Coldstream Guards sentry

[cbuehler]

I have to remark on interesting photo, likely sometime from the late 1880s judging by the "tini" rifle.
The guard box is very well worn and used; surprisingly so. One would have thought a replacement would have occurred some time ago.
As is typical from that time, his uniform has a slept in appearance as they were certainly worn far more often than the full dress of today. Note the shoes are very dusty and worn, no clean tarmac in those days. I suspect foot gear did not generally get the polish we are accustomed to seeing in modern times.
I recall Frank Richards relating that the fur fusilier cap issued to him in the RWF was quite worn with bald spots back in early 1900s, and whilst in India, their KD tunics would often get very a good beating by the Dhobi.
Rather different from these days I think.
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/a-co...1139233769390/

CB

[grumpy]

I don't recall that Frank Richards comment regarding headdress. Where does it come from, please?

[cbuehler]

I can't recall if it was from Old Soldier Sahib or Old Soldiers Never Die, but I could be mistaken on both as to the origin. I VERY distinctly recall reading it from some old account.

CB

[leigh kitchen]

1 RRF Drummers were wearing 1914 and thereabouts dated fur cap's and full dress tunics and trousers during the 1970's, albeit the items were in good order.

Ex Guardsmen will have more knowledge than I do of the state of sentry boxes at Buckingham Palace during the 1970's but I remember the slots in their roofs, caused by sentries forgetting to take a step forward out of the box before presenting arms with bayonet fixed.

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by cbuehler

I have to remark on interesting photo, likely sometime from the late 1880s judging by the "tini" rifle.
The guard box is very well worn and used; surprisingly so. One would have thought a replacement would have occurred some time ago.
As is typical from that time, his uniform has a slept in appearance as they were certainly worn far more often than the full dress of today. Note the shoes are very dusty and worn, no clean tarmac in those days. I suspect foot gear did not generally get the polish we are accustomed to seeing in modern times.
I recall Frank Richards relating that the fur fusilier cap issued to him in the RWF was quite worn with bald spots back in early 1900s, and whilst in India, their KD tunics would often get very a good beating by the Dhobi.
Rather different from these days I think.
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/a-co...1139233769390/

CB

Originally Posted by grumpy

I don't recall that Frank Richards comment regarding headdress. Where does it come from, please?

I recall it too. In the first chapter ‘Enlistment’, of ‘Old Soldier Sahib’ (p.32 in my edition):

‘Every six months a man was entitled to a new pair of boots, and every twelve months a new suit of scarlet, but he had to wait until he had completed twelve months’ service before he was entitled to a proper scarlet tunic of more expensive cloth than the serge he got at first. He also was then issued with a busby, the tall fur head-dress [sic] reserved for Guards and Fusiliers. The ones issued about this time could have done with a little hair-restorer, but they were very light to wear…’

JT

[Luke H]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Ex Guardsmen will have more knowledge than I do of the state of sentry boxes at Buckingham Palace during the 1970's but I remember the slots in their roofs, caused by sentries forgetting to take a step forward out of the box before presenting arms with bayonet fixed.

Double clicking on the photo brings up some annotation which says the sentry box is at Tower of London. Can imagine it (everything) getting more run down there than Buck Palace.

[leigh kitchen]

"He also was then issued with a busby, the tall fur head-dress [sic] reserved for Guards and Fusiliers. The ones issued about this time could have done with a little hair-restorer, but they were very light to wear…’"

I wonder if the hair-restorer comment referred to the length of the fur on the Fusiliers fur cap as compared to that of the Guards, the fur of the Fusiliers caps is shorter.

(A RRF cap of synthetic fur, I don't know the date of manufacture or if it was adopted rather than just used for trials).

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

"He also was then issued with a busby, the tall fur head-dress [sic] reserved for Guards and Fusiliers. The ones issued about this time could have done with a little hair-restorer, but they were very light to wear…’"

I wonder if the hair-restorer comment referred to the length of the fur on the Fusiliers fur cap as compared to that of the Guards, the fur of the Fusiliers caps is shorter.

(A RRF cap of synthetic fur, I don't know the date of manufacture or if it was adopted rather than just used for trials).

Ha! Yeah… a bit of inter-regimental fur envy going on ?

[leigh kitchen]

Oh no, no, only the Guards deserve the soubriquet of "Woodentops".
And their fur cap's are made of proper bear skin whereas only a few dozen acrylics were slaughtered to make that Fusilier Cap I show.

[grumpy]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

"He also was then issued with a busby, the tall fur head-dress [sic] reserved for Guards and Fusiliers. The ones issued about this time could have done with a little hair-restorer, but they were very light to wear…’"

I wonder if the hair-restorer comment referred to the length of the fur on the Fusiliers fur cap as compared to that of the Guards, the fur of the Fusiliers caps is shorter.

(A RRF cap of synthetic fur, I don't know the date of manufacture or if it was adopted rather than just used for trials).

Yes indeed. Not quite:
ur fusilier cap issued to him in the RWF was quite worn with bald spots back in early 1900s,

And India KD were frocks, not tunics.

The RWF were perhaps a cut above the Guards, and indeed refused the offer of becoming the Welsh Guards. Compare battle honours for example.