Arm braid - Scottish Rifles 1916

[unclejock]

Hi -

Does someone know what the braid shown (attached) on my grandfather's uniform indicates?

Thanks

[Andrew Upton]

It is a lanyard - by WW1 it was originally intended to hold the soldiers clasp knife, but was often used for more practical purposes (eg to carry a whistle). All soldiers were meant to get them on mobilization, but they are more commonly (and somewhat erroneously) associated with artillery troops who also wore them in peactime.

[unclejock]

Thanks Andrew -

I had wondered if it was related to bugler duties (he did a bit of reveille/last post in training areas as he played in a silver band pre-war). It's the only appearance of such a lanyard in my small set of photos of WW1 soldier relatives, hence my enquiry.

Jim