RETURN OF THE SHAKO

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 118, 14 November 1925, Page 16

RETURN OF THE SHAKO

HEAPD.RESS OF THE BRITISH : ; ,ar,my ■ .

Witt are returning to the shako as the j.ew headdrew for the British infantry, as won-as the regiments get their full 4res# uniform, g»yji the ''Morninjr Post.-'* Half 8 century ago our epldiero wore the shafce, and .that type of helmat is to.day peculiar to the Cameroniaos /Scottish Rifles).

When the country cafl afford to give territorial regiments of the line the distinctive full drqss which they Iqst during the w»r, the public will be able again to appreciate the reason for calling tlje Rifle Brigade and the King's Royal-Rifle Corps' the "Greenjackets," and to identify the 10th Hussars by their prjmson trew», while tha initiated will be be able rqadjly to give a name to other regiments by merely glancing at.'tha colour of their fapings. When this issue,, is made it has been decided permanently to discard, the old spikecl helmet, wUiPh was nqvef popular and always unserviceable, and tp replace it with the shako, which in shape" will resepjblg the French ltepi. At the moment opinion is divided as to the ornament that should he worn. The rigid "shaving brush" pattern of ornament which decorates the busby of theJ.RqyaJ,Horse Artillery is favoured by a few; something displaying more the character of a plume is recommended by many. . An. ornament, to justify Its esiatengs, should be ornamental, and there is a decided leaning towards decorating the ' shakp with something that will njpve rhythmically with the measured movement of the soldier and assist in the making of a military specitgcle..