All,

My 1st post, and let me say right off what an outstanding site this is - a dream come true of anyone interested in the British Army in the Great War.

I have several questions pertaining to uniform detail and insignia, any insights or comments would be greatly appreciated. I hope these questions make sense, again, I'm a New Guy.

1. Were the officer's uniforms worn in the Near East & Med (Mesoptamia, Palestine, & Gallipoli) the same as those worn in France except for being sand-colored and a cotton material? Any other differences?

2. I understand staff officers wore a small red patch on their tunics - is that on the collar lapels or the epaulets? Anything besides the patch? Did they remove their regimental insignia when they joined a brigade or division staff?

3. Is the insignia on the cap badge and the tunic lapel the regimental insignia? Are they the same size?

4. How do you distinguish between a cavalry officer and an infantry officer? Only by their regimental insignia?

5. (I hope I describe this accurately) On the officer tunic cuff, I've seen two parallel horizontal stripes, I believe in gold braid. What does that represent? Is it always the same color and same number? Does it vary by rank or branch of service?

I'm sure I'll have more questions later, but thanks in advance to all.

Cheers,
John

Welcome to the Forum John.

I'm no expert, but I'll have a shot at some of your questions:

2. Staff officers wore red flashes on their lapels. I think they wore a red hatband too, and retained their original regimental badges.

3. Yes

5. Can you give a fuller description please? I'm tempted to say they are wound stripes, if they are bars, a couple of inches long; otherwise do you mean the braided section on the cuff that contained stars and or crowns etc, signifying rank?

Sorry if this seems vague, but I wanted to bring it to the top of the grid again, hoping someone better qualified than I can come to the rescue.

Just a little bit of further info for your questions:

1. Officer's uniforms were privately made (to a set, but variable pattern) and so varieties can be found wherever they served.

2. There was quite often an armband worn also, depending on there role in the staff. Staff officers also replaced their regimental badge with that of the "Staff" (a Crown with lion on top) untill they attained Generalship, when appropriate "rank" cap badges came into play. In the RFC the original badge was retained. They weren't always red bands and collar tabs, either (eg Admin wore blue bands and tabs, Medical wore crimson, Intelligence wore green, etc.)

3. Yes, but no, lapel badges tend to be slightly smaller (and can be of a completely different design to the cap badge - eg the East lancs).

4. Regimental insignia is usually the easiest way, but sometimes the "cut" of the uniform and the way it is worn can be a give-away (though quite a few infantry officers wore their uniforms in the "Cavalry style".

5. Horizontal? I take it you are referring to the "cuff rank" tunics? if this is the case, then this is part of the rank badge. 2 of these stripes (combined with 3 "pips" in a "box", or 3"pips" underneath them in the case of Highland officers )denotes the rank of Captain. US officers of WW1 also have these bands (in gold , in their case). I think this also denotes "Captain".


Hope this is of some help.

Dave.