UNIFORMS, ARMS & EQUIPMENT - FOOT GUARDS
THE FOOT GUARDS 1881-1902
OFFICER'S UNDRESS CAPS, FROCK COATS AND MESS DRESS
The round cap with drooping peak had been worn by officers of the the Grenadier, Coldstream and Scots Guards since 1866. Their caps had some important differences from the line infantry version introduced in 1880. Firstly there was no netted purl button or braid on the crown. The caps for officers of the Grenadier and Coldstream Guards had a band of black ribbed lace and black patent leather chin straps with gilt buttons on the sides. The Scots Guards had no chin strap. For Captains and above in all Guards regiments, the crown was edged with a gold Russia braid welt.
Frock Coats were worn by officers in all the Guards regiments. The only infantry regiments to do so. The pattern was quite similar to that worn by the Household Cavalry. On duty the officers wore the sword belt and crimson sash. It is still worn today.
For Mess Dress, the jacket was scarlet with garter blue roll collar. The regimental badge was worn on the collar 5 inches below the shoulder. On the pointed blue cuffs lieutenants had an edging of gold gimp cord with a small loop above. For captains there were two lines and for Majors and above there were three. The waiscoat underneath was also garter blue with a roll collar. The button arrangement was four for Grenadiers, four for Coldstreams (in pairs), three for Scots and four for the Irish Guards. Mess dress was worn with full dress trousers.
The Foot Guards officers wore the regulation Infantry pattern greatcoat. Double breasted with five gilt buttons on each side. The sword was worn underneath the coat.
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Uniforms for Active Service and Manouvres
