1912 dated Army Ordnance issued belt

[Mike_2817]

1912 dated Army Ordnance issued belt (size 36 with no adjuster) Fully W/|\D marked as an issued item - Now known to be for the Royal Artillery.

Then called a Girdle and worn on walking out blues* and not with working dress!

* In 1890 blue serge frocks (patrol jackets) with field service caps (side-caps) were introduced. In 1902 a khaki service dress was first introduced for all occasions not requiring full dress ... and patrols were used as an undress or walking out dress, until withdrawn in 1914 as a wartime measure. Coloured girdles were not worn later than this date.

The origins of No 1 Dress as we know it can be traced back to various "undress", "patrol" or "frock" uniforms worn for semi-formal or ordinary duty occasions in the late 19th century. In its present form it dates from an order of dress issued at the time of the 1937 Coronation, intended as a cheaper alternative to the full dress uniforms that had been generally withdrawn after 1914.

In 1947 a trial issue of what was now termed No 1 Dress was made with regimental distinctions. Army units participating in the 1953 Coronation wore these new uniform as a temporary issue.

'Stable Belts' were normally worn by mounted troops, and AOC soldiers like the cavalry wore a wider 'Stable' belt based on a horses girth strap.

[54Bty]

In December 1904 under Army Order number 213 a girdle was introduced for members of the Royal Field Artillery, to be worn in lieu of the waist belt. This was manufactured from a piece of coloured webbing 2¼ inches wide stitched to a reinforcing piece of leather. It was fastened on the inside by a two prong brass buckle and three brass olivettes with cord loops on the outside. The backing leather and buckle were dispensed with by 1914.

The RFA Girdle continued to be worn by members of the Royal Artillery Band through to the 1960's. I personally wore one in the late 1980's as did a few Royal Artillery Staff Officers.

Marc