National Army Museum Task

Development of Uniform and Camouflage

My exhibition starts off from the initiation of the red coats and ends at modern day uniform and camouflage. The first record of the red coat is from 1520 but it is thanks to Oliver Cromwell who initiated the red coat as a uniform. This was because Cromwell thought without uniform you could not have a cohesive army with the uniform being the same color and design you could show your pride was to one side and one side only.

Britain began to find a use for camouflage when they were faced with modern European weapons in South Africa. This meant smokeless powder meaning soldiers needed to blend into the new battlefield environment. Previously a battlefield would have been full of smoke this meant it was important for a soldier to recognize a friend from foe.

 

Field office’s full dress coat, 27^th (or Inniskilling) Regiment Foot, c 1810

A full dress coatee was only worn at state functions, parades and in some regiments at balls. The ‘undress’ coatee was the opposite being worn in barracks, on service and in some regiments in the mess (eating and living). Some men also had working or ‘fatigue’ dress coatee. The wearers rank was indicated by the position of the loops and buttons. The red color only came about because of the availability and cheapness of the venice red dye used at the time. Although this could be seen as an advantage as the line of red coats looks intimidating but also made them a sitting target. Which is clearly shown in the drill demonstration model below. The earliest red coat recording is from 1520 but it is Oliver Cromwell who initiated the uniform. Cromwell thought without uniform you could not have a cohesive army therefore making them one color and design there pride was to one side.

Infantry Volunteers - drill demonstration model



Drummer’s Tunic and Epaulettes, c 1855

Uniforms were based on what was fashionable at the time which explains why in c 1855 the army’s old – fashioned coatee had been replaced by the tunic. Drummer’s tunics were typically more ornate than soldiers which in this example you can see it’s decorated with a lace bearing a blue fleur de lys motif. At this point there was no real need for camourflage in fact the stand out red color was useful. This is because until around the 1880’s the gunpowder that was used with the firearms produced a lot of smoke. Meaning a nineteenth century battlefield was covered in smoke. Therefore it was important for soldiers to be able to identify friend from enemy immediately.

Prince of Wale’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) other ranks khaki drill service dress uniform c 1910

Khaki was worn by certain units from c 1846 the dyes used didn’t last long it was not until 1884 a permanent mineral khaki dye originated by Frederick Albert Gatty.  At the beginning only troops on active service in Egypt, India and parts of Africa were allowed a khaki drill suit but in 1896 it was introduced for wear at all stations abroad. Leaving the redcoats for purely ceremonial reasons, this is still the case today as you can see in the photograph below of the royal wedding with the prince wearing the uniform of a Colonel of the Irish Guards.  Khaki was introduced because in South Africa the British Army was for the first time in opposition with modern European weapons. This meant smokeless powder meaning a lot less smoke on the battlefield. There was now a need for soldiers to blend in with environment thus camouflage is created.

The Wedding Of Prince William and Kate Middleton, 29th April 2011

Tank Suit Officer’s and Other Rank’s Track Suit, Universal Pattern, c 1944, Heavy cotton canvas

This protective garment was introduced in July 1943 for men serving in tank units. The suit included a detachable hood and strong shoulder straps that could be used to pull an individual out of the tank in an emergency. It was a popular item as it could be converted into a sleeping bag.  The sand colored over suit was also known as the ‘pixie suit’.

Ecstasy of Fumbling (Portrait of the Artist in a Gas alert) John Keane, 1991

This portrait depicts the artist himself wearing a Nuclear, Biological & Chemical suit during a gas alert whilst visiting a field hospital where everyone was ordered to put on NBC suits due to an Iraqi missile attack on a nearby town. The artist depicts himself scared with just his eyes staring out at the viewer from behind the respirator.Showing the human behind the camourflage and uniform.