Khakis

[Peter_Suciu]

Well Steve McQueen may have made "khaki" cool, it was actually around for a lot longer. The word means "dust" in Persian, and was first used as a uniform color in India by the British. I just wrote an article that will appear next year. These aren't all WWI (in fact most aren't), but here is my collection of khaki tunics and uniforms:

First up, a French 1892 pattern tunic for the Foreign Legion. The helmet pattern is correct, but should have the flaming bomb badge. I guess I have an excuse to buy another helmet

The M31 pattern French Foreign Legion tunic with correct helmet pattern.

The M57 pattern French Foreign Legion tunic, which was used in Africa by officers in the 1960s

My American 1898 pattern tunic from the Spanish American War with the four panel American sun helmet

The 1936 pattern American khaki "Chino" uniform with M1917A1 helmet. This was the pattern uniform worn at Pearl Harbor and the Philippines

Britsh M37 pattern khaki officer's uniform for tropical climates. This one to a Royal Artillery captain

German M41 Afrika Korp tunic

 

[badener]

Cool unis Peter!

 

[RON]

Very very nice indeed! :bravo:
Waiting/hoping to see the German SB equivalent.

 

[joerookery]

Peter,

I am not saying that this is khaki however, it certainly looks like it could be.


ps1705 by joerookery, on Flickr

 

[Peter_Suciu]

Joe-
The German uniform is certainly based on the British khaki. As I note in the article, not only was khaki the first true universal camouflage (although the green worn by Roger's Rangers was used first), it was also the first time so many armies wore the same colored uniforms. Every colonial power (Spain, Portugal, Britain, France, Belgium, Germany) wore khaki.

And today it just means casual pants! Ugh.
PS

 

[Gustaf]

And today it just means casual pants! Ugh.
PS

It does not if you spell it correctly. Karkee
Best
Gus

 

[Lost Skeleton]

Royal West Kent officer's KD jacket circa 1921. The second battalion was dispatched to Mesopotamia in early 1915.

Chas

 

[Peter_Suciu]

Royal West Kent officer's KD jacket circa 1921. The second battalion was dispatched to Mesopotamia in early 1915.

Chas

Chas--
All I can say is JOLLY GOOD indeed. That is fantastic. Most uniforms from that era look terribly uncomfortable but I think the khaki stuff is great. I wrote a piece a couple of years ago on the origin of summer uniforms. My take is these only came about because of the end of the Little Ice Age:

http://www.armchairgeneral.com/origins-of-summer-uniforms.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;