Officers 1925


The Guards, along with every other regiment had laid aside their dress uniforms for the duration of WW1 and after the war it was decided to abolish full dress throughout the army as an economy measure. But the Household Division pressed for a return to dress uniform and the authorities relented. On 22 Jul 1920 the ordered was issued that the Brigade of Guards and the Household Cavalry were permitted to resume wearing of full dress. However, economy still prevailed in the amount of gold on officers' dress tunics. The 'skeleton lace' was implemented for a few years. The illustration shows the absence of 'solid' gold beneath the silver grenade collar badges, only two lines of gold lace as a sad compromise. The cuff flaps were also subjected to half measures so that the gilt buttons were sewn onto blue cloth instead of gold. The rear vent on the skirts was also given similar treatment. But by 1927 the economy measures were lifted and the solid areas of gold were restored. The officer depicted in this 1925 illustration by D MacPherson is titled Full Dress Guard of Honour. For this occasion he has the gold and crimson waist sash and gold sword knot and slings.

The officer in a dark blue frockcoat is in mounted order with boots and breeches. In 1936 King Edward VIII made some changes to the Guards uniform, including the abolition of boots and breeches. Mounted officers were in future to wear overalls, more tight fitting than the trousers worn by officers below field rank. Mounted officers had ceased to wear a black leather sabretache since 1902. There is only one rank badge on each shoulder, probably a crown. This officer has medal ribbons for WW1 and would be a major, at least, by 1925. The officer in dress uniform is a second lieutenant having joined the Grenadiers after the war, thus he has no medals.


Regimental details | Uniforms


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by Stephen Luscombe