British Army And Facial Hair

[gavmeister13]

what was the British Army's standing on facial hair? did you have to be clean shaven or could you grow a beard/mousatache and if so could you just do it or did you have to ask for permission?

[Liam]

I never saw any orders, but when I was in the Army you were not supposed to have a 'tash until you were a lance corporal, but plenty of senior privates did anyway. But since there are no hard and fast rules, even recruits often have moustaches - which are almost de rigeur in the British Army. As for beards, I've only ever seen one RSM who had a beard. Again no specific rules but general army-minded tidyness - moustaches are neat, martial and manly, beards are scruffy and unkempt! (although those great pictures of 19th century soldiers on campaign with enormous amounts of facial hair are pretty impressive)

[nigelfe]

Traditionally beards have only been allowed for pioneer sgts in infantry battalions. I think moustaches were not permitted to extend below mouth level.

The problem is that beards prevent respirators sealing properly. I think MoD web site goes into a bit of detail vis a vis Sikhs.

[Rodger Herbst]

Beards may look OK,but if you have to wear a gasmask on a hot day for an hour or so it can be uncomfortable.

[sid guttridge]

Hi Guys,

Beards were common in the late Victorian Army, but seem to have died out even before respirators had to be worn in WWI. (Look at photos of the Old Contemptibles in 1914 and there is not a beard in sight). I don't know the reason.

Today, as already mentioned, only pioneer sergeants in the infanry can wear beards. If memory serves me correctly, they escort the colours on ceremonial occasions. Again, I have no idea why they are the exception.

Cheers,

Sid.

[sid guttridge]

P.S.

The British Army makes a point of being clean shaven under almost any conditions. It is presumed to show good morale that troops take care of their personal appearance even under stress.

There is a story about the American airborne general (Taylor or Gavin?) who took over command of the Pusan perimeter during the Korean War. On first inspecting his US and ROK troops he found that their morale was low and that all were ill-shaven. However, when he arrived at a British Commonwealth position he was met by a smart, clean-shaven sergeant who gave him a blistering salute. The US airborne general is reported to have said "At last - a real soldier!" (In fairness, it should be pointed out that the US and ROK troops had recently undergone a harrowing bug-out, whereas the British were compartively recently landed).

There is also an acccount of how a US Army heavy mortar unit attached to the Commonwealth Division later in the campaign adopted the formation's habit of shaving religiously, rather than affecting the grizzled faux tough-guy stubble of other US Army units.

Cheers,

Sid.

[Dan Behr]

Having read that when a German sniper was asked how they managed to shoot so many officers and NCOs ... yes you got it ... he said he just shot those with a 'tash I would have shaved !!!!

Easier to spot a moustash than a couple of stipes on a dirty battledress.

Dan

[nigelfe]

I suspect the formal prohibition on beards dates from the Boer War or perhaps a bit earlier. Not sure where it would have been promulgated. Kings/Queens Regulations, Dress Regulations, ACIs?

[sid guttridge]

Hi Nigelfe,

Good point. I have discussed this before and nobody has previously suggested your logical explanation. I guess with every Boer wearing khaki and sporting a full beard, it would have been important to be able to distinguish Empire from Boer troops.

Cheers,

Sid.

[Rodger Herbst]

If you want to see some beards look at pics of the Pioneer's in the French Foreign Legion,it's traditional with them,they also carry axes on parade.

[nigelfe]

Kings Regulations for the Army 1941 Sect 1003

"The hair of the head will be kept short. The chin and underlip will be shaved. Whiskers, if worn. will be of moderate length."

Clearly the 'moustache' was an unsavoury foreign habit (as the name suggests), British soldiers had whiskers. Note the use of the word 'will' not 'shall' or 'are to'. At this period that was used until the grammarians got loose in the 1960s and decided that 'will' merely indicated a future intention.