NEW ARMY DRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 303, 23 December 1939, Page 4

NEW ARMY DRESS.

NO SWAGGER CANES !

CLOTH BEJ.T OPTIONAL.

MAY REPLACE SAM BROW|NE.

The traditional Sam Browne belt is no longer a compulsory accessory of an army officer's uniform. Cloth belts may he worn instead. Kopulntiiins gni'priiiiig military dress for tlio duration of the war were rereived at Northern Military District to-day. Newly-appo. ?<1 officers, except those of horsed units, will not provide themselves with swords. The wearing of the Sam Browne is optional, and in its place there may be worn a cloth belt of material to match the service jacket, similar in design to that worn by the officers of the Royal Air Force. This belt, which is two inches in width with a plain brass buckle, may be worn by all officers as an alternative to tho Sam Browne. Warrant officers (class T.) will not wear the cloth belt. An important change embodied in the new regulations is the complete prohibition of the carrying of canes by other ranks. This will affect members of the Special Force, many of whom are carrying swagger canes while on leave. Full dress, undress and mess dress will not now lie worn on any occasion, service dress Or battle dress being the uniform for all ranks on all occasions. The wearing of medals will also cease, but medal ribands will Ije worn on both service and battle dress. Where officers are unable to obtain the present regulation pattern articles, buttons in composition or brown leather may be used, and rank badges may lie in worsted embroidery instead of metal. Gorget patches may no longer be worn by anyone below the rank of full colonel, these insignia being replaced among the staff by armbands showing their respective appointments.