A stable belt is a striped coloured belt worn at times by the armed forces of the United Kingdom, other Commonwealth countries, and a few other countries including Denmark, Brazil and Lebanon. The stripes vary by regiment and corps, identifying the wearer's unit. In Brazil and Lebanon they are known as gymnastic belts.
The term "stable belt" originates from when UK cavalrymen would place the surcingle around the waist when cleaning the stables and tending to their horses. [1] In the 1950s they spread to all branches of the armed forces, adding a splash of colour and individuality to the drab khaki working uniforms. Initially they were resisted by many senior officers, who saw them as too individualistic, but they soon became accepted throughout the UK forces, and spread to the forces of a number of other countries. The "gymnastic belt" of some countries has a similar appearance and purpose, with a name reflecting its origin in physical training equipment. Sword belts of similar appearance are used on ceremonial occasions by some military forces. [2] [3]
The Australian Army adopted the stable belt in the late 1970s, however they were removed from service in 1995. [4]
In Brazil, the gymnastic belt (Portuguese : cinto ginástico) is one of the most traditional elements of the uniforms of the Military Firefighters Corps. It has been used with few modifications since 1887. [5] Made of cotton and leather, earlier examples were reinforced to serve as climbing harnesses. Modern gymnastic belts are of lighter construction and only worn as ceremonial item. There are two versions of the gymnastics belt:
The Danish Army, Home Guard, and Air Force all use stable belts. The Danish Defence's close co-operation with the British Army of the Rhine in the 1950s created the interest in a similar belt for the Guard Hussar Regiment, which was introduced in 1968. [6] In the late 1970s it was decided to allow stable belts for all regiments in Denmark. The design of the belt would be based on the colours of the regiment, and a colour to signify their role. To show the transition between role and regiment colours, a thin line was introduced, there is however no system with these. [7] [8]
The Danish armed forces have had a total of 43 different stable belts, of which about sixteen remain in use. Only the standard black stable belt is issued, other belts have to be purchased individually, so are neither regulation nor compulsory. [9]
Lebanese firefighters (الدفاع المدني, i.e. "Civil Defense") use the same type of gymnastic belt as used by firefighters in Brazil.
The various Corps and Regiments of the New Zealand Army wear stable belts. Most corps wear the same patterns of belt as their counterparts in the British Army [10] [11]
New Zealand Corps of Officer Cadets | Royal New Zealand Artillery | Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles | Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers | Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment | New Zealand Special Air Service | New Zealand Intelligence Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment | Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps | Royal New Zealand Dental Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal New Zealand Chaplains Department | New Zealand Army Legal Service | Corps of Royal New Zealand Military Police | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal New Zealand Army Education Corps | New Zealand Army Physical Training Corps | Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The QAMR belt is black with a central amber stripe as used by the original Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles, they are also the colours of the Taranaki, where the unit's foundations were laid in the early 1860s.
Personnel of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, with the exception of those serving in Territorial Force battalion groups, wear the regimental belt of the Durham Light Infantry, being rifle green with two thin red stripes. The belt was adopted as the RNZIR Corps belt in 1970. The Durham Light Infantry regimental belt was given to the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment when it relieved the 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry at Sarawak, Borneo in May 1966.
Originates from belt worn by the British Special Air Service. It was first worn in 1965 by 1 Detachment, 1 Ranger Squadron NZSAS. The colours originate from a concept by David Stirling integrating the Oxford Blue and Cambridge Blue. [12]
The Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment stable belt is blue with a silver buckle displaying the regimental badge surrounded by the regimental motto "Ma Nga Hua Tu-Tangata" (By our actions we are known).
The reserve battalions of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment retain their own patterns of stable belt. In 2013 the reserve battalions were amalgamated, reducing their number from six to three. No decision was made on the future of the various battalions' belts. [10]
2nd (Canterbury, and Nelson-Marlborough and West Coast) Battalion | 3rd (Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) and Northland) Battalion | 4th (Otago and Southland) Battalion | |||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||
5th (Wellington West Coast and Taranaki) Battalion (Officers and Warrant Officers) | 5th (Wellington West Coast and Taranaki) Battalion (Other soldiers) | 6th (Hauraki) Battalion | |||||||||||||||||||
7th (Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawke's Bay) Battalion | |||||||||||||||||||||
Rifle green, as worn by the Battalions Allied Regiment, The Royal Irish Rangers.
Two sets of thin red and white stripes on a black background, adopted in 1995. Originally the belt consisted of three evenly-sized stripes of red, black, and white, and were based on the regiment's colours.
The Otago and Southland Regimental belt is that of Queen's Own Highlanders, and is the pattern of the McKenzie tartan.
Two separate belts are worn; officers and warrant officers wear a black belt with central stripes of red, green, yellow, mauve, and red, while soldiers below the rank of warrant officer wear a black belt with central stripes of yellow, red, green, and mauve. The belts adopted in 1973 were based on the Royal Hampshire Regiment with colours stemming from the regimental colours and the colours of the lace and facings on the uniforms of the 37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot and 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment.
Thames blue with a gold strip in the middle, derived from the old Royal Warwickshire Regiment which in turn is derived from the old 6th Regiment of Foot. The 6th Foot were once charged with guarding the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London; hence the blue of the belt represents the Thames river and the gold stripe, the crown jewels. [13] The belt was introduced in 1975 and has a buckle in worn centre which has the Regiments badge mounted.
The 7th Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawke's Bay Battalion Group inherited the York and Lancaster Regiment stable belt. The belt is composed of maroon bands at the top and bottom (16mm wide), with a centre stripe of black (18mm wide) with a silver stripe above and gold stripe (each 6mm wide) below the centre strip. The York and Lancaster Regiment was allied to the Wellington Regiment in 1913 in recognition of the York and Lancs (65th of Foot) 19 year participation in the New Zealand Wars.
A stable belt is a wide webbing belt comprising a single solid colour or horizontally striped in two or more different colours. The original cavalry regiment stable belts buckled at the side using leather straps in order to both avoid chafing the wearer's stomach while undertaking stable work and avoid marking or catching upon the horse's harness. Many contemporary stable belts now secure at the front using a metal clip or metal plate bearing a regimental/service emblem. Whilst a limited number of army regiments, including the Light Infantry, secure their stable belts at the front using the original two leather straps, generally those belts fitted with leather straps are secured on the left-hand side.
The belt is worn around the waist and in the case of PCS is fitted through the trouser belt loops. In the British Army and Royal Marines, when worn with barrack dress, the belt is placed either through the belt loops of trousers or a skirt, or over a jersey. In the Royal Air Force (RAF), it is worn with service working dress (No. 2 dress) either covering the top of the trousers (or skirt) and the lower part of the shirt, or through the belt loops if able to accommodate the belt's width. Unlike the Army, the RAF do not wear the belt over the jersey. (The former Royal Observer Corps conformed to RAF dress regulations). Historically, the Royal Navy rarely wore stable belts unless working in a tri-service environment. However, these are now available as part of the new Royal Navy uniform RNPCS, replacing the old No. 4 Dress.
Stable belts are worn with most styles of informal dress, but not with full dress, service dress or mess dress. Every regiment and corps of the British Army has its own stable belt and, as is the case throughout the UK armed services, belts are not issued but purchased by individual service personnel at their own expense and are therefore optional items of uniform/equipment. However, their widespread use effectively renders them a standard uniform item.
The following belt patterns are shown in cross section, the stripes actually being horizontal as worn, and are actually considerably wider than shown, although the stripes are shown in correct proportion. Where belts are asymmetric, the left-hand side of the illustration is the uppermost as worn.
Foot Guards | Royal Regiment of Scotland | Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment | ||||||||||||||
Duke of Lancaster's Regiment | Royal Regiment of Fusiliers | Royal Anglian Regiment | ||||||||||||||
Yorkshire Regiment | Mercian Regiment | Royal Welsh | ||||||||||||||
Royal Irish Regiment | Parachute Regiment | Royal Gurkha Rifles | ||||||||||||||
The Rifles | Special Air Service | Royal Gibraltar Regiment | ||||||||||||||
Royal Horse Artillery | Royal Artillery | Royal Engineers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Corps of Signals | Army Air Corps | Royal Army Chaplains' Department | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Logistic Corps | Royal Army Medical Corps | Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support) [16] | Adjutant General's Corps (Royal Military Police) [16] | Adjutant General's Corps (Military Provost Staff) [16] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjutant General's Corps (Educational and Training Services) [16] | Adjutant General's Corps (Army Legal Services) [16] | Adjutant General's Corps (Military Provost Guard Service) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Army Veterinary Corps | Small Arms School Corps | Royal Army Dental Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Intelligence Corps | Royal Army Physical Training Corps | Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Corps of Army Music | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Queen's Gurkha Engineers | Queen's Gurkha Signals | Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Honourable Artillery Company [17] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Regiment RHA | ||||||||||||||||||||
4 Regiment RA | 5 Regiment RA | 29 Commando Regiment RA | ||||||||||||||||||
B Battery RHA | E Battery RHA | F (Sphinx) Parachute Battery RHA | ||||||||||||||||||
G Parachute Battery (Mercer's Troop) RHA | I Parachute Battery (Bull's Troop) RHA | K (Hondeghem) Battery RA | ||||||||||||||||||
L (Néry) Battery RHA | N Battery (The Eagle Troop) RHA | O Battery (The Rocket Troop) RHA | ||||||||||||||||||
P Battery (The Dragon Troop) RA | Q (Sanna's Post) Battery RA | |||||||||||||||||||
4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery RA | 38 (Seringapatam) Battery RA | 46 (Talavera) Battery RA | ||||||||||||||||||
53 (Louisburg) Battery RA | 129 (Dragon) Battery RA | |||||||||||||||||||
1 Squadron HAC | 2 Squadron HAC | 3 Squadron HAC | ||||||||||||||||||
Signal Squadron HAC | Corps of Drums HAC | A (1st City of London) Battery HAC | ||||||||||||||||||
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst | ||||||||||||||||||||
Aberdeen Universities Officers Training Corps | Birmingham Universities Officers Training Corps | Bristol University Officers Training Corps | ||||||||||||||||||
Cambridge University Officers Training Corps | City of Edinburgh Universities Officers Training Corps | East Midlands Universities Officer Training Corps [18] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Exeter University Officers Training Corps | Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities Officers Training Corps | Leeds University Officers Training Corps | ||||||||||||||||||
Liverpool University Officers Training Corps | Manchester and Salford Universities Officers Training Corps | Northumbrian Universities Officers Training Corps | ||||||||||||||||||
Oxford University Officers Training Corps | Queen's University Officers Training Corps | Sheffield University Officers Training Corps | ||||||||||||||||||
Southampton University Officers Training Corps | Tayforth Universities Officers Training Corps | University of London Officers Training Corps | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
University of Wales Officers Training Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Navy | Royal Marines | Royal Air Force [19] | ||||||||||||
Sea Cadet Corps Royal Navy Section, Combined Cadet Force | Sea Cadet Corps (Royal Marines) Royal Marines Section, Combined Cadet Force | Army Section, Combined Cadet Force | ||||||||||||||||
Army Cadet Force | Air Training Corps RAF Section, Combined Cadet Force | Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets | ||||||||||||||||
First Aid Nursing Yeomanry | Royal Corps of Naval Constructors | ||||||||||||||
Royal Horse Guards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1st King's Dragoon Guards | Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) | 3rd Carabiniers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards | 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Dragoons (1st Dragoons) | Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons) | 3rd The King's Own Hussars | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4th Queen's Own Hussars | 7th Queen's Own Hussars | 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9th Queen's Royal Lancers | 10th Royal Hussars | 11th Hussars | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12th Royal Lancers | 13th/18th Royal Hussars | 14th/20th King's Hussars | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars | 16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers | 17th/21st Lancers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Queen's Own Hussars | Queen's Royal Irish Hussars | Royal Hussars | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Queen's Royal Lancers (pre-1998) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Many of these belts are still worn by sub-units.
Ayrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) Yeomanry | Bedfordshire Yeomanry | Berkshire and Westminster Dragoons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Berkshire Yeomanry | Cheshire Yeomanry [20] | City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) | Derbyshire Yeomanry | Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry [21] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Riding Yeomanry | Essex Yeomanry [22] | Fife and Forfar Yeomanry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry | Glamorgan Yeomanry | Hampshire Yeomanry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hertfordshire Yeomanry | Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Yeomanry [23] | Inns of Court Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Inns of Court & City Yeomanry [24] | Kent Yeomanry | Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry [25] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lanarkshire Yeomanry | Lancashire Hussars | Leicestershire Yeomanry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leicestershire and Derbyshire Yeomanry [26] | Lothians and Border Horse | Lovat Scouts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Middlesex Yeomanry | Norfolk Yeomanry | North Irish Horse | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Somerset Yeomanry | North Somerset and Bristol Yeomanry | Northamptonshire Yeomanry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northumberland Hussars | Pembroke Yeomanry [27] | Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry [28] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Queen's Own Dorset and West Somerset Yeomanry | Queen's Own Lowland Yeomanry | Queen's Own Mercian Yeomanry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars [29] | Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry | Queen's Own Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry [30] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars | Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons | Queen's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry | Royal Devon Yeomanry [31] | Royal Gloucestershire Hussars [32] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry [33] | Scottish Horse | Scottish Yeomanry [34] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry [35] | Shropshire Yeomanry [36] | South Nottinghamshire Hussars Yeomanry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Staffordshire Yeomanry | Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry [37] | Suffolk Yeomanry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry | Surrey Yeomanry | Sussex Yeomanry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warwickshire Yeomanry | West Somerset Yeomanry | Westminster Dragoons [38] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yorkshire Hussars | Yorkshire Yeomanry | Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse [39] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders | Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment | Black Watch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Border Regiment | The Buffs | The Cameronians | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cheshire Regiment | Devonshire and Dorset Regiment | Devonshire Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dorset Regiment | Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry | 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment | Duke of Wellington's Regiment | Durham Light Infantry [40] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1st East Anglian Regiment | 2nd East Anglian Regiment | 3rd East Anglian Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Lancashire Regiment | East Surrey Regiment | East Yorkshire Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Essex Regiment | Gloucestershire Regiment | Gordon Highlanders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Green Howards | The Highlanders | Highland Light Infantry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles | King's Own Royal Border Regiment | King's Own Royal Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
King's Own Scottish Borderers | King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry | King's Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
King's Regiment (Liverpool) | King's Royal Rifle Corps | King's Shropshire Light Infantry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lancashire Fusiliers | Lancashire Regiment | The Light Infantry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loyal Regiment | Manchester Regiment | Middlesex Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northamptonshire Regiment | North Staffordshire Regiment | Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire | 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles | 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Queen's Lancashire Regiment | Queen's Own Buffs | Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Queen's Own Highlanders | Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment | Queen's Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) | Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment | The Rifle Brigade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Berkshire Regiment | Royal Fusiliers | Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Green Jackets | Royal Hampshire Regiment | Royal Highland Fusiliers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers | Royal Irish Fusiliers | Royal Irish Rangers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Leicestershire Regiment | Royal Lincolnshire Regiment | Royal Norfolk Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Northumberland Fusiliers | Royal Regiment of Wales | Royal Scots | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Scots Fusiliers | Royal Sussex Regiment | Royal Ulster Rifles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers | Royal Welch Fusiliers | Seaforth Highlanders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sherwood Foresters | Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry | Somerset Light Infantry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Lancashire Regiment | South Staffordshire Regiment | South Wales Borderers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Staffordshire Regiment | Suffolk Regiment | Ulster Defence Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Welch Regiment | West Yorkshire Regiment | Wiltshire Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment | Worcestershire Regiment | York and Lancaster Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
These stable belts may still be worn by sub-units.
Cambridgeshire Regiment | Glasgow Highlanders | Herefordshire Light Infantry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1st Battalion, 51st Highland Volunteers | 2nd Battalion, 51st Highland Volunteers | 3rd Battalion, 51st Highland Volunteers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lancastrian Volunteers | Leeds Rifles | Light Infantry and Mercian Volunteers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Liverpool Scottish | London Irish Rifles | London Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
London Rifle Brigade | London Scottish [41] | 1st Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2nd Battalion, 52nd Lowland Volunteers | 1st Battalion, Mercian Volunteers | 2nd Battalion, Mercian Volunteers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monmouthshire Regiment | North Irish Militia | Northumbrian Volunteers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Queen Victoria's Rifles | Queen's Westminsters | The Rangers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Regiment | Tower Hamlets Rifles | Tyneside Scottish | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Welsh Volunteers | 1st Battalion, Wessex Regiment | 2nd Battalion, Wessex Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1st Battalion, Yorkshire Volunteers | 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Volunteers | 3rd Battalion, Yorkshire Volunteers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment [42] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjutant General's Corps (1st Pattern) | Army Catering Corps | Army Fire Service | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Army Legal Corps | Military Provost Staff Corps | Royal Army Educational Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Army Medical Corps (1st Pattern) | Royal Army Ordnance Corps (1st Pattern) | Royal Army Ordnance Corps (2nd Pattern) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Army Pay Corps | Royal Army Service Corps | Royal Corps of Signals (1st Pattern) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Corps of Transport | Royal Military Police | Royal Pioneer Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Women's Royal Army Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gurkha Military Police | Queen's Own Gurkha Transport Regiment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
36 Guided Weapons Regiment RA 47 Guided Weapons Regiment RA | 95 Commando Regiment RA | |||||||||||||||||||
Welbeck College | Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College | Mons Officer Cadet School | |||||||||||||||
Army Apprentices College, Arborfield | Army Apprentices College, Chepstow | Army Apprentices College, Harrogate | |||||||||||||||
Junior Leaders Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps | |||||||||||||||||
Royal Observer Corps | ||||||||||||
remove double space
The Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) is the oldest tank unit in the world, being formed by the British Army in 1916 during the First World War. Today, it is the armoured regiment of the British Army's 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade. Formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps, it is part of the Royal Armoured Corps.
The hackle is a clipped plume or short spray of coloured feathers that is attached to a military headdress, with different colours being associated with particular regiments.
The Queen's Own Yeomanry (QOY) is one of the Army Reserve light armoured reconnaissance regiments.
Mess dress uniform is the most formal type of evening-wear uniform used by military personnel, police personnel, and other uniformed services members. It frequently consists of a mess jacket, trousers, white dress shirt and a black bow tie, along with orders and medals insignia. Design may depend on regiment or service branch, e.g. army, navy, air force, marines, etc. In modern Western dress codes, mess dress uniform is the supplementary alternative equivalent to the civilian black tie for evening wear. Mess dress uniforms are typically less formal than full dress uniform, but more formal than service dress uniform.
Full dress uniform, also known as a ceremonial dress uniform or parade dress uniform, is the most formal type of uniforms used by military, police, fire and other public uniformed services for official parades, ceremonies, and receptions, including private ones such as marriages and funerals. Full dress uniforms typically include full-size orders and medals insignia. Styles tend to originate from 19th century uniforms, although the 20th century saw the adoption of mess dress-styled full-dress uniforms. Designs may depend on regiment or service branch. In Western dress codes, full dress uniform is a permitted supplementary alternative equivalent to the civilian white tie for evening wear or morning dress for day wear – sometimes collectively called full dress – although military uniforms are the same for day and evening wear. As such, full dress uniform is the most formal uniform, followed by the mess dress uniform.
The uniforms of the Canadian Armed Forces are the official dress worn by members of Canada's military while on duty.
The uniforms of the British Army currently exist in twelve categories ranging from ceremonial uniforms to combat dress. Uniforms in the British Army are specific to the regiment to which a soldier belongs. Full dress presents the most differentiation between units, and there are fewer regimental distinctions between ceremonial dress, service dress, barrack dress and combat dress, though a level of regimental distinction runs throughout.
The Royal Regiment of Scotland (SCOTS) is the senior and only current Scottish line infantry regiment of the British Army Infantry. It consists of three regular and two reserve battalions, plus an incremental company, each formerly an individual regiment. However, three regular battalions maintain their former regimental pipes and drums to carry on the traditions of their antecedent regiments.
The caubeen is an Irish beret, originally worn by 16th-century Irish men. It has been adopted as the head dress of Irish regiments of Commonwealth armies.
The Queen's Own Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry (QOWWY) was a regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps, forming part of the Territorial Army (TA). Following reductions in 1969 and 1971 respectively the regiment was reduced to two and later one company sized sub-unit in 1999. Following a reorganisation in 2021, there are now two successors to the regiment: one squadron in the Royal Yeomanry as light cavalry, and one squadron in the 37th Signal Regiment as a support squadron.
King Edward's Horse (The King's Overseas Dominions Regiment) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1901, which saw service in the First World War.
The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry (RWY) was a Yeomanry regiment of the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom established in 1794. It was disbanded as an independent Territorial Army unit in 1967, a time when the strength of the Territorial Army was greatly reduced. The regiment lives on in B Squadron of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry.
The Scottish Horse was a Yeomanry regiment of the British Army's Territorial Army raised in 1900 for service in the Second Boer War. It saw heavy fighting in both the First World War, as the 13th Battalion, Black Watch, and in the Second World War, as part of the Royal Artillery. It amalgamated with the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry to form the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse in 1956. The lineage is maintained by "C" Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse Squadron of The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry based in Cupar in Fife.
The Northumberland Hussars was a Yeomanry regiment of the British Army, transferred to the Royal Artillery for the duration of the Second World War. It was disbanded as an independent Territorial Army unit in 1967, a time when the strength of the Territorial Army was greatly reduced. The regiment's name lives on in the title of the command and support squadron of the Queen's Own Yeomanry (QOY), a Formation Reconnaissance Regiment based in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The Cheshire Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment that can trace its history back to 1797 when Sir John Leicester of Tabley raised a county regiment of light cavalry in response to the growing fears of invasion from Napoleonic France. Its lineage is maintained by C Squadron, the Queen's Own Yeomanry.
The North Somerset Yeomanry was a part-time cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1798 to 1967. It maintained order in Somerset in the days before organised police forces, and supplied volunteers to fight in the Second Boer War. It served on the Western Front in the First World War. At the outbreak of the Second World War, it continued to operate in the mounted role and then as a specialist signals unit. Postwar it joined the Royal Armoured Corps and later became infantry. Its lineage today is maintained by 93 Squadron 39 (Skinners) Signal Regiment.
The Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army that can trace their formation back to 1796. It saw action in the Second Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War. It amalgamated with the Lanarkshire Yeomanry and the 1st/2nd Lothians and Border Horse to form the Queen's Own Lowland Yeomanry in 1956. Its lineage was revived by B Squadron, the Scottish Yeomanry in 1992 until that unit was disbanded in 1999.
Troops began wearing berets as a part of the headgear of military uniforms in some European countries during the 19th century; since the mid-20th century, they have become a component of the uniforms of many armed forces throughout the world. Military berets are usually pushed to the right to free the shoulder that bears the rifle on most soldiers, but the armies of some countries, mostly within Europe, South America, and Asia, have influenced the push to the left.
British Army mess dress is the formal military evening dress worn by British Army officers and senior non-commissioned officers in their respective messes or at other formal occasions.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)