Blue Patrol Jacket

[OC Richard]

There are quite a few things about the dress of senior Sergeants (and in some cases all Sergeants) in the Scottish Highland regiments which were in line with that of Officers rather than Other Ranks.

Examples abound, such as the kilt panels and badger sporrans of the Argylls, the kilt bows of the Black Watch, and so forth.

Another thing I've noticed is senior Sergeants wearing kilts of the fabric used by Officers.

An interesting thing was the distinctive sporran of the Argylls worn only by certain senior Sergeants. In photographs taken in the period between the 1881 amalgamation and the withdraw of Full Dress in 1914 these can be seen worn by the Pipe Major, Drum Major, Band Master, Colour Sergeant, and I don't know who. The PM and DM continued this (but with different cantles).





So it's not surprising to see Patrol Dress be worn by Sergeants.

But traditionally it was thought of as Officer's undress, worn in the Officers Mess for example, paid for privately, and not an issued uniform of the entire regiment.

Barnes says of the matter

"The blue frock coat... became so popular after the Napoleonic Wars that there was difficulty preventing its use on nearly all parades. It dates back to about the beginning of the 19th century, and even in the previous century Generals and other Officers had blue undress coats. In spite of being abolished several times it survived well into the 20th century. It was worn by Highland Officers with peaked cap and tartan trews."

Barnes, writing around 1953 when the new No1 Dress was just being adopted by the British Army, says

"In Canada No1 or Patrol Dress is usually a blue frock with dress sporran, sword, white spats, and Glengarry- no cross belts, waist belt, or sash." (Mention of sword, cross belt, and sash implies an Officer.)

So even in 1953 there was a Scottish/Canadian divide in how Blue Patrol Dress jackets were worn.