head gear.

[Tobus]

I think it would be interesting to learn what was going through the mind of the military when it goes to uniform, especially dress uniform, choices. They probably made more sense at the time.

Now back to our regularly schedule topic.

I wouldn't try to put too much logical thought into it. Military uniforms from centuries past had a few 'sensible' utilitarian aspects, but in large part were meant for showmanship and effect, not for maximizing one's ability to fight.

For example, spats were very utilitarian. They protect your feet and legs while marching or fighting. Even when gussied up in white (which is a terrible colour for keeping clean and sharp-looking in the field), it still retains its functionality.

But other parts of fighting uniforms, which were later relegated to dress uniforms, didn't have much utility. Like feather bonnets. Their only advantage was to make your side look taller and meaner. But the idea of fighting in one just seems absurd by today's standards. I sometimes wonder how many brave Scots lost their lives during hand-to-hand combat on the battlefield because they were hampered by wearing feather bonnets. Even when the Scottish regiments were wearing great kilts, one has to wonder how awkward it was to fight with all that extra cloth swinging around and tangling up. As I understand it (and I admit I could be wrong, if anyone cares to correct me), the original clansmen Highlanders were known to drop their belted plaids before going into battle so they could fight unencumbered. But when these belted plaids became part of a uniform in the British army, they fought with them on. And I have to believe this was detrimental to their ability to fight, even though they seem to have done very well in the fighting department.

The late 1700s and 1800s saw some pretty ridiculous military uniform choices, especially in the realm of headwear. In many cases, certain hats were intended to provide quick identification on the battlefield, since the tops of peoples' heads are the thing you're going to see the most of during a battle. But I'm sure it also had a lot to do with showmanship and fashion, for lack of a better word. In those days, looking splendid was very important. Especially to the officers, for whom their rank was a measure of their financial standing and their socio-political place in society. Instead of concerning themselves solely with fighting and winning battles, they spent a lot of time, money, and effort in looking grandiose.

It would be very interesting to see a dissertation on this subject by one of our historians. I know there are several people here who have memorized all the particulars of the regiments (from colours to minor differences between their uniforms). But it would be interesting to hear the hows and whys of certain parts of the uniforms.