Pattern 1881

Pattern 1881
Type:	Battledress
Designation:	Unknown
Place of origin:	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Produced:	Unknown
Manufacturer(s):	wool, brass
Material(s):	Unknown
Evolved from:	Unknown
Evolved into:	Unknown
Service
Used by:	Unknown
Wars:	Mahdist War

The Pattern 1881 is a battledress of British origin.

Overview

Significant reconstruction of the British army was conducted in 1881 known as the Childers Reforms. Part of these reforms was an attempt to standartize the uniforms and colours. With the reorganization of the infantry in 1881, the old regimental numbers became superfluous, as two old regiments, each with one battalion, formed a new territorial regiment. This inevitably led to the abolition of regimental colors and reduced them to a few national colors. According to the new regulations the facings (i.e. cuffs, collars and shoulder straps) of the uniforms were to be as follows: English and Welsh regiments would have white facings, Irish regiments would have green facings, Scottish regiments would wear yellow facings and the royal regiments retained their traditional dark blue facings, with the Foot Guards being an exception to these reforms.

Variants

Full Dress

The full dress was worn at parades and as such was elaborate, rich and colorful. One of the quickest ways to identify a Full Dress Tunic from an Undress Frock is that the Tunic was cut straight across at the bottom, leaving the edge rough and without any form of turnover or seam.

Dress

The dress also known as home service dress was the formal uniform. It was colloquially called tunic.

Service Dress

The service dress also known as undress or foreign service was the primary uniform for field service. It was colloquially called frock.

Doublet

Source.

In popular culture

• The P1881 is featured in the film Khartoum.