Need info on facial hair in British army

[krakow]

Does anyone know the general regs on facial hair in the British army in WWII?

Was this something only officers where allowed or was it common among the NCO's and general ranks?

Steve

 

[krakow]

Does anyone know the general regs on facial hair in the British army in WWII?

Was this something only officers where allowed or was it common among the NCO's and general ranks?

Steve

 

[pzrwest]

Moustaches were permitted with permission of the commanding officer, also if a man grew a moustache he couldn't remove it without permission from the Co as well. Beards were not permitted unless a medical condition warranted it. The navy was a another thing unto it's self. Crews at sea were permitted to grow full beards for warmth but shore based seamen weren't allowed beards. There were several reasons why beards weren't allowed one for cleanlyness(lice) and the second was not to impead the seal between the face and the gasmask. But I know there are pics of men wearing beards mainly with the SAS members in Afrika

 

[pzrwest]

Moustaches were permitted with permission of the commanding officer, also if a man grew a moustache he couldn't remove it without permission from the Co as well. Beards were not permitted unless a medical condition warranted it. The navy was a another thing unto it's self. Crews at sea were permitted to grow full beards for warmth but shore based seamen weren't allowed beards. There were several reasons why beards weren't allowed one for cleanlyness(lice) and the second was not to impead the seal between the face and the gasmask. But I know there are pics of men wearing beards mainly with the SAS members in Afrika

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Quoting regulations is all fine and dandy for the parade square, which is what you asked.
But it seems most of the figures displayed, bashed, presented are of troops in the field. Who after 72 hours laying in a water filled ditch, in the rain with the 12th SS taking pot shots at you probably neglected the shaving thing, unless you were Guards they always shaved.
1-3 days stubble wouldn't be uncommon. For anyone at the pointy end. Even the odd officer.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Quoting regulations is all fine and dandy for the parade square, which is what you asked.
But it seems most of the figures displayed, bashed, presented are of troops in the field. Who after 72 hours laying in a water filled ditch, in the rain with the 12th SS taking pot shots at you probably neglected the shaving thing, unless you were Guards they always shaved.
1-3 days stubble wouldn't be uncommon. For anyone at the pointy end. Even the odd officer.

 

[pzrwest]

I agree with JC completely in the field is a big difference to barracks or parade square. When I was in the army(74-79) many times it was several days before we got back to tent city as we called it where we could shower and shave. So several days growth was not un-common, but it's a big difference between that and full beards. But as JC says men get pretty scruffy looking after several days or even weeks of being "in the field"

 

[pzrwest]

I agree with JC completely in the field is a big difference to barracks or parade square. When I was in the army(74-79) many times it was several days before we got back to tent city as we called it where we could shower and shave. So several days growth was not un-common, but it's a big difference between that and full beards. But as JC says men get pretty scruffy looking after several days or even weeks of being "in the field"

 

[krakow]

Facial hair.

Fair enough. I was really meaning combat troops and guys with a little more than a few days growth.

I have a tub full of Brits that need to be bashed and when going through my headsculpt stash I found several heads with moustaches.

The heads may or may not have originally been from a Brit boxed release but they could easily pass for some boys from across the pond.

Thanks!

Steve

 

[krakow]

Facial hair.

Fair enough. I was really meaning combat troops and guys with a little more than a few days growth.

I have a tub full of Brits that need to be bashed and when going through my headsculpt stash I found several heads with moustaches.

The heads may or may not have originally been from a Brit boxed release but they could easily pass for some boys from across the pond.

Thanks!

Steve

 

[Glidah Drivah]

One thing to keep in mind is that if they couldn't see any rank insignia, German snipers would often target Allied troops with facial hair. Thanks to Errol Flynn, Clark Gable and others, moustaches were fashionable; and middle and upper class officers and NCOs would often wear them. After a few of these snipers were captured and interrogated, the razors came out, and stubble grew evenly.

On a related note, these same actors often went bare chested on-screen, leading to a drop in t-shirt sales until Marlon Brando and James Dean burst on to the scene...

 

[Glidah Drivah]

One thing to keep in mind is that if they couldn't see any rank insignia, German snipers would often target Allied troops with facial hair. Thanks to Errol Flynn, Clark Gable and others, moustaches were fashionable; and middle and upper class officers and NCOs would often wear them. After a few of these snipers were captured and interrogated, the razors came out, and stubble grew evenly.

On a related note, these same actors often went bare chested on-screen, leading to a drop in t-shirt sales until Marlon Brando and James Dean burst on to the scene...