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  #1  
Old 07-03-17, 09:47 AM
red rags red rags is offline
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Default Beret colour?

Could any member confirm -

Glos Regt - black

RGBW - blue 1st & green 2nd

thanks
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  #2  
Old 07-03-17, 11:12 AM
Beckford Beckford is offline
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Glosters and RGBW wore navy blue until July 2005, when RGBW were re-named as the RGBW Light Infantry and the light infantry green was adopted.
Clive
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  #3  
Old 07-03-17, 12:19 PM
red rags red rags is offline
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Very helpful, thanks, funny how hard it is to find out from lack of published literature...badge backings easy compared to beret colour.

Was it just RTR who wore black?
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  #4  
Old 07-03-17, 12:24 PM
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sketchley kid sketchley kid is offline
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No..........most of the RAC wore black..........
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  #5  
Old 07-03-17, 12:38 PM
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The generic blue beret worn by many units is more correctly described as 'Dark Blue' and Light infantry as 'Rifle Green'

Some notes here, but possibly needs checking:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milita...United_Kingdom
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  #6  
Old 08-03-17, 05:17 AM
Flatdog Flatdog is offline
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Gentlemen,

The General issue beret colour is officially "Midnight Blue". It appears black except in strong light.

True, the RAC wore black but only during WW2. Midnight Blue is now worn by Cavalry Regiments. Black by RTR, as well as Royal Westminster Dragoons Squadron of Royal Yeomanry.


Clay
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  #7  
Old 08-03-17, 08:24 AM
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Mike H Mike H is offline
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I do have a images in books from around the 1970`s,showing the Guards in blue berets, then in khaki with no backing. R.Anglians in blue, KORB in blue. PWO in blue,im sure digging enough would show most of the infantry in blue berets.
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  #8  
Old 08-03-17, 08:37 AM
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Alan O Alan O is offline
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There was an initiative at the time to standardise the majority of the infantry in blue berets but one by one they moved across to khaki. Even the Pioneer Corps followed suit.
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  #9  
Old 08-03-17, 12:29 PM
Carnforth Carnforth is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike H View Post
I do have a images in books from around the 1970`s,showing the Guards in blue berets, then in khaki with no backing. R.Anglians in blue, KORB in blue. PWO in blue,im sure digging enough would show most of the infantry in blue berets.
Yes,
The Beret, Midnight Blue which rolled out in 1950 was the default beret for the Guards, and all English line infantry.

I believe it stayed pretty much the same until as you state, the Guards introduced their khaki beret circa 1970


PS I omitted LI and Rifle regiments (green berets) from Infantry of the Line

Last edited by Carnforth; 08-03-17 at 12:53 PM.
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  #10  
Old 08-03-17, 04:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flatdog View Post
Gentlemen,

The General issue beret colour is officially "Midnight Blue". It appears black except in strong light.

True, the RAC wore black but only during WW2. Midnight Blue is now worn by Cavalry Regiments. Black by RTR, as well as Royal Westminster Dragoons Squadron of Royal Yeomanry.


Clay
Really! Then why is it listed as 'Dark Blue' in CCN Section CF, JSP 336 & JSP 768? True it is almost Black and hard to tell until compared next to a Black Beret, In some photo's it comes out Purple!

Copy of NSN reference from JSP 768
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File Type: jpg Capture_Beret.JPG (41.5 KB, 19 views)
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  #11  
Old 08-03-17, 05:34 PM
jf42 jf42 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike H View Post
I do have a images in books from around the 1970`s,showing the Guards in blue berets, then in khaki with no backing. R.Anglians in blue, KORB in blue. PWO in blue,im sure digging enough would show most of the infantry in blue berets.
The standard badge backing on the Foot Guards beret is a rectangle with horizontal bars in the Household Division colours of blue and crimson while officers of the Scots Guards wear a flash of Royal Stuart Tartan.

Following the adoption of the khaki beret by the Guards division, the Royal Anglians did so in 1983. The change was a reference back to the khaki beret introduced towards the end of World War Two (to replace the much maligned FS and GS caps). and worn by battalions of both regiments in northwest Europe.

For reasons that are not clear, regiments of the King's Division followed suit: The King's Own Royal Border Regiment, Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire, Green Howards, Duke of Wellington's Regiment. Gradually, over the next twenty years other line infantry regiments followed suit, apart from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and the Scots (who already had the khaki ToS). These latter and the Rifle battalions remain the exception.

Last edited by jf42; 09-03-17 at 08:29 AM.
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  #12  
Old 08-03-17, 09:24 PM
Carnforth Carnforth is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike_2817 View Post
Really! Then why is it listed as 'Dark Blue' in CCN Section CF, JSP 336 & JSP 768? True it is almost Black and hard to tell until compared next to a Black Beret, In some photo's it comes out Purple!

Copy of NSN reference from JSP 768
The official colour was Midnight Blue on the introduction of that beret.

Perhaps they were more concerned about precise shade in those days in case similar berets were introduced.

The army did have different shades of dark blue. For example the RE and RSigs lanyards could be described as dark blue but placed side by side they are different, and they were introduced as (from memory) as shades Blue No 3 & Blue No 4.
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  #13  
Old 08-03-17, 11:04 PM
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That may well be the case, but in the years of my service it was known as 'Dark Blue' in fact it was often referred to as 'Navy Blue' which it isn't either

JSP 336 3rd EDITION

VOLUME 12

PART 3 - CLOTHING

PAMPHLET NO 15 - BADGES, EMBELLISHMENTS AND HEADDRESS
(Version 2.00 dated 01 Dec 04)

ANNEX C
(Introduced in Para 4 see also Para 10 and 13)

BERETS

Serial Colour Regt/Corps Remarks
(a) (b) (c) (d)

1 Beige SAS

2 Black RTR

3 Blue
-dark
All regiments and not otherwise mentioned in this Annex

Worn by all ranks of RRF and by offrs and WOs1 of WFR who in Nos 1, 2, 3 and 6 dress wear cap, forage, peaked.
RLC for ranks from Pte to SSgt inclusive.

-light
AAC Worn by all ranks.

4 Brown KRH, R Wx Yeo

5 Green
- cypress Int Corps
- piper R IRISH
- rifle QRH With green browband.
Light Division
RGR
SASC
- RM See Para 15b includes RA Cdo units.
- 8206J AGC(ETS), AGC(SPS)

6 Grey
-dark QARANC With scarlet patch behind badge.
-light SCOTS DG

7 Khaki Guards Division
R ANGLIAN
PWRR
PWO
GH
DWR

8 Maroon (Airborne) See Para 15a

9 Scarlet AGC(Pro)
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  #14  
Old 09-03-17, 05:53 AM
Flatdog Flatdog is offline
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Gentlemen,

The variation of colours, can be due to several factors. The official colours specified, were in accordance to the names provided by the British Colour Council (BCC) this was the standard approved by the Govt.for all colours in an attemp to standardise colours for the UK and Commonwealth. This standard ruled everything from paints to wallpaper and dye etc. I believe this was started in the 1930's. Over time the BCC coding was dropped in favour of more consistent colours using the Red,Blue Green(RBG), Pantone and quite a few other acronyms stating the level and intensity of colour etc.

Manufacturing is another matter. Sometimes the colours are just different because of change of pigment suppliers etc.

Third, the human element in colour differentiation is a vast minefield. My eyes will see a differing shade of blue, and someone else will see something opposite. Also the education element comes into play, for example the colour Royal Blue seen by younger people will be a bright shade of azure. This is recognised as Royal Blue (Web) as in web colour as seen in every monitor, because computers can't effectively reproduce the correct shade.

If some berets look purpleish it's likely the manufacturer used Purple Navy dye, as that's what was available.

Anyway, here is a list of blues according to BCC;

Traditional colour--------Official Designation BCC#
1) Blue--------------------Blue Black BCC 50
2)Purple Navy-------------Purple Navy BCC 219
3)Cambridge Blue---------Cambridge Blue BCC 191
4)Spectrum Blue-----------Spectrum Blue BCC 86
5)Dark Blue-----------------Royal Blue BCC 197
6)Midnight Blue-------------Midnight Blue BCC 90
7)Light Blue-----------------Pompadour Blue BCC 194
8)Oxford Blue---------------Oxford Blue BCC 49
9)Steel Blue-----------------Steel Blue BCC 44
10)Adonis Blue--------------Adonis Blue BCC 85
11)Smalt--------------------Smalt BCC 147
12)Indigo--------------------Indigo BCC 48
13) Powder Blue-------------Powder Blue BCC 193

This is not an exhaustive list as there are many many variations. The Queens Royal Hussars also have Garter Blue in their dress. It's close to light azure. The beat goes on.

These above, are the official colours in regulations, set by the Army Council ages ago. Even in the Union Flag the Blue is Royal Blue (Traditional) as set forth in regulation. To some it's Dark Blue or Navy Blue.

I'm not trying to start a war only provide the correct terminology, after all we argue the slightest lettering style on badges, rollmarks etc. Details do matter. We as "Badgers" and "Enthusiasts are a persnickety bunch.

I'm exhausted,

Clay
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  #15  
Old 09-03-17, 05:57 AM
Flatdog Flatdog is offline
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Gentlemen,

I forgot, the colour Black is officially Jet Black BCC 220
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