustration.
The corps or branch of the service to which an officer belongs is
indicated as follows:—
Line officers By the “curl” in the upper rank stripe.
Engineer officers By stripes of black velvet between the
rank stripes.
Naval Constructors By stripes of crimson velvet between the
rank stripes.
Medical officers By stripes of light blue cloth between
the rank stripes.
Paymasters By stripes of red cloth between the rank
stripes.
Officers of the Staff Corps do not have the “curl” in the upper rank
stripe.
The insignia on the front of the cap consist of an oval medallion
surrounded by a gold wreath and surmounted by the Royal Crown of Italy
in gold on a blue ground. The medallion in the center shows the corps
or branch of the service, Line officers having a gold foul anchor on a
light blue ground, Engineer officers a gold three-bladed propeller on
a black ground. Medical officers a red Geneva cross on a white ground,
Naval Constructors a gold helmet on a red ground, and Paymasters a gold
star on a red ground.
The band of the cap is of the distinctive color of the corps or branch
of the officer and has sewn upon it gold stripes indicating the rank of
the wearer.
On the right side of the cocked hat there is a cockade of red, white
and green silk.
Chief Warrant officers wear uniforms similar to the commissioned
officers’ uniforms with one gold stripe broken by diagonal blocks of
blue silk with the corps mark above it on the cuffs. Their cap has
a black mohair braid band and insignia on the front like those of
commissioned officers except that the Royal crown is omitted.
Warrant officers wear the same uniform as Chief Warrant officers except
that the stripe of gold braid on the sleeve is omitted and the corps
insignia alone are worn on the sleeves above the elbow.
Enlisted men wear uniforms of dark blue cloth or white duck depending
upon the temperature, these uniforms being similar in general design to
those of the United States Navy.
The insignia of rank for Petty officers are as follows:—
Chief Petty officers A gold chevron of one wide stripe and
one narrow stripe on each sleeve above
the elbow with the branch mark above
it. An additional chevron is added
after three years’ service in the grade.
Petty officers A red chevron of one wide stripe and one
narrow one on each sleeve above the elbow
with the branch mark above it, in
red.
Leading Seamen A chevron of one narrow red stripe with
the branch mark above it, in red.
Able Seamen The branch mark in red on each sleeve
above the elbow.
Ordinary Seamen The sleeves are plain.
The specialty or branch marks for the different corps or branches of
the enlisted men are as follows:—
The Line or Deck branch. A foul anchor.
Navigating branch A steering wheel.
Engineers A three-bladed propeller.
Firemen A two-bladed propeller.
Torpedo branch Two torpedoes crossed with a hammer
below.
Gunnery branch Two cannon crossed.
Gunlayers Two cannon crossed with a bursting
bomb in the center.
Electricians A device representing three
branches of zig-zag lightning
with a hammer in the center.
Mining division A submarine mine case.
Divers A submarine mine case and a hammer.
Carpenters Two hatchets crossed.
Plumbers Two hatchets crossed with a flame
in the center.
Joiners A saw.
Musician of the band Two anchors crossed with a harp
in the center.
Radio operators Three branches of zig-zag lightning.
Hospital man A gold star with a red Geneva
cross on white ground in the center.
Stewards A sheaf of wheat.
Buglers An anchor crossed by a trumpet.
Signalman A triangular pennant with vertical stripes.
Enlisted men who have been promoted for gallantry in war service wear a
gold crown on the sleeves above the specialty marks.
UNIFORMS OF THE BELGIAN ARMY
Before 1914 the uniforms of the Belgian Army for home service were very
elaborate and decorated with gold and silver braid and ornaments,
although uniforms of cotton khaki were worn in hot weather on foreign
service; but the experience of the present war showed the necessity
of an inconspicuous dress for field service, and as a result the army
is now provided with a field uniform designed after the British Army
service uniform and made of dark khaki-colored woolen cloth.
The officers’ field service uniform consists of a coat similar to that
worn by British officers except that it has a standing collar; breeches
of the same material and color as the coat; a cap after the British
design, and tan leather boots, or tan leather shoes with khaki-colored
wrap puttees or tan leather strap puttees.
With this uniform the British “Sam Browne” tan leather belt and
shoulder strap is worn.
The corps or arm of the service to which an officer belongs is shown
by patches of colored cloth on the collar at each side of the neck
opening. The rank of officers is indicated by insignia upon these
collar patches, as follows:—