Egyptian Army 1912

HANDBOOK OF THE EGYPTIAN ARMY 1912
UNIFORM

S.119. Badges of Rank. Rank is distinguished by the following badges:-

Egyptian Army Rank British Equivalent Badges of rank
Sirdar Commander-in-|Chief Crown, 1 star, crossed sword and baton.
Ferik General of Division Crown, crossed sword and baton
Lewa Major or brigadier-general 1 star and crossed swords
Miralai Colonel Crown and 3 stars
Kaimakam Lieut.-colonel Crown and 2 stars
Bimbashi Major Crown and 1 star
Saghkolaghasi Adjutant-major (native) Crown
Yuzbashi Captain 3 stars
Mulazim Awal Lieutenant 2 stars
Mulazim Tani 2nd Lieutenant 1 star
Sol Talim Battalion Sergeant-major 4 reversed chevrons surmounted by a crown on both lower arms
Sol Tayin Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant-major 4 reversed chevrons surmounted by a star on both lower arms
Bashshawish Company Sergeant-major 4 chevrons surmounted by a crown on upper right arm, sometimes on both
Buluk Amin Company Quartermaster Sergeant-major 2 chevrons surmounted by a star on upper right arm, sometimes on both
Shawish Sergeant 3 chevrons on upper right arm, sometimes on both
Wekil-Shawish Lance-sergeant 3 chevrons on upper right arm, sometimes on both
Onbashi Corporal 2 chevrons on upper right arm, sometimes on both
Wekil-Onbashi Lance-corporal 1 chevron on upper right arm, sometimes on both
Nafar (plural Anfar) Private Nil
Brugi Bugler Bugle
Rombetgi Drummer Drum
Baltagi Pioneer Crossed axes
Serugi Saddler Nil
Gazmagi Shoemaker Nil

S.120. Numbers and distinguishing badges.
The following table shows the numbers and distinguishing badges of staff, units and departments.

Unit or corps Name Flash and hackle*
Headquarters staff Arkan Harb Riasseh el Geish Black and white flash. White and black hackle.
Battalions
1st Egyptian Biringi Green diamond
2nd Egyptian Ikingi Maroon rectangle
3rd Egyptian Uchingi White diamond
4th Egyptian Deurtingi Red and green rectangle
5th Egyptian Beshingi Blue diamond
6th Egyptian Altingi Violet rectangle
7th Egyptian Sabagi Scarlet and green diamond
8th Egyptian Tamaniagi Yellow triangle
9th Sudanese Tisagi Green stripe with hackle of same colour
10th Sudanese Ashragi Black stripe with hackle of same colour
11th Sudanese Hadashr(agi) Scarlet stripe with hackle of same colour
12th Sudanese Etnashr(agi) Yellow stripe with hackle of same colour
13th Sudanese Talatashr(agi) Blue stripe with hackle of same colour
14th Sudanese Arbatashr(agi) Chestnut stripe with hackle of same colour
15th Sudanese Khamstashr(agi) Maroon stripe with hackle of same colour
16th Egyptian Sitashr(agi) Green and red square
Arab Battalion Ortat el Arab None
Railway Battalion Sikkat el Hadid None
Departments, &c.
Dept. of Works Kism Ashghal Scarlet diamond
Dept. of Stores Maslahat el Muhimat Red circle
Dept. of Supplies Maslahat el Tayinat Scarlet diamond with trefoil in centre
Sudanese Infantry Band Masica Biada Sudaniya Buff stripe

* Flash is worn in front of “Imma” (khaki band worn round tarbush in Sudan) by Egyptian, and on right side of ditto by Sudanese battalions.

S.121. Staff Officers. Winter – Double-breasted black cloth tunic, removable shoulder cords with three lines from point to point across the breast. Five rows of braid across breast of coat. Trousers – dark blue cloth with stripe of scarlet cloth. Red tarbush with tassel.

S.122. Cavalry (in Egypt) – The winter uniform is:- Headdress – a crimson tarbush with black tassel. Tunic of light blue cloth – Lancer pattern, with white plastron, facings and piping. Buttons – brass half ball. Pants of light blue cloth, with two white stripes each ¾ inch wide. Ankle boots and jack spurs. Putties, blue serge. Officers wear jack boots.

The summer dress is the same as for winter, except that a white drill tunic is worn instead of the blue cloth.

In drill and field day order the cavalry wear khaki frocks and Bedford cord pants, tarbush, blue putties, jack spurs and ankle boots.

In the Sudan, no cloth or white uniform is worn.

Distinguishing marks – The squadrons are known by numbers, and the numeral is worn on the shoulder chains.

2. In Egypt each man receives:-

1 cloth tunic, 1 pair cloth pantaloons, 1 cloak, 1 woollen jersey, 1 pair of spurs, 1 pair buff gauntlets, 1 pair of braces, 4 brushes, 1 button brass, 1 tin of blacking, 1 tin of brass powder and 1 sponge. These are replaced when condemned as “worn out” by half-yearly boards.

In addition to above, each man receives annually:-

1 white drill tunic, 1 pair white drill pantaloons, 1 khaki drill frock, 1 pair khaki drill pantaloons, 1 pair of Bedford cord pantaloons, 2 tarbushes and tassels, 2 pairs of ankle boots, 3 shirts, 3 pairs of drawers, calico, and 1 pair flannel, 2 pairs of socks, 2 handkerchiefs, 3 pairs of blue serge putties and straps.

3. In the Sudan each N.C.O. and man receives 3 suits of khaki in two years, and 1 pair of drawers (calico), 1 shirt, 1 pair of socks, 2 “imams” extra annually in addition to the garments issued in Egypt. Flannel drawers are not issued in the Sudan.

4. Every N.C.O. and man receives the following articles of bedding:-

1 mat, grass.
1 blanket, G.S.
1 blanket, shelter.

And when serving in certain parts of the Sudan:-

1 mosquito net.
1 waterproof sheet.
1 puggaree, muslin, 8 yards.

On transfer to the reserve he receives:-

1 gallabia.
1 shirt.
1 pair of drawers.
1 pair of shoes.
1 tarbush and tassel.
1 jersey in lieu of khaki frock.

S.123. Artillery – 1. In Egypt the winter uniform is:

Dismounted – Head-dress, crimson tarbush with black tassel. Tunic, of dark blue material, single-breasted, with red facings and piping. Brass buttons, stamped with cross guns and bomb. Collar ornaments of brass. Trousers, of dark blue cloth, with red stripes ¾-inch wide and red piping between.

Blue serge putties and ankle boots.

In summer (Egypt) a white tunic is worn in place of the cloth winter tunic.

The drill and field-day order is a khaki frock and trousers; other articles as above.

This is the only uniform worn in the Sudan.

Mounted – In Egypt the summer and winter uniform is the same as for dismounted artillery, except that cloth pantaloons of the same material and pattern of stripes are worn instead of trousers. Jack spurs are worn.

The drill and field-day order is the same as for dismounted artillery, except that Bedford cord or khaki pants and spurs are worn.

2. The batteries are numbered from “1” to “5” and the companies from “1” to “3”. They wear a brass badge and the distinguishing numeral on the shoulder straps.

3. Issues of clothing are made to the mounted artillery as in the cavalry, and to dismounted artillery as in the infantry.

S.124. Camel Corps – The uniform of the Camel Corps is a soft moghrabi tarbush with green tassel; a khaki twill jibba with green plastron cuffs and shoulders; khaki twill Arab pantaloons, cut very loose; drab serge putties, and Arab sandals made of hide.

Free Issue: Camel Corps (and Mounted Infantry):-

1 hackle.
1 hizam.
1 pair blue putties.
1 pair khaki putties.
1 khaki imma.
2 khaki jibbas.
2 khaki drawers.
8 yards puggaree for Camel Corps, together with 1 kamarband, green.

S.125. Arab Battalion – 1. The Arab battalion differs in some respects from the ordinary infantry battalions.

The uniform of the Arab battalion consists of a tarbush with a green tassel, an open jacket showing a white shirt and green kamarband, pantaloons of white cotton cut on a loose Arab pattern, leather gaiters lacing from knee to ankle for camel companies and mounted infantry, putties for infantry, and hide sandals.

2. Free Issue: Arab battalion:-

1 moghrabi tarbush.
1 green tassel.
1 pair gaiters (mounted men only).
1 hizam.
1 pair blue putties, for infantry.
1 pair khaki putties, for infantry.
1 khaki imma.
2 khaki jibbas.
2 khaki drawers.

3. Clothing provided by soldier (Camel Corps, Mounted Infantry, and Arab battalion):-

White cotton jacket.
White cotton drawers.
White cotton shirt.
White cotton imma.
1 pair sandals.

S.126. Infantry – Winter – The winter uniform is as follows:-

Head-dress – tarbush with tassel. Tunic of dark blue material, single-breasted, with white facings, brass collar ornaments of crescent and star. Trousers (long for officers, short for men) of dark blue material, with a white stripe 2 inches broad down outside seams. Putties of blue serge. Boots of ankle pattern. (White French gaiters are worn instead of putties when ordered.)

Summer – Head-dress – tarbush with tassel (same as for winter). Frock of white drill. Trousers of white drill. Gaiters of white drill (French pattern). Boots of ankle pattern.

Drill and field day order – Headdress – tarbush and tassel (same for winter and summer). Frock and trousers of khaki. Blue serge putties and ankle boots.

The Sudanese infantry only wear the drill order uniform, as in the Sudan no cloth or white clothing is worn, khaki being the universal dress. A khaki band called the “imma” is worn round the tarbush.

2. Each battalion has a distinctive colour. A “flash” of this colour is worn on the “imma” in front by Egyptian battalions, and on the right side by Sudanese battalions; the latter also wear a small “hackle” of feathers of the battalion colour over the “flash”.

The battalion number, in brass, is worn on the shoulder-strap in Egypt, and on the “flash” in the Sudan.

The chevrons and badges are blue in Egyptian battalions and of the battalion colour in Sudanese battalions.

Bugle cords are of the battalion colour in both Egyptian and Sudanese battalions.

3. All recruits are given part-worn clothing, and 2 pairs of new braces.

4. Each man of an Egyptian battalion in Egypt receives:-

1 cloth tunic, 1 pair cloth trousers, 1 greatcoat, 1 woollen jersey, 4 brushes, 1 button brass, 1 kit bag, 1 tin of blacking, tin of brass powder, and 1 sponge. These are replaced when condemned as “worn out” by the half-yearly boards.

In addition to the above, each man of an Egyptian battalion in Egypt receives an annual issue of :-

1 white drill frock and trousers, 1 khaki drill frock and trousers, 2 pairs blue serge putties, 2 tarbushes and tassels, 2 pairs of ankle boots, 3 shirts, 3 pairs of drawers, 2 pairs of socks, 2 handkerchiefs.

In the Sudan cloth and white drill clothing are not issued, but each N.C.O. and man of an Egyptian battalion is provided with 3 suits of khaki clothing in two years, and receives 1 pair of drawers, 1 shirt, 1 pair of socks, 2 “imams” and “flashes” extra annually, in addition to the garments issued in Egypt.

Sudanese battalions do not serve in Egypt, and in the Sudan are clothed in the same manner as Egyptian battalions, with the addition of 1 flannel belt annually and 1 “hackle” biennially.

S.127. Corps and departments generally – Officers and men are dressed alike except as regards quality of material.

Field officers provide their uniform at their own expense; other officers and warrant officers receive a money allowance in lieu.

S.128. Department of supplies – All ranks, except bakers, are clothed and equipped as infantry, with distinguishing badges.

Bakers are clothed and equipped as military artisans, with distinguishing badges.