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Introduction

The radical changes made in Military Uniforms by His Majesty the King has created a demand for information on this important subject, such has not been experienced in many years. It has, therefore, been deemed an opportune occasion for me to write a book on this phase of tailoring. At the outset it will be wise for me to state quite frankly that I am indebted to many cutters who have been engaged in this branch of the trade practically the whole of their business lives, and this work is, therefore, not merely the outcome of my own experience, but the result of many conferences I have had with military specialists, together with the outcome of many visits to, and much correspondence with the War Office.

The history of uniforms of the British Army is one that is also full of fascination, and is intimately associated with some of the most brilliant victories achieved by the force of arms. "The thin red line" has long been looked upon as the symbol of British heroism and pluck, and the beauty of the embroidered scarfs, etc., has been immortalised by Byron in his Childe Harold's Pilgrammge, in the course of which he describes the meeting of the rival armies in the Peninsular War, the Battle of Waterloo, etc.

We must, however leave it to other pens to deal with the history of military uniforms, for our business is neither to eulogise or depreciate the clothes of our soldiers. We have rather to treat of them as they are, to describe and illustrate their leading features to show how they are cut, and to offer a few suggestions on the making up of the same.

Before we proceed to do this, however, it may be well to briefly describe the constitution of the British Army.

First, there is the General Staff, which have the control of the entire army and are responsible for the conduct of the campaign. They seldom come within the limits of the firing line, and so it is less important that their garments should be trimmed in a style to identify them as the leaders of the army. They are rather directors than leaders: their duty is to say to this man go and to the other come, and so on.

Then there are the four great branches of army, viz.: The Cavalry, or the horse soldiers; the infantry, or the foot soldiers, the Engineers, or the skilled mechanics; and the Artillery, or those who look after the guns, etc. Now, it naturally follows that the different occupations of these branches will require consideration. Whilst it is also necessary to provide different dresses for different occasions, viz., working, full dress, and mess. In addition to these branches there are various departments, such as the medicals, the veterinary, the ordinance, and the pay staffs, to be provided for, but these are more auxiliaries than constituents of the army proper. The Territorial Forces are organised in much the same way. The Yeomanry are Cavalry, and in the like manner we have Rifles and Artillerymen, and so on. Whilst their garments are based on same ideals as the uniforms of the Regular Army, yet many adaptations are necessary and we shall, therefore, have to treat of them.

It will, of course, he understood that we are here treating of the dress of officers only, the