BRITISH ARMY REFORMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 93, 21 April 1939, Page 10

BRITISH ARMY REFORMS

THE SERVICE PERIOD

NEW UNIFORM DESIGN

(Received April 21, 2.45 p.m.)

LONDON, April 20.

The new Army dress will be of dark serge. All bright metal buttons which would require polishing are eliminated from the blouse. The head dress will be the field service cap, except when the steel helmet is worn. The dress of the kilted regiments is under consideration.

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received April 21, 2.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, April 20.

Two Army reforms are announced by the War Office—the reduction of the foreign service to four years instead of six, and the granting of an option to every soldier of good character and efficiency to re-engage and complete twenty-one years' service, thereby qualifying for pension. This will apply also to Regular Army reservists, who have already been offered the opportunity of rejoining to complete twelve years with the Colours.

The War Office makes it clear that the first change has been made possible as the result of the great improvement in recruiting. It will apply as from the next trooping season.

Simultaneously the War Office issued details of the new Army service dress, which consists for officers and men alike of a blouse and trousers which button at the ankle, with short webbing anklets somewhat on the lines of a skiing suit; and of a scheme for the reorganisation of Army cooking.