Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-26
AN ARMY BELT
WITH A HISTORY
The Famous "Sam Browne"
Strap That Goes Over
the Shoulder

! THE Sam Browne" belt. which most
l. American officers would like to wear and
which all English officers do wear, has n
unique history.
or course, you have seen II in Philadel-
! pha. The rich-looking, thick russet leather
belt with brass trimmings and natty sword
strap crossing the chest and over the right
shoulder, adds a good many per cent to
the unquestioned military look and smart.
ness Of British officers. Even the trim
girls Of the messenger motor service have
| copied tho style, and they are neatness
personlhed.
Although new in America, the Sam
Browne" belt has been known for many
years in England and India It has stood
the test OF four wars at least; 1t was In
vented in battle 1t is coveted by millions
Of English soldiers and men its possession
is mark Of honor, and only recently Its
popularity among American army officers
caused high army officials to frown and
ponder, until finally 1t was made the sub
ject OF special orders from the War Depart
ment
That is going some" as one might say,
for a mere piece of leather. But then the
Sam Browne" belt is not mere leather.
1t is mentioned by name In the Kings
Regulations. Military etiquette DEGREES just
when It should be worn and when not. Only
officers can wear the belt unless special per-
mission or a warrant is given to some
worthy 'noncom" by the King. Besides,
the leather is rich and caressing: the belt
fits like a glove and combines all the quail
ties OF servceabllty, strength hshtness'
comfort and smartness. All agree that II
is good looking and swagger. British Of
hcers cherish their sam Brownies" as they
did in former years their swords.
Coveted by Americans
American officers would like to acquire
| the habit Some few wore the belt in this
| country after General Pershing in France
had ordered his officers to wear II IN
| order to improve their military appearance.
| But the war Department has tabooed the
sam Browne" in this country at least
| and ruled only recently that it should not
| be worn.
Relative to that ruling, an English OF
hcer now In Philadelphia has offered very
| practical suggestion as to its cause.
Your War Department mas decided not
| To let American officers wear the sam
! Browne belt" said he, probably because
! you can't really get the belt in TINS couh-
| try" -.
He explained that although the belt
! costs about 81 In England and viii last a
! lifetime a few stores in America are ask
ing from SIS up for army belts copied
from the Sam Browne Besides ne
! said, you would have difficulty in getting a
| large number, and for some otilcers VINO
| have the belts to wear them and look more
natty than others less fortunate wouIu lot
! be conducive to good army discipline.
| The inventor OF the belt was none other
than General Sir Samuel Browne V. c.
| G. c. b.. X. c. S. J., dashing caNalrE
| leader of the Punjab frontier torce III
! India General Browne fought in the In
| dian Mutinv, in the Afghan wars and spent
| more than thirty years in India. His hand
| to-hand fights his dashing bravery, not TO
mention the cavalry charges, might well
| have been immortalzed by poet had they
| hapDened at Balaklava instead OF in INDIA
| Like Lord Raglan, General Browne lost
! an arm in battle Rumor has 1t that the
| bold cavalry leader in the heat OF oattle
| found difficulty in keeping his empty lett
| sleeve from interfering with his actions. he
| strapped IL across his chest, and thus orlgi-
/ mated the sam Browne" belt. All his men
! were anxious to copy their leader. Lord
| Roberts In his "Forty-one Years in india
! said OF General Browne:
! "A popular and gallant officer, well
| known to every native OF Upper India as
| sam BTun SdnlD anu u all OiNtlo 90 Ni'N
| inventor of the sword-belt now adopted in
! the service. He greatly distinguished him
| self even in 1858. With 23O sabres of his
own regiment and $50 native infantry he
/ attacked a party of rebels at Teral and got
| TO the rear Of the lines. In hand-to-hand
! fight which followed he got two wounds,
| one in the knee from which he nearly bled
| TO death, and another on the left shoulder
! which cut clear through the arm. He well
| deserved the Victoria Cross, which he was
| awarded as the result Of this fight The
enemy was completely routed, leaving 5OO
! dead on the field OF battle
| Colonel Steele head Of the British re-
! cruiting mission in Philadelphia, who was
| in India more than forty years. knew per
! sonally Major Browne, a son of the far
| famed general
! once worn. il soon was seen that the
| sam Browne" belt has many qualities.
| The strap across the shoulder takes away
| all the weight of the sword from the belt
! proper leaving the latter to fit snug and
| comfortable II also takes away much
| of the weight of the automatic, water
bottle or other accOuterments worn by Off
| GERS in action Besides, the shoulder strap
! passes to the rear, where it meets the belt
! proper and leaves place through which to
pass and carry a slicker cape or light top
| coat.
"Sam Browne" Etiquette
Now for the etiquette of the Sam
! Browne" belt. All British officers on duty
! have to wear il. Not to do so would leave
| them open to a reprimand. The British
! officer either Is on duty or on leave. When
not on leave he has to wear the belt with
| a few well-known exceptions.
| The belt is not to be worn at the formal
| mess held once a week, whenever possible,
! In each battalion. The band is one of the
| features of the meal Besides all officers
stand at their places until the colonel or
commanding officer has been seated. At
| this function two men only are allowed 20
| wear the belt Not only are they allowed
! to do So but the regulations require that
| they should. They are the orderly officer
| of the hav and the medical hriPade nficar