Here's a fun fact you will probably not know. The only regiment in the British Army that was allowed to wear Chainmail Epaulettes on its khaki No2 dress was the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry (DLOY), now amalgamated with the Queens Own Yeomanry. This was a battle honour granted to the regiment after service in the Middle East under General Allenby during the First World War. When doing my two-week TA officers' course at Sandhurst back in 1978 and wearing my No2 dress with chainmail, I was publicly berated in front of everyone on my course by the Academy's RSM for being 'undressed'! When I gingerly informed him that it was a battle honour, he grunted and snorted and informed me that he would go away and do some research. The next day, he surprised everyone by coming onto the early morning parade. He brought us all to attention and said that he had an announcement to make. He called out my name and then proceeded to give me a fulsome apology including reading out the citation to this battle honour. When finished, he saluted me and marched off the parade ground. What a man!
I wore them on my "patrol dress" while a member of a Royal Canadian Armoured Corps reserve regiment. They're a pain in the ass because you can't send your tunic to the dry cleaners with the epaulets on. We had to cut them off then sew them back on every time we needed to get the tunic cleaned.
Patrol Dress is still preferable than the regular dress uniforms. You didn’t have to iron a shirt. Also it was nice that each regiment have their own distinct style of uniform so it made everyone a little unique.
Nice to hear the Queen's Own 4th Hussars mentioned. My dad served in it and saw action in Greece, Crete, Nth Africa and then up through Italy to Berlin. I also have a friend who is a Frontiers man, they meet up and have fun doing military things and helping out at big events like air shows.
That without a doubt is another manifestation of that romantic medievalism that sprung up in the 19th century, hit its golden age just before WWI before slowing morphing into a more melancholy version. You see it within the Gothic Revival architecture, renewed interest in heraldry and knightly adventures.
I think they acquired this fashion style as a result of military operations in the Middle East or India during the 19th century. It was more so a mimicking of traditional armor from those regions for practical reasons than a romantic look back at Medieval Europe.
I remember my grandfather told me that back in the 18th and 19th centuries, Brits would often choose their regiment based on what the uniform looked like 😂
Most of my family and Mrs. C,s took the King, s shilling to get out of the bogs of Ireland and Scotland and the docks of Birkenhead and Bootle...my old mate fellow Birkonian ,Declan McManus aka Elvis Costello, even wrote a song, dedicated to his Grandad..Oliver, s Army
Getting shot is a pretty horrific experience, having half the torso cleaved open is another matter entirely, both incredibly deadly thou the latter could at least in theory be prevented, if the saving-roll landed on two fours.
From what I've read, some years ago, was that the chainmail epaulettes originated in India before being used by the British. The term chainmail is modern as it was originally just referred to as mail. The cavalry were not the only ones to use chainmail. WW1 tank crews were issued with a leather helmet which had a face covering to guard against metal fragments which broke lose when the tank was hit by bullets. Part of that cover included a piece of chainmail. Many of the men removed the face covering as the found it more of a hinderance that a help. The helmet itself was problematic because it did resemble the German helmet and a number of tank crew were killed or wounded when they were mistaken for Germans after abandoning their tanks in battle.
It was really hard to peg the exact inspiration behind their adoption in the 19th century. There are even some examples of naval epaulettes dating much further back that used chainmail. Sometimes, there's just no such thing as one true origin.
@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq thank you for sharing this with us all, Johnny, Mrs C and I have always valued our badges and epaulettes, as have the rest of the family...funnily enough we have not given a second thought to it until now...cheers..E..😊😊
@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Like the gorget it has become something left over from another time. In the case of the Indian cavalrymen, and later the British cavalry, it actually still had a defensive use in the 19th century. It was to protect the troopers shoulders from the downward stroke of a sword when fighting with other cavalry and as such worked in conjunction with the helmet.
As usual, Johnny provides short and interesting comments! Love to see you more popular. I found your other side channel… but I think most your current fans do not know of it! Think you should plug it a few times!!
'Whatever happens, we have got, the Maxim gun, and they have not.' Hilaire Belloc 1898. I notice that you can buy chainmail epaulettes as jewellery these days. Hmmmmm, probably the best use for it.😀
Kind of reminds me of your video on the gorget. A practical piece of armour that becomes smaller and more vestigial and eventually just becomes a ceremonial connection to the past.
These are a little bit of tradition for regiments that have history going back centuries. Regimental identity is key in British army.. Standard modern battledress is normal uniform for daily use.
My father was in the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery and fought in the Korean War. His dress jacket had chainmail epaulettes and these enormous acorn-shaped heavy brass buttons. The epaulettes and buttons were sacrosanct - never to be modernized - as apparently the (British) Royal Horse Artillery during the Crimean War at one point ran out of cannon balls and they ripped off their epaulettes and buttons and stuffed their guns with these as a kind of grapeshot and gave it hot and heavy to the Russians. The Battle of Sevastopol I think it was. When I was little in Halifax that name stuck in my mind as around the corner from our house was a cemetery with an arch with that name carved across the top. My father let me cut off his epaulettes and I put them on the shoulders of my jean jacket. This was in 1973 and it was considered very 'cool' indeed. Even 'groovy'!
Good video but a couple points of interest: • Mahdist is pronounced "Mahdi" • And the footage at 3:20 is the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, not Cavalry. My father helped with the redesign/reintroducing of those dress uniforms that the RCHA used when guarding the late Queen and for other ceremonial purposes (he even got to wear it for my brother's wedding!)
It's my understanding Mahdi typically refers to Muhammad Ahmad bin Abd Allah and his followers are called Mahdists pronounce as spelled - though I did find a minority of sources that pronounce it as you do so I'd say both are acceptable in my books. I further did caption the RCHA as such for clarity. Also very cool family story :)
I still have mine. Ex QRIH Churchill was one of ours. The COs tank holds the name Churchill. They originate from Indian cavalry. We wore them in No1 dress.
Great video. I wasn't very aware of the practical uses of Chainmail epaulettes. Always thought they were on Military Uniforms for show and tradition. Thanks for sharing. PS I would love to see you do a video on the British Gunboats of the late 19th Century. Especially their Weaponry. Cheers!
Surprised that you did not include footage from the practice charge in "War Horse", for which the chainmail epaulettes were noticeable along the ceremonial cavalry uniforms.
Actually Chain mail epaulettes originated during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 when a British officer of the 2nd Punjab Cavalry was seen sewing the curb chains of his horse's bridle onto his shoulders (on his tunic naturally) to ward off sword cuts. The idea caught on and soon after the mutiny they became a part of the cavalryman's uniform.
I was wondering when anybody would mention the home-made origin of these epaulettes. I have also heard that they were cut from the chain-linked metal cloths used for scouring the cooking-pots.
I wore chainmail eppaulettes first when I enlisted in the royal dragoons then later when I was rebadged to the 5th I nniskilling dragoon guards. They were a babe magnet and when wearing spurs you sounded like a pocket of "change" on the move.
After seeing KHARTOUM I decided to make a pair in brass for a Steampunk military-ish costume. I used brass rings as I have several pounds of them on hand. Mine are admittedly a bit crude, and of a heavier linking pattern. I would like to find a closer look of the originals to copy. I have considered using a bit of brass-plated steel so I can use neodymium magnets to hold them, on, and removable for cleaning; at present I used custom-made curved pins.
1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers here in Australia was seriously considering maille epualettes in the mid 80's for the Patrol Blues uniform.... it was going ahead at one stage but fizzled out for some reason. Probably for the best lol
While hussar uniforms were mostly about getting young men to join because the girls liked the uniform a side benefit was that the elaborate braiding on the shoulders provided the same kind of protection against downwards cuts, and between epaulettes and big fancy hats you'd have to deliver a very strong cut to get through the uniform with a downwards chop. This replicates that to some extent (and at a lower production cost), although you might end up with a broken shoulder or collarbone since there isn't much padding beneath the chainmail.
Great video But just one thing I would point out: Colonel-in-Chief is a ceremonial appointment and not an honourary rank. (Prince William is an Army Major, but holds the appointment of Colonel of the Welsh Guards) In many regiments in the Commonwealth Realms there is a Royal who serves as the CiC, and then a non-royal who may be an Honorary Colonel.
my father wore the chainmail epulets in the 13/18 R.Hussars on his No1 dress. Someone mentions the 4th Hussars.When they amalgamated in about 1958. Dad then joined the 3 and 8s (13/18)
I'd guess the chain mail would give some protection to a vulnerable part of your body against some weapons / sword etc which they definately faced in Africa in 1898. Cavalry units still wore them during the Boer War up to 1902 and the contact between British and German troops in ww1 was British Cavalry he came across German Lancers ... if a lance caught the chain at a certain angle it could just glance off ...
The Countess of Mountbattens Own Legion of Frontiersmen are still very active with the Largest UK group in and around London , we have assisted at the Shoreham Air crash, give assistance to partner organisation in support during tragedies like Grenfell and Barking fires , assistance to communities during Covid and regularly support the RSPCA , so are very active. We are not to be confused by other groups calling themselves Frontiersmen.
They are definitely cool, I picked a set up from eBay and have them attached to my bodywarmer, clipped on with 'lobster-claw' fasteners for easy removal on laundry day.
well I would have to say that having worn them and used them often on for years, no the chain mail epaulets were not used to help prevent injury from a sword cut. Have you ever fought with a sword or been poked/chopped with one? Someone coming down on you with a cavalry saber on your shoulder would break your shoulder to pieces because it's a big heavy weapon and you're moving along several miles an hour on a horse probably both of you adding to it. The Chainmaile epaulets are symbolic of being a chivalrous knight on a horse. The chain mill epaulets basically took the place of wearing a breast plate like the household cavalry still does and the ceremonial French dragoon unit in France today. believe it or not the gorget tabs that are used as rank insignia for kernels up through field marshal's is supposed to be symbolic of the breast plate so it's called a gorget tab. That's the official word from the British government not my opinion. Hope this is helpful cheerio, up the Raj!
Would make more sense to have chainmail neck protection, ultimately its your neck that you want protect from anything coming in that direction anyway, not counting anything that may cause injury from below
Huh. That was something I didnt knew. When you said Churchill, I was wondering if you meant that Churchill. It looks like you did. I knew he was in the military during WW1, but I didnt knew he was earlier. I guess we all learn something new :D
The 2017 uniform regulations for the British Army states that the historical purpose of the chain mail shoulder straps was to "protect against sword slashes".
I wish the US would’ve kept some of its heritage in the military, the only thing seen in regular use that invokes the past is the cavalry Stetson and the campaign covers.
And of course, still worn to this day when wearing dark blue 'number 1 dress' by those units in the British Army in the Royal Armoured Corps with cavalry heritage (so, the 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards, the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, the Royal Dragoon Guards, the Royal Lancers, the Queen's Royal Hussars, the King's Royal Hussars, and the Light Dragoons, but *not* the Royal Tank Regiment, who are technically a dismounted unit). The Household Cavalry-the Life Guards & the Blues and Royals, plus the Royal Horse Artillery, don't wear them though, and neither do the Royal Artillery or support corps (many of which were historically mounted units, and notionally still are).They are also still worn by the four units of Yeomanry-the armoured reserve units with a cavalry heritage-as well. This was of course, originally a field thing, as number one dress is a direct development from the 'blue patrols' which were originally a field 'undress' uniform, a step below formality (and in theory, they still are) to the full dress uniforms.
Mail is correct if you are talking about 11th century knights. The actual correct term, as used by the British army for the "material" that shoulder chains (official term) are made from, is chain mail (two words), though the single word version is also sometimes sighted in Victorian documents.
@@eamonnclabby7067 not surprising considering most militarys on earth were still using cloth caps around this time . Strange to think we went from iron to cloth and back to steel.
3:34 now thats a ateong use of the diaphragm. Almost scary sounding! Being in army cadets a while back, that would have me focused even if i werent marching in the parade l! 😂
I’m sorry to say I’m coming in on the anti chainmail epaulette side. No experience with them. Didn’t know about them until this video. I just think they look kinda goofy. Interesting video nonetheless.
Begging to disagree with you, chainmail epaulets were worn for ceremonial duties. the purpose was to protect the uniform while resting your sabre or sword on your shoulder while riding a horse. As body armour it would not be very efficient, as a blow would still cripple you.
Here's a fun fact you will probably not know. The only regiment in the British Army that was allowed to wear Chainmail Epaulettes on its khaki No2 dress was the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry (DLOY), now amalgamated with the Queens Own Yeomanry. This was a battle honour granted to the regiment after service in the Middle East under General Allenby during the First World War. When doing my two-week TA officers' course at Sandhurst back in 1978 and wearing my No2 dress with chainmail, I was publicly berated in front of everyone on my course by the Academy's RSM for being 'undressed'! When I gingerly informed him that it was a battle honour, he grunted and snorted and informed me that he would go away and do some research. The next day, he surprised everyone by coming onto the early morning parade. He brought us all to attention and said that he had an announcement to make. He called out my name and then proceeded to give me a fulsome apology including reading out the citation to this battle honour. When finished, he saluted me and marched off the parade ground. What a man!
Very cool! I didn't know that. Great story.
Sounds gay
This type of officers you need, those who know when they are wrong, get less killed
I wore them on my "patrol dress" while a member of a Royal Canadian Armoured Corps reserve regiment. They're a pain in the ass because you can't send your tunic to the dry cleaners with the epaulets on. We had to cut them off then sew them back on every time we needed to get the tunic cleaned.
I heard they could be a pain. Awesome to hear from you and your experience. 👍
@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq real dedication and tenacity...Kudos...😊😊
same here ... mine had snaps, so you could remove them for cleaning. Looked great, didn't it ?
Patrol Dress is still preferable than the regular dress uniforms. You didn’t have to iron a shirt. Also it was nice that each regiment have their own distinct style of uniform so it made everyone a little unique.
If you’d sent them to the wet cleaners, they’d have gone rusty. You just can’t win!
19th century military and all its curiosities really don't get enough spotlight in films and popular historical teaching. Thanks for the video!
Nice to hear the Queen's Own 4th Hussars mentioned. My dad served in it and saw action in Greece, Crete, Nth Africa and then up through Italy to Berlin. I also have a friend who is a Frontiers man, they meet up and have fun doing military things and helping out at big events like air shows.
That without a doubt is another manifestation of that romantic medievalism that sprung up in the 19th century, hit its golden age just before WWI before slowing morphing into a more melancholy version.
You see it within the Gothic Revival architecture, renewed interest in heraldry and knightly adventures.
Very likely. A sound observation in my books. 👍
@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq ah..the good old days😊😁😂😂
Like the Eglinton tournament of 1839?
@@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t exactly.
I think they acquired this fashion style as a result of military operations in the Middle East or India during the 19th century. It was more so a mimicking of traditional armor from those regions for practical reasons than a romantic look back at Medieval Europe.
I remember my grandfather told me that back in the 18th and 19th centuries, Brits would often choose their regiment based on what the uniform looked like 😂
Most of my family and Mrs. C,s took the King, s shilling to get out of the bogs of Ireland and Scotland and the docks of Birkenhead and Bootle...my old mate fellow Birkonian ,Declan McManus aka Elvis Costello, even wrote a song, dedicated to his Grandad..Oliver, s Army
@@eamonnclabby7067 Interesting. Thank you.
Well I certainly did! Don't ye know.
Getting shot is a pretty horrific experience, having half the torso cleaved open is another matter entirely, both incredibly deadly thou the latter could at least in theory be prevented, if the saving-roll landed on two fours.
It didn't help the self styled King of Italy when he met Theoderic King of the Goths.
Never seen (noticed?) these before. Thank you JJ. ❤️
From what I've read, some years ago, was that the chainmail epaulettes originated in India before being used by the British.
The term chainmail is modern as it was originally just referred to as mail.
The cavalry were not the only ones to use chainmail. WW1 tank crews were issued with a leather helmet which had a face covering to guard against metal fragments which broke lose when the tank was hit by bullets. Part of that cover included a piece of chainmail. Many of the men removed the face covering as the found it more of a hinderance that a help. The helmet itself was problematic because it did resemble the German helmet and a number of tank crew were killed or wounded when they were mistaken for Germans after abandoning their tanks in battle.
It was really hard to peg the exact inspiration behind their adoption in the 19th century. There are even some examples of naval epaulettes dating much further back that used chainmail. Sometimes, there's just no such thing as one true origin.
@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq thank you for sharing this with us all, Johnny, Mrs C and I have always valued our badges and epaulettes, as have the rest of the family...funnily enough we have not given a second thought to it until now...cheers..E..😊😊
@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Like the gorget it has become something left over from another time.
In the case of the Indian cavalrymen, and later the British cavalry, it actually still had a defensive use in the 19th century. It was to protect the troopers shoulders from the downward stroke of a sword when fighting with other cavalry and as such worked in conjunction with the helmet.
Sword wielding cavalry still required some protection from sword blows deflected from attacks aimed at the head.
often cavalry units were vulnerable when matched up against giraffe units
As usual, Johnny provides short and interesting comments! Love to see you more popular. I found your other side channel… but I think most your current fans do not know of it! Think you should plug it a few times!!
Thanks man I really appreciate that! My second channel is a work-in-progress - I'm still just trying to get the hang of being on camera :)
Great segment, once again. Thanks for your hard work Johnny.
I like this video. Very well done and informative. The use of film clips is a nice touch. 🏴
I never heard of them till now thanks for the info
Cheers, Johnny 😊 I want some of these now...
'Whatever happens, we have got, the Maxim gun, and they have not.' Hilaire Belloc 1898. I notice that you can buy chainmail epaulettes as jewellery these days. Hmmmmm, probably the best use for it.😀
Wanted to get a pair from time to time, yet never did. I have various different epaulettes, mainly Spanish ones. As they have lots of amazing styles.
Pretty cool man, I've noticed'em and now I know about'em. Thanks Johnny, catch ya on the next one.
Next topic, Brass epaulette scales used on 19th Century American mounted service jacket and Frock coats.
Captain Morton, Kitchener’s ADC, also wears chain mail epaulettes in “The King’s Man”. As part of his dress uniform.
1:12
1:26
Nice seeing footage of a Nordenfelt Gun in action!
Fun fact: The one used in _Khartoum_ (1966) was reactivated just for that film.
Now I have to do a video on this gun lol it is pretty cool
@@JohnnyJohnsonEsqYes please! There is so little information on it that isn't overshadowed by the Maxim gun.
@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Please do !
@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq please, never seen that one ever
Kind of reminds me of your video on the gorget. A practical piece of armour that becomes smaller and more vestigial and eventually just becomes a ceremonial connection to the past.
"Never let progress get in the way of a snappy looking uniform!" ~England, probably😁
These are a little bit of tradition for regiments that have history going back centuries. Regimental identity is key in British army..
Standard modern battledress is normal uniform for daily use.
@@coling3957 true...
The kilt: not snappy. ~ korbell.
I thought the last British cavalry charge was the Australian Light Horse at Beersheba in 1917?
Bloody hell mate don't call an Aussie a Brit, they're likely to take offense lol
We should bring them back. Looks very sharp
Some british regiments still have them on their No1 Dress
My father was in the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery and fought in the Korean War. His dress jacket had chainmail epaulettes and these enormous acorn-shaped heavy brass buttons. The epaulettes and buttons were sacrosanct - never to be modernized - as apparently the (British) Royal Horse Artillery during the Crimean War at one point ran out of cannon balls and they ripped off their epaulettes and buttons and stuffed their guns with these as a kind of grapeshot and gave it hot and heavy to the Russians. The Battle of Sevastopol I think it was. When I was little in Halifax that name stuck in my mind as around the corner from our house was a cemetery with an arch with that name carved across the top. My father let me cut off his epaulettes and I put them on the shoulders of my jean jacket. This was in 1973 and it was considered very 'cool' indeed. Even 'groovy'!
Good video but a couple points of interest:
• Mahdist is pronounced "Mahdi"
• And the footage at 3:20 is the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, not Cavalry. My father helped with the redesign/reintroducing of those dress uniforms that the RCHA used when guarding the late Queen and for other ceremonial purposes (he even got to wear it for my brother's wedding!)
It's my understanding Mahdi typically refers to Muhammad Ahmad bin Abd Allah and his followers are called Mahdists pronounce as spelled - though I did find a minority of sources that pronounce it as you do so I'd say both are acceptable in my books. I further did caption the RCHA as such for clarity. Also very cool family story :)
I had never heard of these, pretty swag. Thank you.
I still have mine.
Ex QRIH
Churchill was one of ours.
The COs tank holds the name Churchill.
They originate from Indian cavalry.
We wore them in No1 dress.
Great video. I wasn't very aware of the practical uses of Chainmail epaulettes. Always thought they were on Military Uniforms for show and tradition. Thanks for sharing.
PS I would love to see you do a video on the British Gunboats of the late 19th Century. Especially their Weaponry. Cheers!
They do look cool
Excellent stuff!
Can you do a video on bandolier badges.
Plus... it looks cool.
And let's face it guys... thats really all that matters. 🎩 👍🏽
Surprised that you did not include footage from the practice charge in "War Horse", for which the chainmail epaulettes were noticeable along the ceremonial cavalry uniforms.
Dang! I'm surprised I forgot about that
Which at the time would have been 'Blue Patrols' undress uniforms (one step in formality below the full dress uniforms).
I had chainmail epaulettes on my dress uniform, many years ago.
Actually Chain mail epaulettes originated during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 when a British officer of the 2nd Punjab Cavalry was seen sewing the curb chains of his horse's bridle onto his shoulders (on his tunic naturally) to ward off sword cuts. The idea caught on and soon after the mutiny they became a part of the cavalryman's uniform.
I'd like to know more about this. Sadly I couldn't find a single source for it. Any help?
I was wondering when anybody would mention the home-made origin of these epaulettes. I have also heard that they were cut from the chain-linked metal cloths used for scouring the cooking-pots.
I wore chainmail eppaulettes first when I enlisted in the royal dragoons then later when I was rebadged to the 5th I nniskilling dragoon guards. They were a babe magnet and when wearing spurs you sounded like a pocket of "change" on the move.
After seeing KHARTOUM I decided to make a pair in brass for a Steampunk military-ish costume. I used brass rings as I have several pounds of them on hand. Mine are admittedly a bit crude, and of a heavier linking pattern. I would like to find a closer look of the originals to copy.
I have considered using a bit of brass-plated steel so I can use neodymium magnets to hold them, on, and removable for cleaning; at present I used custom-made curved pins.
Love this channel.
1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers here in Australia was seriously considering maille epualettes in the mid 80's for the Patrol Blues uniform.... it was going ahead at one stage but fizzled out for some reason. Probably for the best lol
Well done, sir... well done.
While hussar uniforms were mostly about getting young men to join because the girls liked the uniform a side benefit was that the elaborate braiding on the shoulders provided the same kind of protection against downwards cuts, and between epaulettes and big fancy hats you'd have to deliver a very strong cut to get through the uniform with a downwards chop.
This replicates that to some extent (and at a lower production cost), although you might end up with a broken shoulder or collarbone since there isn't much padding beneath the chainmail.
Great video
But just one thing I would point out:
Colonel-in-Chief is a ceremonial appointment and not an honourary rank. (Prince William is an Army Major, but holds the appointment of Colonel of the Welsh Guards)
In many regiments in the Commonwealth Realms there is a Royal who serves as the CiC, and then a non-royal who may be an Honorary Colonel.
my father wore the chainmail epulets in the 13/18 R.Hussars on his No1 dress. Someone mentions the 4th Hussars.When they amalgamated in about 1958. Dad then joined the 3 and 8s (13/18)
In 1971 Charles was a prince. Charles also has a red beret.
Yeah, he did P company, can u believe that lol
@@tictoc3148 Pipo company Charles
I have chain mail epaulettes on my pyjamas. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in years!
On the other side, I expect you have been safe from shoulder-attacks in the night.
I just went to look up chainmail epaulettes when I saw a Young Winston clip in a video on the Martini-Henry, so convenient!
I'd guess the chain mail would give some protection to a vulnerable part of your body against some weapons / sword etc which they definately faced in Africa in 1898. Cavalry units still wore them during the Boer War up to 1902 and the contact between British and German troops in ww1 was British Cavalry he came across German Lancers ... if a lance caught the chain at a certain angle it could just glance off ...
Wouldn't be surprised if they were there to stop officers cutting their collar bones with their own swords
me and the mates liked to prank the CO by putting his saber in backwards
drat that protective panoply
First read about this in one Chapter of Frederick Forsyth's the Deceiver being worn by Lt. Haverstock when they arrested the troublemakers in Sunshine
The Countess of Mountbattens Own Legion of Frontiersmen are still very active with the Largest UK group in and around London , we have assisted at the Shoreham Air crash, give assistance to partner organisation in support during tragedies like Grenfell and Barking fires , assistance to communities during Covid and regularly support the RSPCA , so are very active. We are not to be confused by other groups calling themselves Frontiersmen.
My grandfather was with the Manitoba Mounted Rifles in the Second World War. I always wondered why his uniform has that style of epaulettes.
They are definitely cool, I picked a set up from eBay and have them attached to my bodywarmer, clipped on with 'lobster-claw' fasteners for easy removal on laundry day.
Very informative, thank you! (Also, yeah, they're pretty damn cool looking)
I live for the "allllriiight i'm Johnny" outro
In the Sudan war Australia got its first battle honour at Suakin.
Is there maybe another spelling of the word with only.one letter T,I wonder ,remembering seeing in
Print.
well I would have to say that having worn them and used them often on for years, no the chain mail epaulets were not used to help prevent injury from a sword cut. Have you ever fought with a sword or been poked/chopped with one? Someone coming down on you with a cavalry saber on your shoulder would break your shoulder to pieces because it's a big heavy weapon and you're moving along several miles an hour on a horse probably both of you adding to it. The Chainmaile epaulets are symbolic of being a chivalrous knight on a horse. The chain mill epaulets basically took the place of wearing a breast plate like the household cavalry still does and the ceremonial French dragoon unit in France today. believe it or not the gorget tabs that are used as rank insignia for kernels up through field marshal's is supposed to be symbolic of the breast plate so it's called a gorget tab. That's the official word from the British government not my opinion. Hope this is helpful cheerio, up the Raj!
hey Johnny can you make a video about why the brits have unique pronounciation of lieutenant cuz I assume there must be some historical contexts
3:12 Guy in the back. Is that a riding lawnmower?
Yep, must b their mechanized regiment parading lol
Would make more sense to have chainmail neck protection, ultimately its your neck that you want protect from anything coming in that direction anyway, not counting anything that may cause injury from below
Huh. That was something I didnt knew. When you said Churchill, I was wondering if you meant that Churchill. It looks like you did. I knew he was in the military during WW1, but I didnt knew he was earlier. I guess we all learn something new :D
If you ever get the chance to see the film, ‘Young Winston’ (1972), do so. Winston Churchill is played by Simon Ward.
An here i was thinking they stuffed up the uniforms when i was watching Khartoum.
The 2017 uniform regulations for the British Army states that the historical purpose of the chain mail shoulder straps was to "protect against sword slashes".
They are still worn as part of the dress uniform by the Fort Garry Horse armoured recce regiment
Realized now i've watched like 30 videos + the new ones without being subscribed. Woops!
I wish the US would’ve kept some of its heritage in the military, the only thing seen in regular use that invokes the past is the cavalry Stetson and the campaign covers.
What's next, Johnny, codpieces? 😜
I admit you got me on this one; I had no idea they were a thing.
In South Africa the Natal Carbineers also have it on their mess dress.
And of course, still worn to this day when wearing dark blue 'number 1 dress' by those units in the British Army in the Royal Armoured Corps with cavalry heritage (so, the 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards, the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, the Royal Dragoon Guards, the Royal Lancers, the Queen's Royal Hussars, the King's Royal Hussars, and the Light Dragoons, but *not* the Royal Tank Regiment, who are technically a dismounted unit). The Household Cavalry-the Life Guards & the Blues and Royals, plus the Royal Horse Artillery, don't wear them though, and neither do the Royal Artillery or support corps (many of which were historically mounted units, and notionally still are).They are also still worn by the four units of Yeomanry-the armoured reserve units with a cavalry heritage-as well.
This was of course, originally a field thing, as number one dress is a direct development from the 'blue patrols' which were originally a field 'undress' uniform, a step below formality (and in theory, they still are) to the full dress uniforms.
Don't know why. but still waiting for him to start with = Here's Johnny! 😅😂🤣
Sri Lanka Armoured Corps also use chainmail epaulettes on their dress uniforms.
No wonder I have seen a photo of an Indian general wearing chain epaulettes (he was a tanker from a regiment called "Poona Horse")
i was pleased to hear that the "Bushveldt Carbineers"
weren't mentioned as wearing this foolish fashion in their campaign of the "Second Boer War."
hey can u do m3 half track in the movies
What are they made of? They look lighter/brighter than usual iron or steel. Are they made of riveted rings woven 4 in 1 like earlier European mail?
Well, at least they don't crease. (Though they could rust...)😮😛🐶
It's a cool nod to what came before.
1,300 years before.
It's just called mail, not chainmail. But great video, thank you.
Mail is correct if you are talking about 11th century knights. The actual correct term, as used by the British army for the "material" that shoulder chains (official term) are made from, is chain mail (two words), though the single word version is also sometimes sighted in Victorian documents.
We're pith helmets armoured or just cloth?
They were pith, which is a tree based material kinda like cork.
@@minuteman4199 hmmmmm, ya learn something new every day. Thanks
@@AMainProductions the Fire Brigade here on Merseyside still used cork helmets until the late 20th century...
@@eamonnclabby7067 not surprising considering most militarys on earth were still using cloth caps around this time . Strange to think we went from iron to cloth and back to steel.
Might have known Charlie fat fingers would have muscled in on it. Interesting video JJ
Excelente , en castellano hombreras cota de malla.
Too bad we didn't see them in Kings Man from 2021. There was a nice scene in South African concentration camp in 1902.
If only someone made segmented plate Epaulettes
I love putting random bits of chainmail everywhere.
Still worn by some officers of armour corps regiments of pakistan army too
Yeah, hello ;D
I think the Indian Armored core use these for their dress uniforms
Didn't know that there were still mounted horse cavalry!
There is a Semi-automatic rifle that is not will know call the sks
3:34 now thats a ateong use of the diaphragm. Almost scary sounding! Being in army cadets a while back, that would have me focused even if i werent marching in the parade l! 😂
What's the point of wearing multiple long-sleeve layers on the upper body in the sweltering desert heat?
I’m sorry to say I’m coming in on the anti chainmail epaulette side. No experience with them. Didn’t know about them until this video. I just think they look kinda goofy. Interesting video nonetheless.
Chain mail is pretty badass
WW3 India be like: "Release the cavalry!"
Am i the only one who thinks they look kinda goofy
I think they are cool! But the military is full of goofy fashion so I wouldn't fault anyone for thinking so.
Nope
@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Yeah there is a bunch of goofy military stuff. I had never heard of chainmail epaulettes before this video
Goofy and cool are sometimes the same.
They look pretty badass to me. Its also a way to show respect to the troops who came before you. 🪖
The Indian Army Armoured corp wear them on their ceremonial uniform
The British employed machine guns very poorly at that point
Begging to disagree with you, chainmail epaulets were worn for ceremonial duties. the purpose was to protect the uniform while resting your sabre or sword on your shoulder while riding a horse. As body armour it would not be very efficient, as a blow would still cripple you.