|The white tropical uniform was of
identical cut to the
1896 Khaki Uniform.
The tunic was piped in blue (for all colonies) on the collar, front
and cuffs. It had pleated sloping breast pockets and level hip
pockets. There were six white metal buttons down the front, one on
each pocket flap and one smaller button holding each shoulder strap.
All the buttons were of white metal and bore the imperial crown.
Officers displayed their rank
insignia on their shoulder straps in the usual manner (see Officers Rank
The shoulder straps for NCOs in
Cameroon and East Africa were of twisted
black/white/red braid for NCOs and other ranks as on the khaki uniform. NCO rank insignia was displayed
in the form of inverted chevrons on the upper left arm (see
NCO Rank Insignia
Page). Parade aiguillettes, marksmanship
lanyards, musicians swallows nests and other specialist insignia were
all worn on the white uniform (see
Specialist Insignia Page).
Privately tailored uniforms purchased by officers,
senior NCOs and
One Year Volunteers were usually of better quality material and cut. They
often had higher collars and occasionally had more major variations in
cut such as having no hip pockets or sometimes having only partial or no piping.
There seems to have been some confusion
over the style of cuff defined in the regulations of 1896. The
original text describes a Swedish cuff, which usually means one with
a piped turn-back cuff held by two horizontally placed buttons.
However the next page of the uniform regulations where the tunic buttons
are described does not mention buttons for the cuff. It seems that the
vast majority of uniforms therefore did not have the cuff buttons but
occasional privately purchased tunics did. The white uniform was also
illustrated at the time by the military artist Moritz Ruhl with cuff
buttons (see Illustrated Plates Page).
Matching white trousers were also
authorised, piped in blue although period photographs show not all
trousers had the piping. Matching white ankle boots or shoes were worn
with the white uniform.