Army and Navy Uniforms and Insignia: How to Know Rank, Corps and Service in the Military and Naval Forces of the United States and Foreign CountriesWilliams, Dion
History
Army and Navy Uniforms and Insignia: How to Know Rank, Corps and Service in the Military and Naval Forces of the United States and Foreign Countries
Williams, Dion
Armies -- Insignia; Military uniforms; Navies -- Insignia; United States. Army -- Insignia; United States. Navy -- Insignia
It will be noted that the uniforms of the navies of the world bear more
similarity to each other than do those of the armies, thus the rank of
naval officers of all the great powers is indicated by stripes of braid
worn on the sleeves between the elbow and the lower edge of the cuff,
and in most cases by similar stripes or other insignia worn upon straps
placed on the shoulders between the base of the collar and the sleeve
at the shoulder seam.
In the different armies there is much more diversity in design and
color as well as in the method of indicating rank and corps; stripes
and various designs upon the cuffs, insignia and stripes upon shoulder
straps and insignia of many different designs upon the collar being the
most common means.
In one respect all of the naval and military services of the world
follow the same custom, medals and decorations awarded for especial
deeds of gallantry, for long and faithful service or to commemorate
some special event in war or peace are worn upon the left breast with
dress uniforms, almost always suspended from a ribbon of distinctive
color design, while a small section of this distinctive ribbon is
worn with undress uniform and service uniforms. As a special mark of
distinction the medals considered the highest in rank are frequently
worn on the right breast or suspended from a ribbon or chain around the
neck.
A marked tendency toward simplification in design both of uniform and
insignia and toward the use of neutral or dull colors is also evident
in recent years. This is largely due to the necessity of making the
soldier as inconspicuous as possible when on the firing line, but also
to the great expense incurred in fitting out very large forces of men
in elaborate dress uniforms for which there is no use in the field.
Nevertheless it may be expected that when the world returns to a basis
of general peace time conditions the dress uniforms and bright insignia
and buttons that add so much to the brilliancy of military gatherings
will again be in evidence; especially since there is so much of the
tradition of the past associated with these uniforms and badges of rank
and corps.
Attractive uniforms induce a corresponding pride in the smartness
and neatness of the soldier or sailor and the distinctive badges of
regiments and corps with long histories of creditable achievement
go far to establish the _esprit de corps_ which so surely makes for
efficiency and contentment.
UNIFORMS OF THE BRITISH NAVY
In Great Britain the Navy is known as “The Senior Service” as it was
organized as a regular service prior to the organization of a regular
national Army.
In general the uniforms of the British Navy correspond quite closely to
those of the United State Navy in composition and design and are worn
upon similar occasions, although they are somewhat more elaborate, but
the insignia are of different design.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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