Uniforms of the Belgian Army

Before 1914 the uniforms of the Belgian Army for home service were very elaborate and decorated with gold and silver braid and ornaments, although uniforms of cotton khaki were worn in hot weather on foreign service; but the experience of the present war showed the necessity of an inconspicuous dress for field service, and as a result the army is now provided with a field uniform designed after the British Army service uniform and made of dark khaki-colored woolen cloth.

The officers’ field service uniform consists of a coat similar to that worn by British officers except that it has a standing collar; breeches of the same material and color as the coat; a cap after the British design, and tan leather boots, or tan leather shoes with khaki-colored wrap puttees or tan leather strap puttees.

With this uniform the British “Sam Browne” tan leather belt and shoulder strap is worn.

The corps or arm of the service to which an officer belongs is shown by patches of colored cloth on the collar at each side of the neck opening. The rank of officers is indicated by insignia upon these collar patches, as follows:—

Major General	Three stars arranged to form an equilateral triangle with two vertical bars in front of it and a device made up of the King’s monogram, wings, a spear head and bolts of lightning, all in gold embroidery.
Brigadier General	The same as for major general, except there is but one vertical bar.
Colonel	Three gold stars arranged in the form of an equilateral triangle pointing down with a semicircular gold bar beneath it.
Lieutenant Colonel	The same as for colonel except there are but two stars.
Major	The same as for lieutenant colonel except there is but one star.
Commandant	Three gold stars arranged in the form of an equilateral triangle pointing down.
Captain	The same as for commandant except that the lower star is silver.
First Lieutenant	Two gold stars.
Second Lieutenant	One gold star.
Adjutant	One silver star.

Photo. Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C.

Belgian Army. Officers’ service uniform

The grade of Commandant has no corresponding one in the United States Army; the rank is between those of Major and Captain.

The grade of Adjutant corresponds to that of a Warrant Officer in the United States Navy and Marine Corps.

The service uniform of the enlisted men in the Belgian Army is similar in design and color to that of the British soldier.

The rank of noncommissioned officers is indicated by stripes upon the cuffs as follows:—

Regimental Sergeant Major	Three narrow stripes around the cuff parallel to the lower edge.
Sergeant Major	Two stripes around the cuff with two diagonal stripes above them.
First Sergeant	Two stripes around the cuff.
Quartermaster Sergeant	One stripe around the cuff with one diagonal stripe above it.
Sergeant	One stripe around the cuff.
Corporal	One stripe around the cuff, narrower than that worn by a sergeant.

Specialty marks are worn upon the sleeves above the elbow to mark men assigned to special duties.

Engineers	A plumed helmet.
Aviator	The King’s monogram with an eagle’s wing at each side.
Hospital Corps	A caduceus surrounded by a wreath.
Cycle Corps	A bicycle wheel.
Grenadiers	A bursting bomb.
Bandsmen	A lyre.

The men wear tan leather belts and cartridge pouches.