Service Dress Service Dress (British Army)

1 service dress

1.1 other ranks
1.2 officers
1.3 scottish variations
1.4 tropical variation
1.5 royal air force

service dress
other ranks

a gunner of royal garrison artillery in 1916 or 1917, wearing 1903 bandolier equipment.

for other ranks, sd uniform comprised khaki wool (serge) trousers, khaki wool tunic, stand-and-fall (or prussian) collar, 4 pockets on front, each buttoned closed flap straight (horizontal) edge, large, serge reinforcement patches on each shoulder, shoulder straps , pair of brass wire hangers on back, on kidneys, support belt. front of jacket closed 5 buttons, of regimental pattern, arranged vertically. peaked cap provided, covered in same khaki serge (including stiff peak), leather chin strap (brown, regiments) held @ either side brass or horn buttons. uniform worn ankle ammunition boots; in field, puttees wound (or down) length of shins, covering top of boots. carrying equipment worn infantry uniform 1908 pattern webbing, made of fabric , khaki (though lighter shade uniform). cavalry , gunners of royal regiment of artillery did not wear webbing equipment, instead used leather 1903 bandolier equipment, worn on 1 shoulder. derived bandoliers carried boer commandos during second boer war, had been found unsuitable infantry use remained in service mounted troops.

officers

general sir alan brooke, 1942.

the officers service dress different, except in colour. cloth used tailored , of more expensive wool, , tunic had longer skirts. after 1908 turn-down collar replaced open stepped lapels. created jacket, similar civilian lounge suit, rather tunic, , revealed shirt collar , tie; shirt white , tie black; 1913 these both replaced khaki. breast pockets pleated , closed scalloped flaps, while @ hips had straight edges. there shoulder strap on each shoulder rank displayed on cuffs, scalloped @ closure , edged herring-bone pattern khaki tape. trousers, or riding breeches, , brown leather riding boots worn (even in infantry regiments, officers traditionally rode on campaign in order attend briefings @ battalion headquarters). carrying equipment leather sam browne pattern, brown regiments, black rifle regiments. officers wore khaki peaked cap cloth visor similar men s, made of superior materials , of better quality. unlike other ranks, officers expected pay own uniforms, pistol, sword , sam browne belt.

scottish variations

a lieutenant of argyll , sutherland highlanders

scottish highland pattern uniforms differed in wearing of tartan kilts or trews, rather trousers or breeches , in alterations in design of tunic , jacket make them resemble traditional highland doublet type – notably in cutting away skirts @ front of tunic allow wearing of sporran. scottish regiments did not wear service dress peaked cap either glengarry or tam o shanter.

tropical variation

an officer in temperate service dress , soldier in other ranks tropical service dress in bermuda, in 1942.

there lightweight uniforms wear in warmer climates, known khaki drill. officers little different in cut, other ranks tunic distinguished temperate service dress having breast pockets. both made lighter cloth (both in weight, , in shade). trousers replaced bermuda shorts. same cap worn, however, if worn @ – pith helmets, covered in khaki cloth, continued norm in warm climates second world war.

royal air force

the khaki service dress tunic adopted royal flying corps (rfc) in 1912 had wide cloth panel (a plastron) across chest concealed buttons, since thought usual button arrangement liable catch on bracing wires used on aircraft @ time. tunic popularly known maternity jacket . naval wing of rfc, later royal naval air service (rnas), wore naval uniform. on 1 april 1918, rfc , rnas merged form royal air force (raf). initially, uniforms of former services continued in use, on 1 may, interim raf uniform approved standard khaki army service dress. light blue version of service dress approved daily wear on 10 july, proved highly unpopular , many persisted old outfits. finally, on 1 october 1919, raf service dress of blue-grey colour, known air force blue, introduced.