UNIFORMS, ARMS & EQUIPMENTS
WARRANT OFFICERS, N.C.O.S & OTHER RANKS
UNDRESS AND MARCHING ORDER
FORAGE CAPS
On undress occasions, the Warrant Officers and Senior N.C.Os wore a cap very similar to the officers.For the Grenadiers, Coldstream and Irish (when they were raised) the cap had a gold lace band. The Scots Guards wore a cap with a diced band. Regimental Badges were worn just above the band.
Other ranks wore a pill box cap without peak. Unlike cavalry or other units that wore pillboxes, the Foot guards version was slightly higher and had a slight flare toward the crown. The cap bands were scarlet for the Grenadiers, White for the Coldstreams and diced for the Scots. The sergeants of the Grenadiers and Coldstreams had gold lace bands on their caps. There is little evidence that the Irish Guards ever were issued with the Pillbox cap. Their undress cap will be described later. Regimental Badges were worn just above the band.
DRILL JACKETS
Undress shell jackets have been worn in the British Army since the beginning of the nineteenth century. All infantry (Including Guards) wore them in scarlet. They were not issued to the Guards from the mid 1820s.
After the Crimean War the jacket was issued again, this time in white and were worn until about 1905.
COMING NEXT
Other Ranks Marching Order
& Equipment
