THE ARMY'S HEAD-DRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20075, 12 October 1928, Page 15

THE ARMY'S HEAD-DRESS.

SHAKO FOR THE LINE.

BUSBY FOR ROYAL ARTILLERY

[from our own correspondent. ] LONDON. Sept. 7.

A retired army officer, commenting on tlie adoption of the shako, remarks: "I feel sure tho announcement will be read with general satisfaction all over the British Empire, and the news will gladden tho hearts of all ranks, past and present." Tho War Office has decided upon an alteration in the full-dress head-dress rtf the Artillery, the Engineers and of Regiments of tho Line. It is proposed that the fur busby, which has long been a distinctive feature of the full-dress of the Royal Horse Artillery, shall bo adopted by all sections of the Royal Regiment of Artillery and by tho Corps of Royal Engineers as well. Tho use of the shako shall he extended to all lino regiments and to the Departmental Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Army Service Coi ps, Royal Army Veterinary Corps. The shako has heen part of tho full-dress uniform of tho Scottish Rifles and tlie Highland Light Infantry. Formerly it was the general headdress of the majority of regiments of the British Annv.

For the present khaki is still (he dress of Hio Army, hut if and when full-dress is again authorised, the use of the bushy and the shako would ho extended in tho manner indicated. No such decision to put the Army in full-dress has yet been taken. At tho present time officers are permitted to use full-dress for non-service ceremonial occasions. It has to be acquired at their own expense. In many line regiments the regimental "bands have full-dres*. at present, but this is the result of individual regimental action. Tho cost is not provided for out of tho Army Estimates, but is met out of the private funds of the regiments.

The Royal Horse Artillery busby is of black sable skin, 6iin. high in front, 7Jin. at the back, and smaller round the top than the bottom. A scarlet cloth bag covers the top of the busby, and falls down the r.ght side to tho bottom. In the officer's busby there is a while ostrich feather plume, 15in. high from the top of the plume, encircled by a gilt ring. The Scottish Rifles and the Highland Light Infantry already have the shako a* their official full-dress head-dress. The Scottish Rifles' shako is of rifle-green cloth, high in front, and 7j}in. at the back. The officers have a plume of black ostrich feathers, with a black vulture feather in a bronze corded ball socket. The -height of the plume from tho top of the shako is 7in. The Highland Light Infantry shako is of blue cloth.