British WWI Uniform - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**kingcrazylegs** · 07-20-2005, 07:19 PM

This British WWI uniform belonged to Beth's Great Grandfather and was worn on the battlefield in France. These are a few photos that Beth took of me, mostly for her dad and granddad. We had fun in the process too! Though the whole war thing is not my style

I still thought this was really cool. I think I was the only one who could physically fit in the uniform and also seem to fit the part being half british half irish.

**ScarlotteDorian** · 07-20-2005, 08:06 PM

grrrrrrrrrrrr

**Joker** · 07-20-2005, 08:08 PM

Nice skirt, Nancy-boy! :D

I assume it was worn during the Boer Wars?

**omisan** · 07-21-2005, 01:20 AM

Pretty freakin' cool - it fits you well, too!

**bluepea** · 07-21-2005, 07:45 AM

I love that first pic - well all of em are really good. I'm guessing the missus took em?

**voyd** · 07-21-2005, 08:04 AM

LMFAO! That's awesome!

How tall are you, btw?

**kingcrazylegs** · 07-21-2005, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by voyd@Jul 21 2005, 10:03 AM
That's awesome! How tall are you, btw?

6'6

Quote:

I assume it was worn during the Boer Wars?

Not sure....I'll find out though.

OHT1910 · 07-31-2005, 10:08 AM

I don't know of any WWI fighting in S Africa so i'd imagine it was the Boer war, but then I thought they were in red coats in the late 1800s?

**worldwidemike** · 07-31-2005, 11:43 AM

Of course, the self-proclaimed Tpunk Historian has to chime in on this one...

There was significant combat in southern Africa during WW I, particularly against the German colony in South West Africa (now Namibia). So, it could have been worn in south (lowercase, as opposed to uppercase the country) Africa.

The Boer War, 1899-1902, would mean the great grandfather had to be a decade plus older, but that certainly isn't out of the question. By that time, the old scarlet battle uniform was gone. It is commonly accepted that the last time a British infantry regiment wore scarlet into battle was during the Mahdist War in the Sudan, about a decade and a half before the Boer War.

So, Anthon's fetchingly displayed Khakis (Rule No. 1: No puff-ta's!) could have been either WW I or the Boer War. The Boer War, for those that aren't...ahem...boer'ed with this post, yet...was against the Afrikaners (descendents of Dutch colonists) in South Africa. A nasty affair...seeing concentration camps, tactics centuries out of date getting soldiers gunned down mercilessly, the entry of the word "commando" into English, and other sundries...

worldwidemike

**juliagulia** · 07-31-2005, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by OHT1910@Jul 31 2005, 09:07 AM
I thought they were in red coats in the late 1800s?

World War One last from 1914-1918...

I think the redcoats were used more during the American Revolution...

they probably learned from their mistake and figured that wearing bright red uniforms while in trenches trying to hide from the Germans/Austrians etc. was not a very smart thing to do... It wasn't when they were fighting the Americans in the forests now was it...

**juliagulia** · 07-31-2005, 11:51 AM

oh oops... i just reread your post and noticed exactly what you said.. just ignore that thing about when WWI happened...

I thought it was a bit absurd that you thought WWI was in the late 1800s...

**worldwidemike** · 08-01-2005, 03:31 AM

Yeah, Julia, we must have both been feverishly typing away our responses at the same time, yesterday. If you look at the times, I think we posted 5 mins apart!

Oh, and there's no truth to the rumor that the mullet was first seen when worn by an Australian mercenary during the Boer War...

worldwidemike

OHT1910 · 08-02-2005, 02:03 PM

Oh it did start then.... it's just that you guys didn't jump in until 20 years later.

j/k!

I'm impressed WWM

but how mush research and how much knowledge....?

**kingcrazylegs** · 08-02-2005, 02:08 PM

OK, I was confused - the guy was living in South Africa (but was british or irish) and the battle was fought in France - so yea, um, sorry bout the mix up.

**worldwidemike** · 08-07-2005, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OHT1910@Aug 2 2005, 09:02 PM
I'm impressed WWM but how mush research and how much knowledge....?*

Mostly knowledge...history (particularly military history) is my favorite subject. I've read a lot about the Boer War, and the British penchant for making a frontal assault against entrenched Boer marksmen. The Boers themselves were normally mounted infantry, who rode their horses for strategic mobility, but dismounted to fight.

I confess I looked up the exact name of the battle which featured the last time British scarlet was worn by an infantry battalion on the field of battle. I was 99% sure it was in The Sudan -- or Mahdist War -- but didn't want to make a fool of myself and mis-state...

Resident Tpunk Historian

worldwidemike

**The Monsignor** · 08-19-2005, 11:38 AM

So, to totally disregard the last 10 posts or so... I've gotta say, you really do look like you coulda been found in that uniform in a past life or something! (the picture needs to be sepia-toned or something, though!)

**agriadam** · 08-19-2005, 12:04 PM

Quote:

It is commonly accepted that the last time a British infantry regiment wore scarlet into battle was during the Mahdist War in the Sudan, about a decade and a half before the Boer War.

It is commonly known.... ahh yes I am positive that we all new this

Sweet freakin kilt anthon hahahah

**omisan** · 08-19-2005, 12:11 PM

And it goes a little something like this...

**space virgin** · 08-19-2005, 12:18 PM

**agriadam** · 08-19-2005, 12:40 PM

BWAAHAHAHAAHAHAHA