RAF "Ruritanian" Uniform 1918

[PhilB]

In his book "The Birth of the RAF 1918", Richard Overy mentions "a light blue uniform with much gold braid" but doesn`t show a photo of same. I`ve been unable to find one - can anyone oblige?

Edited 7 August , 2018 by PhilB

[Steven Broomfield]

Sounds rather fetching.

[Stoppage Drill]

Back of my mind - Wasn’t there a surplus of a blue grey cloth in UK due to a cancelled Russian contract, and this was then used for the RAF uniforms and the colour became established ?

[Steven Broomfield]

That was certainly a rumour I read somewhere.

[Stoppage Drill]

https://www.google.com/search?q=raf+uniforms+ww1&client=safari&hl=en-bh&prmd=isnv&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&fir=s17mgJKN9qMw8M%3A%2CNbFiWZ4H2E4QoM%2C_%3BeGM_naEMheNiEM%3A%2CtlZtQOpbOyYLaM%2C_%3B9tDVUozO-slUhM%3A%2CtlZtQOpbOyYLaM%2C_%3BB5E_G_Lofha1dM%3A%2CZkg2rLAdpc1ENM%2C_%3By0qN6vNvkj4m8M%3A%2CV1uBWOAQ7tzZzM%2C_%3BwCkCfBe0NJ_gfM%3A%2CO97DFHaVWlzVAM%2C_%3BZ29s9qZ55AJI4M%3A%2CZkg2rLAdpc1ENM%2C_%3Bz6TvO7XSk1oHFM%3A%2Cldzej17STiVapM%2C_%3BBQnJ3bhxIHRV0M%3A%2CHZ1i2Oy5vlYsqM%2C_%3Bzr8TBKYDIwdZvM%3A%2COLbj36L22sqiVM%2C_&usg=AFrqEzceb-l4os0uN7qnfd2ipJDuwETQ1A&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi88KP_7NrcAhWnBsAKHVhmCt4Q4216BAgKECU&biw=375&bih=553#imgrc=5KYiDqe9yT-pKM:

[PhilB]

Thanks SD. What rank would that be?

[Stoppage Drill]

This rank would be Air Commodore I suppose. Single double thickness ring.

Maybe the pic is a full dress uniform rather than Service Dress, so perhaps not what you are looking for, but Ruritanian, certainly.

[PhilB]

Yes, the OP didn`t make clear whether it meant all uniforms or just officers`. Presumably the Royal Sanction of 21st June would make it clear.

According to Wiki:-

"With the establishment of the Royal Air Force as an independent service on 1 April 1918, orders were issued detailing new uniform patterns. Major General Mark Kerr designed the first officer uniform which was largely pale blue with gold braid trimmings."

 

More comments here:-

https://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?133348-RAF-Ranks-WW1

Edited 7 August , 2018 by PhilB

[Andrew Upton]

This is the type of uniform being described:

 

http://www.britairforce.com/imagepages/raf_uniform_1918_a.htm

 

 

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjomayQpNvcAhWBxIUKHawSA4sQjxx6BAgBEAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Flte-4g.info%2Fgreen-royal-air-force-uniform-98097%2F&psig=AOvVaw3yiqX_vF_kBPuH_oM8sGLG&ust=1533742938984434

 

 

http://canterbury100.org.nz/explore/objects/jacket-light-blue-raf-officer-s-service-dress-1918-pattern

 

[PhilB]

Thanks Andrew.  From the above sites:-

 

On 1 April 1918, Air Force Memorandum 2 specified rank insignia for the newly established independent force. Rank was to be worn on the jacket cuff and was derived from the Royal Navy's rings, each equivalent rank having the same number of rings. However, second lieutenants (later pilot officers) displayed a crowned eagle only and the Navy's loop was not used for any rank. Depending on the uniform, either gold or pale blue on grey braid was worn.

In August 1918, Air Ministry Weekly Order 617 added a single band of 1/4 inch braid below the second lieutenant's eagle and all other officer ranks also received a crowned eagle above their braid.

 

 

2nd Lieut. No lace, but bird and crown on both sleeves
where lace would otherwise be.
Lieut. .. One row of distinction lace surmounted by bird
and crown.
Captain .. Two rows of distinction lace surmounted by
bird and crown.
Major .. Two and a half rows of distinction lace surmounted
by bird and crown.
Lieut.-Col. Three rows of distinction lace surmounted by
bird and crown.
Col. ,. Four rows of distinction lace surmounted by
bird and crown.
Brig.-Gen. One broad row of distinction lace surmounted by
bird and crown.
Maj.-Gen. One broad row and one ordinary row of distinction
lace surmounted by bird and crown.
Lieut.-Gen. One broad and two ordinary rows of distinction
lace surmounted by bird and crown.
General .. One broad row and three ordinary rows of distinction
lace surmounted by bird and crown
.
Trousers and Breeches.—As now worn by the R.F.C.
Shirts and Collars.—Khaki shirts and collars with black ties.

Footgear.—With breeches—brown field boots or brown
boots with puttees or gaiters or brown stockings with shoes
for aerodrome and similar wear. With trousers—brown boots
or shoes with brown socks.

[Heid the Ba]

Co-incidentally this morning I read a description of French Adrian helmets as "Ruritanian" with no further explanation. 

[PhilB]

The originals!

[tomcervo]

On 09/08/2018 at 05:37, PhilB said:

The originals!

 

Unimpressed.

   

[tomcervo]

On 07/08/2018 at 11:45, Andrew Upton said:

This is the type of uniform being described:

 

http://www.britairforce.com/imagepages/raf_uniform_1918_a.htm

 

 

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjomayQpNvcAhWBxIUKHawSA4sQjxx6BAgBEAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Flte-4g.info%2Fgreen-royal-air-force-uniform-98097%2F&psig=AOvVaw3yiqX_vF_kBPuH_oM8sGLG&ust=1533742938984434

 

 

http://canterbury100.org.nz/explore/objects/jacket-light-blue-raf-officer-s-service-dress-1918-pattern

 

 

It may have been a matter of trim more than color. Some cloth samples: