Private and Sergeant 1908

Both men are in dress uniform except that the sergeant wears the peaked forage cap. From c1902 to 1907 the forage cap was without a peak, called a Brodrick cap, all blue except for a red patch at the front. The forage cap worn in this illustration was a great improvement and so popular that the design has been used throughout the world ever since.
The tunic is the 1902 pattern dress tunic with pointed blue cuffs, blue collar and blue shoulder straps with brass titles. The badges on the collar changed c1900 from the Lancastrian Rose to the silver Hanoverian Horse. The tunics differ from the undress frocks in having white piping on the front edge and around the collar and cuffs. The back skirts were decorated with scarlet flaps echoing the 18th century false pockets, with three buttons on each side. Both men have the Queen’s and King’s medals for the South African War.
The private has a blue cloth covered home service helmet that replaced the white experimental helmet c1892. He has two good-conduct stripes on his left sleeve and an embroidered scout badge on his right arm. This is a fleur de lys on a small cross, showing that he scouted for a mounted infantry unit during the war in South Africa. Ironically the fleur de lys would become the regimental cap badge after the amalgamation with the Manchester Regiment in 1958.

Regimental Details | Uniforms