TOPIC:

It was certainly allowed!

coldstream wrote: Frank,

One Officer without facial hair, very poor

Paul

Frank,

Although I do not have any facial hair at the moment I do admire the Victorians superb moustaches

Paul

Frank Kelley wrote: It was certainly allowed!

coldstream wrote: Frank,

One Officer without facial hair, very poor

Paul

Hello Paul,
This has always been a matter of interest to me over the years and there are very many issues that are rather contradictory in both queens and kings regulations throughout both the nineteenth and the first portion of the twentieth centuries when it came to hair, both on the head and face.
I think that it all depended entirely on how a particular Colonel interpreted the existing regulations at any given particular point in time.
For example, if, lets say, you went back even further into the middle of the eighteenth century, hair on the head, worn by the rank and file, had to be cut rather short, but, with those large tufts over the ears, whilst, at the same time, being clean shaven.
Over the years you had Flank Companies, Grenadier Companies, Centre Companies and Light Companies of particular regiments, all wearing the hair differently from the rest of a regiment to actually distinguish themselves from the rest of the men and so on.
From memory, by the time you reach the middle of the nineteenth century, the moustache and whiskers are allowed, before being subsequently encouraged amongst the rank and file.
In fact, the Pioneers of many regiments were actually ordered to wear a beard around this time too.
However, where it gets interesting and contradictory was in the late 1860's queens regulations ordered moustaches to be worn and the chin clean shaven.
I think that it was only in about 1916 that the upper lip was actually permitted to be shaved, so really very late in the day, from an official point of view, but always open to interpretation anyway.
Kind regards Frank

coldstream wrote: Frank,

Although I do not have any facial hair at the moment I do admire the Victorians superb moustaches

Paul

Frank Kelley wrote: It was certainly allowed!

coldstream wrote: Frank,

One Officer without facial hair, very poor

Paul

Frank,

Some interesting facts indeed, I particularity liked this one " However, where it gets interesting and contradictory was in the late 1860's queens regulations ordered moustaches to be worn and the chin clean shaven."
This is one of my favourite photos from my collection, splendid facial hair!



Paul

Frank Kelley wrote: Hello Paul,
This has always been a matter of interest to me over the years and there are very many issues that are rather contradictory in both queens and kings regulations throughout both the nineteenth and the first portion of the twentieth centuries when it came to hair, both on the head and face.
I think that it all depended entirely on how a particular Colonel interpreted the existing regulations at any given particular point in time.
For example, if, lets say, you went back even further into the middle of the eighteenth century, hair on the head, worn by the rank and file, had to be cut rather short, but, with those large tufts over the ears, whilst, at the same time, being clean shaven.
Over the years you had Flank Companies, Grenadier Companies, Centre Companies and Light Companies of particular regiments, all wearing the hair differently from the rest of a regiment to actually distinguish themselves from the rest of the men and so on.
From memory, by the time you reach the middle of the nineteenth century, the moustache and whiskers are allowed, before being subsequently encouraged amongst the rank and file.
In fact, the Pioneers of many regiments were actually ordered to wear a beard around this time too.
However, where it gets interesting and contradictory was in the late 1860's queens regulations ordered moustaches to be worn and the chin clean shaven.
I think that it was only in about 1916 that the upper lip was actually permitted to be shaved, so really very late in the day, from an official point of view, but always open to interpretation anyway.
Kind regards Frank

coldstream wrote: Frank,

Although I do not have any facial hair at the moment I do admire the Victorians superb moustaches

Paul

Frank Kelley wrote: It was certainly allowed!

coldstream wrote: Frank,

One Officer without facial hair, very poor

Paul

Agreed, just look at K of K!

coldstream wrote: Frank,

Although I do not have any facial hair at the moment I do admire the Victorians superb moustaches

Paul

Little bit of wax in use there Paul!

coldstream wrote: Frank,

Some interesting facts indeed, I particularity liked this one " However, where it gets interesting and contradictory was in the late 1860's queens regulations ordered moustaches to be worn and the chin clean shaven."
This is one of my favourite photos from my collection, splendid facial hair!

Paul

Frank Kelley wrote: Hello Paul,
This has always been a matter of interest to me over the years and there are very many issues that are rather contradictory in both queens and kings regulations throughout both the nineteenth and the first portion of the twentieth centuries when it came to hair, both on the head and face.
I think that it all depended entirely on how a particular Colonel interpreted the existing regulations at any given particular point in time.
For example, if, lets say, you went back even further into the middle of the eighteenth century, hair on the head, worn by the rank and file, had to be cut rather short, but, with those large tufts over the ears, whilst, at the same time, being clean shaven.
Over the years you had Flank Companies, Grenadier Companies, Centre Companies and Light Companies of particular regiments, all wearing the hair differently from the rest of a regiment to actually distinguish themselves from the rest of the men and so on.
From memory, by the time you reach the middle of the nineteenth century, the moustache and whiskers are allowed, before being subsequently encouraged amongst the rank and file.
In fact, the Pioneers of many regiments were actually ordered to wear a beard around this time too.
However, where it gets interesting and contradictory was in the late 1860's queens regulations ordered moustaches to be worn and the chin clean shaven.
I think that it was only in about 1916 that the upper lip was actually permitted to be shaved, so really very late in the day, from an official point of view, but always open to interpretation anyway.
Kind regards Frank

coldstream wrote: Frank,

Although I do not have any facial hair at the moment I do admire the Victorians superb moustaches

Paul

Frank Kelley wrote: It was certainly allowed!

coldstream wrote: Frank,

One Officer without facial hair, very poor

Paul