New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-26
AS TO BRITISH UNIFORMS
Some Distinction of Dress
Marks Each Regiment.
HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE
Peculiarities of Garb Due
Often to Incidents of
the Battlefield.
rFrom The Tribune Correspondent. ]

London, Oct Is. - The khaki service
dress OF the British army submerges into
one drab hue all the great color that for
merly characterized the various regi-
ments, and during the recent army
manauvres the great hosts of men-at-
arms looked all alike. Nevertheless the
separate organizations still maintain
their individual uniforms for dress pa
rade, and as in the United States, almost
every uniform is distinguished by some
peculiar distinction: distinctions that date
back many years along the path of Eng
lands glory.
For instance sergeants of the Somer-
setshire Light Infantry are the only
known officers in the service who wear
the sash over the left shoulder. Officers
formerly wore their sashes in this fash
ion, and in one engagement all the lieu
tenants and captains of the Somerset
shire Light Infantry were killed or
wounded and the sergeants performed
their duties. Thus their triumph is re-
membered.
The men of the Worcestershire regi-
ment wear their badges at the back of
their headdress as we'll as at the front,
a distinction granted because when the
first battalion was defending an impor-
tant outpost in Egypt in 1901 they were
suddenly attacked in the rear. but by
turning quickly about successfully beat
off their assailants.
That picturesque bearskin grenadier cap,
worn alone by the Scots Greys of all the
cavalry, dates from the battle OF Ramil-
lies. in 1706, when the regiment capt
ured three battalions Of the Picardy
French Grenadiers. The Royal Welsh
Fusillers is now the only regiment that
retains the flash" five black ribbons
hanging from The back OF the collar Of the
tunic, originally worn to protect the coat
from the grease used In planting queue
of pigtails. The flash" was abolished
throughout the army while the regiment
was abroad. but on its return the COM
manding officer appealed to King William
" to be allowed to retain It.
White jackets are worn by the ranks
OF the Foot Guards when not in dress uni
form. The Grenadiers wear a white
goats hair plume on the left side Of the
bearskins, a red band round the forage
set at equal intervals; the Coldstream
Guards wear red feather plume at the
right side OF the bearskin, a white band
on the forage cap and the buttons are set
In twos; Scots Guards have no plume In
the bearskin, diced band for the cap
and the buttons in threes while the Irish
Guards have a plume Of st. Patrick
blue In the bearskin, a green band for
the cap and the buttons in tours. The
First Life Guards can always be dis
tinguished from the Second by the sheep
skins-black sheepskins for the First and
white for the Second.
There are plenty OF other distinctions
arranged to tell the regiments. The only
Lancer regiment that is clothed In scar
let is the 10th, the only dragons in blue
the Carabiniers. The Household Cavalry
Is the only troop to wear the cuirass
The Highland Light Infantry alone
among Highland regiments is not killed
but wears plaid trousers, shake and not
the feather bonnet The shake is also
worn by the Cameronians, the only rifle
regiment TO do so.
A soldier wearing a bugle on his Shout
der strap belongs TO a light infantry regi-
ment, another wearing a grenade TO a
Fusilier regiment, and a red band round
a cap with blue facing marks a soldier
OF royal regiment. The only Highland
regiment with a red hackle in the feather
bonnet is the BLACK Watch; in all
others IL iS white