The ranks of the enlisted men are indicated by badges or chevrons worn upon the sleeves between the shoulder seam and the elbow, as follows:
| Sergeant Major | The coat of arms of Great Britain in gold, red and white embroidery. |
| Quartermaster Sergeant of Infantry | A British crown in gold and red embroidery. |
| Quartermaster Sergeant of Artillery | Two crossed cannon in gold with a British crown above them embroidered in gold and red. |
| Quartermaster Sergeant, Musketry Instructor | Two crossed rifles in gold with the crown in gold and red above them. |
| Sergeant | A chevron of three stripes worn with the points down. |
| Corporal | A chevron of two stripes worn with the points down. |
| Lance Corporal | A chevron of one stripe worn with the point down. |
| Private | No distinctive badge. |
The Corps insignia of the Royal Marines are the eastern hemisphere in silver surrounded by a gold laurel wreath, the insignia being surmounted by two gold cannon crossed for the Marine Artillery and by gold bugle trumpet for the Marine Light Infantry. These insignia are commonly referred to in the British service as “The Globe and Laurel.”
Uniforms of the British Army
At the beginning of the present world war the Land Forces of the British Empire embraced the regular troops commonly known as the “Home Army” and the troops of her far-flung colonial possessions and dependencies, such as the Indian Army, the Australian Army, the Canadian Army, the South African Forces, the West Indian regiments, the New Zealand troops, and the Police and Constabulary troops of many minor colonies and possessions.
In the “Home Army” there were many varieties and colors in the uniforms and when we add to this the distinctive uniforms of the various Colonial Forces and the picturesque native uniforms of the Indian forces the resultant assemblage is one which would require many volumes to adequately describe.
In one respect however the clothing of the various units collected from all over the vast British Empire to make up the great “New Army” of Great Britain is practically the same,—the service or field uniform of all is cut on the same lines and the insignia of rank worn with this uniform are the same for all, the variations being in the corps and regimental badges which indicate the portion of the empire from which the regiments come and the arm of the service in which they are serving.
The British were the first to adopt the neutral brown shade known as “khaki” for their field or service uniforms and its practicability and serviceability became so evident to them that its use was extended to all of their armed land forces, with the result that they now have a uniform and equipment which for serviceability, efficiency, comfort and smartness of appearance is excelled by no other nation.
The British Army officers’ uniform is made of a standard dark khaki colored cloth or serge and consists of a single-breasted coat with turn-down collar and rolling notched lapels, closed in front by a row of four gilt buttons, cut to fit snugly at the waist, easy across the breast and shoulders and with enough flare to the skirt to make it hang well over the full breeches that are worn with it; breeches which lace below the knee; tan leather strap puttees and shoes or tan leather boots; a bell-crowned cap with a sharply sloping visor; and the “Sam Browne” sword and pistol belt. Wrap puttees of khaki-colored cloth are also worn for garrison and field service.
The coat has a pleated patch pocket on each breast closed by a buttoned flap, and a large bellows patch pocket on each side below the waist which is also closed by a buttoned flap, and cloth shoulder straps on each shoulder secured by a small button at the collar end.