Any Do's & Don'ts in military clothing?

[Otter]

British Army in Iraq 1942:

Has quite a resemblance to me on my hols, Tilly hat, Tilly shirt and shorts.

I usualy have a swagger stick though!

 

[Otter]

Oh, forgot to add the most important must do, TUCK YOUR SHIRT IN !!!!!!!!

 

[Edward]

We tore an old oil-furnace under our house (Circa 1906) And the brass valves have Swazi's on them. We kept them as they're pretty darn cool - but of course they're not on the coffee table...it's an old design, and sadly, it has some to represent the worst of humankind. But only PC thin-skins and those not willing to learn balk at the sight of it without any care of what it is...or was.

To be fair, a lot of that will vary also with cultural experience. I'd expect the US and its First Amendment tradition to look very different upon the use of symbology like that than I would a country like France or Germany which was occupied by the Nazis. Radically different experiences of that period in history obviously have a lot to do with it.

 

[MisterCairo]

Oh, forgot to add the most important must do, TUCK YOUR SHIRT IN !!!!!!!!

If this is in reference to my father's uniform, it wasn't done laddie!

 

[MisterCairo]

To be fair, a lot of that will vary also with cultural experience. I'd expect the US and its First Amendment tradition to look very different upon the use of symbology like that than I would a country like France or Germany which was occupied by the Nazis. Radically different experiences of that period in history obviously have a lot to do with it.

I don't think Germany was "occupied" by the Nazis in the way France, Holland, Norway, Poland, etc., were! But I get your point!

 

[MisterCairo]

Increasingly off topic -

In posting the Swastika Hotel photo previously, I was reminded that a small town in my province of Ontario is actually named Swastika:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika,_Ontario

In addition to trivia such as an attempt to re-name it during the Second World War to Winston (yes, you know who), there is this (uncited) bit of trivia:

The British fascist personality Unity Mitford was conceived in Swastika, where her family owned a gold mine.

On the re-naming a Canadian town because of unpleasant German wartime conotations front, the heavily German-settled city of Berlin, Ontario was in fact renamed during what was then the Great War - to Kitchener (yes, you know who).

We are, truly, an odd nation....

 

[ButteMT61]

If this is in reference to my father's uniform, it wasn't done laddie!

No, it involves a tale of an A-1... humor knows no end!

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

To be fair, a lot of that will vary also with cultural experience. I'd expect the US and its First Amendment tradition to look very different upon the use of symbology like that than I would a country like France or Germany which was occupied by the Nazis. Radically different experiences of that period in history obviously have a lot to do with it.

I've always found it a bit strange today's hyper-sensitivity over swastikas and related symbols compared to 30-40 years ago when there are now less people alive today who have strong memories of that time.

 

[Otter]

If this is in reference to my father's uniform, it wasn't done laddie!

Not at all, seriously, have a look at some of the Tilly stuff, I do wear that on holiday and I was entitled to carry a swagger having been an Officer in the RA in my past life.

The tuck your shirt in does NOT apply to shirts that were never designed to be worn tucked in. Damn, went to look for a link, but they do not make the safari shirts I have anymore.

 

[1961MJS]

I've always found it a bit strange today's hyper-sensitivity over swastikas and related symbols compared to 30-40 years ago when there are now less people alive today who have strong memories of that time.

Yes, V.C. and God help you if you mention that something might be a bad idea because the Nazi's did it. For example, the Nazi party controlled the German media, Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda (not news, propaganda) said tell the big lie, tell it often, and it becomes the truth. Just say that to NBC.

Later

 

[scottyrocks]

My leg hair can practically be braided. Not something anyone, particularly ladies or children, needs to see!

Thanks for sharing.

 

[scottyrocks]

I've had quite a few military pieces over the years. My rules? don't wear more than one piece at a time. More than one at a time is wannabeeing.

As much of what I had was from family, I was able to leave much of the insignia on because I could always say, 'This was my dad's,' (Navy) or 'This was my uncle's' (Army).

I wore my dad's navy whites and blues (shirts), with fireman stripes, in my teens and twenties, including his custom. The stripes are not what most people thin of as rank stripes, so it seemed okay to wear it. No one ever challenged me on it. I also wore my uncle's green field shirts with his name on the chest and a patch on the shoulder (no rank stripes). I still have my uncle's Vietnam-era M65 and it's part of my regular jacket rotation. And I'm proud to wear it.

 

[Peacoat]

Rank stripes or unit patches when worn by someone who is not pretending to be what he is not, doesn't bother me. What sets me on fire is someone who wears awards for valor, or air medals, or even a combat patch on the right sleeve, when they weren't earned. But then I'm sure others have differing opinions.

 

[scottyrocks]

How would I know what a combat patch looks like? My uncle's green shirts had a red, yellow and blue quarter circle rainbow at the top of the sleeve where it met the shoulder. Is that a combat patch or something else?

 

[too much coffee]

An Army combat patch is any unit or divisional patch worn on the right shoulder sleeve. This signifies former wartime service while engaged against an enemy of the United States. Patches worn on the left shoulder sleeve denote the current unit or division that soldier is currently serving with.

Sounds like your uncle was assigned to the 42nd Infantry Division.

Regards,
coffee

 

[scottyrocks]

As the shirts have been gone for a while now. I didn't remember, and am unable to check, what shoulder the patch(es) is on. Thanks for the info and confirmation.

 

[Ticklishchap]

To revive this interesting thread, I have always worn a lot of military surplus or military-associated clothing both for its rugged, practical elegance and because I am interested in the British Army and Royal Navy. I agree with many of the contributors in going for generic but authentic military gear rather than specific items linked, for example, to a regiment. Therefore my olive Army Woolly Pullies (WPs) don't have a regimental crest or rank badge although they are of course recognisable as Army and made by suppliers to the Armed Services. It’s the same with my Navy, RAF, etc. The Black ones are more complicated because they’re associated with the Royal Tank Regiment (and US Special Forces) but they don’t have regimental markings or rank badges. Similarly I wear Submariners’ rollneck sweaters although I have only been on a sub during a school expedition and Navy Guernseys although I haven’t served in the Navy or the Lifeboats.

Often I wear military gear as part of a ‘country gent’ or Rus in Urbe image, e.g. Army or Navy WP with waxed Barbour jacket, corduroy trousers and brogues. Or for hiking and rambling I have been known to wear an old Navy WP with Army issue combat or cameo trousers - thus combining the two Services!

Generally there’s a relaxed attitude here in the UK to wearing surplus clothing - I have had nothing but compliments when doing so and I have never worn any unearned badges, stripes etc. with it.

 

[Ticklishchap]

There have been occasions as a young man when I have been entitled to wear military gear with badges and markings. In the Corps at my boys’ boarding school, I therefore often wore an Army Woolly Pully (WP) with the school crest sewn on the arm during the holidays or in my free time at school (especially after eccer, the school slang for sport). This was because I was in the Army section of the Corps. I was in the Army section of the OTC at college as well and frequently wore wore to lectures, tutorials etc., an Army WP with the university crest.
I was occasionally criticised during those years for wearing Royal Navy gear when my loyalty should have been to the Army! For example I wore a Naval Duffel coat throughout my student days. I recall that I once got a right bollocking from one of my Corps instructors when he saw me wearing a Navy WP. ...

 

[2jakes]

A Flying Tiger pilot once told me that my AVG patch was on the wrong shoulder
on my A-2 jacket. This was back in my youth when I wore leather jackets with
all kinds of painted images.

 

[Ticklishchap]

A Flying Tiger pilot once told me that my AVG patch was on the wrong shoulder
on my A-2 jacket. This was back in my youth when I wore leather jackets with
all kinds of painted images.

Did you reply to him or were you too embarrassed?!