Welsh Army Uniforms and Equipment (Welsh History Post Glyndwr)

Uniforms and Equipment of the Welsh Army 1900 to 2010

Over the past 110 years the Uniforms, equipment and weapons of the Welsh Army have undergone major changes. From the Dark Blue uniforms of the late 1800s to the modern American MARPAT uniforms of today’s troops there have been many differing styles and colours used. Some influenced by outside sources, some by the whims of Royalty and many by budgetary constraints. Here we will look at these changes over the years and identify the influences and usage of equipment and weapons.

1900 to 1925

In the early twentieth century the Army was in the main engaged on internal security duties in mainland Wales. Parts of the Army were deployed to the colonies however and their uniforms reflected their location.

The Army units located in Wales had until 1899 worn high collared tunics and trousers in a dark blue cloth. These resembled closely those worn by the A-S Army at the time but with subtle differences. Officers wore black Sam Browne belts and equipment and had a very napoleonic air to their look. They also had a red and gold blood stripe on the seams of their trousers to set them apart as officers. Head gear was simple pill box type caps for the Officers and French looking Kepis reminiscent of the French colonial armies and even those of the American civil war for other ranks. Other ranks uniforms were similar in style but of a rougher cloth.

In 1900 the Army began to change over to a Khaki coloured cloth for its uniforms. The style remained the same, high collars and leather equipment. These uniforms lacked pockets though and closely resembled Russian army uniforms. The personal equipment remained the same though, black leather for the officers and brown for other ranks. Leather ammo pouches, a bayonet and canteen replacing the holster and sword of the officers. By 1904 however, Iowerth had become King and decided that the uniforms should be modified by the addition of pockets and that the high collar be replaced with a simpler fold over version. Without realising it the Army had begun to resemble its cousins across the channel. This was also indicative of Iowerths growing fascination with modernity and European countries.

Those units deployed to the colonies wore a light brown version of the field uniform made of a lighter cloth. This included lighter versions of the standard headgear and simpler personal equipment made of webbing rather than leather.

In 1900 the Welsh Army adopted the Mosin Nagant Rifle in 7.92 mm. It, and its carbine version, were in widespread use by all arms of the military alongside the Maxim HMG in its many forms until 1917 when the Russian Revolution put paid to relations with the old Empire. This forced the Army into the adoption of completely different weapons across the board. At the time the most modern weapons in service were the Lee Enfield No3 Mk1, the Springfield M1903 and the Mauser 98. There were a number of pros and cons to all of these. The Mauser used the same calibre round that the current Army rifle used, the Springfield was a hardy rifle and incredibly accurate. Both of them though only had a five round internal magazine. By this time, following the Great War, many Welsh soldiers had fought with the British Army and used the Lee Enfield. It was a solid, accurate weapon with a smooth bolt action. The round was slightly smaller, 7.7mm or .303 inch, but incredibly accurate when mated to the rifle and could be loaded in a ten round magazine attached externally and recharged from stripper clips from above. All of these factors were instrumental in the Welsh adoption of the Lee Enfield in 1919. At the same time the Maxim was replaced by the Lewis Gun and Vickers. Strangely however the cavalry retained its shorter Mosin Nagant carbines but had them rebarreled in .303 by the Royal Welsh Arms Corporation in Wrexham. Sidearms remained the same Smith and Wesson revolver in .38 and oddly officers still carried the short sword that had been used for decades.