Major 1919


Although this photo was taken after World War One it shows the basic uniform worn by officers of the Greys throughout the war. The first pattern khaki service dess had a closed stand collar but by 1914 the lapels were flattened and it was worn with a khaki shirt and tie. The brown leather 'football' buttons are still used to fasten the tunic, and in smaller versions on the pockets and shoulder straps. By the end of the war the rank badges were removed from the cuffs and placed on the khaki shoulder straps. He has a cloth embroidered crown badge just visible. The jodhpurs were paler than the tunic and worn for mounted and dismounted duty at this stage. He has a bimetal cap badge and silver collar badges. In France and Flanders these would have been bronze. The badges here have a black cloth backing. This was a mark of mourning adopted by the Scots Greys following the killing of their Colonel-in-Chief, the Tzar of Russia after the Revolution. There also appears to be a black line of piping around the top of his forage cap. The officer in the photo is Viscount Ebrington MC, later Lord Fortesque. He has two wound stripes on his left forearm.


Regimental Details | Uniforms


Armed Forces | Art and Culture | Articles | Biographies | Colonies | Discussion | Glossary | Home | Library | Links | Map Room | Sources and Media | Science and Technology | Search | Student Zone | Timelines | TV & Film | Wargames


by Stephen Luscombe