Lieutenant churchhill reporting for a major fin sir come with me sir
chainmail epaulettes they were fashionable and a practical form of armor during the late 19th
century throughout the British Empire they were worn by Cavalry and other mounted divisions these
epaulettes are primarily associated with the divisions which fought during the Mahdist war
of 1881 to 1899 also known as the Sudan campaign the Sudan campaign and following second Boer War
would be the last wars where British Cavalry remained a dominant force on the battlefield
most famously Winston Churchill participated in the Battle of
Omdurman during the Sudan campaign here Churchill would participate in what some
would consider the last official cavalry charge in British history Churchill was
an officer of the fourth Hussars riding with the 21st Lancers at this time Churchill wore
chainmail epaulettes during this campaign as accurately shown in the movie Young Winston
well come along if you like to keep out of the way during the Sudan campaign the British army
was armed with the most modern military equipment of the time this is a Nordenfelt gun shown in
the film Khartoum but the British army would further be equipped with Maxim machine guns
however the Mahdists were determined Fighters and used Ambush tactics battles could become
Close Quarter sword fights with Mahdists forces frequently wearing full chainmail armor British
chainmail epauletes at the time provided some genuine protection against downward sword slashes
as they would in other parts of the Empire where edged weapons were still prolific including India
these epaulettes became less practical but still fashionable during the Second
Boer War from 1899 to 1902 after which they became part of dress uniforms for
many mounted divisions be them horse artillery mounted infantry or cavalry
units usually those with a lineage dating back to the mid-19th century or earlier
the chainmail epaulette was also independently adopted by the Legion of Frontiersmen a civilian
organization formed in Britain in 1905 founded by Roger Pocock a former Northwest Mounted
Police constable and Boer War veteran its purpose was to prepare enlistees for war
and Foster vigilance in peacetime the legion was largely devastated by the first world
war technically the legion still exists today but after World War II it mostly fizzled out
Indian and Canadian Mounted regiments formed in the late 1800s also adopted
chainmail epaulets shown here the first Bombay Lancers in 1885. India
still carries on this tradition with the 61st Cavalry Regiment one of the largest and also
one of the last operational unmechanized horse-mounted Cavalry units in the world
in Canada the tradition also still carries on Canadian Cavalry divisions formed in
the late 19th century some of which would fight in the Boer War chainmail epaulettes
of course, several British regiments continue to use chainmail epaulets with their uniforms
it's also not unusual to see Royals wearing chainmail epaulets King Charles
III holds a ceremonial rank as Colonel in Chief in the Queen's Dragoon Guards
nicknamed The Welsh Cavalry King Charles has held many ceremonial ranks throughout
the Commonwealth since he was first commissioned as an officer in 1971.
all right I'm Johnny thanks for watching this video on a bit of
military swagger I think these epaulettes are pretty damn cool
looking overall and are tradition worth keeping take care and have a nice day