UNIFORMS
Early in 1900 Colonel C R Burn late of the 1st Royal Dragoons was recalled to raise a volunteer force of mounted infantry and turned to Captain R Wynne of his own regiment to establish recruiting centres in London. Between 800 and 1000 men were trained and sent out to south Africa to the Imperial yeomanry brigade.
With the 1st commanding officers being Colonel Burns and Major J M Rogers DSO as his second-in-command and both formerly of the 1st Royal dragoons it was quite understandable that the uniform decided upon should closely follow the scarlet dress of the Royals.
The regimental colours of royal purple, scarlet and gold were the royal racing colours of Edward VII and were adopted with his permission due to his friendship with Colonel Burn who had also been an A.D.C. to the King.
The Kings Racing Colours
For the first two years the first regimental badge was the Fleur-de-Lis. On the reformation the cap badge adopted, was the Prince of Wales feathers, which was also worn on the collar and slouch hat, the adoption was in honour of the present King, who, as the Prince of Wales took much interest in the Imperial Yeomanry contingents and perhaps Colonel Burn’s link to the King.
In 1902 the Regiment became affiliated to the City of Westminster and adopted the arms of the City of London as a regimental badge and was given the title of' 2nd county of London (Westminster Dragoons) Imperial Yeomanry.
Prince of Wales feathers
THE HELMET
The Helmet was of white metal or steel and the first pattern helmet plate carried the Prince of Wales feathers as the centre badge, with two scrolls round the edge,
“Honi soit qui mal y pense” and “2nd County of London”
In 1903 a new helmet plate was introduced on which the Prince of Wales’ feathers were replaced with the numeral “2”, but the original title scrolls were retained with the addition of the letters IY at the lower part of the star where the scrolls meet.
The Helmet plume was White for officers and Purple for other ranks (The Purple plume was unique amongst cavalry regiments) this changed to white for all ranks when it was found that the Purple Dye “ran” after being in the rain.
Note: Honi soit qui mal y pense translates to;
- shame on anyone who thinks evil of it.
- shamed be (the person) who thinks evil of it
Other Ranks Helmet
Helmet Plate
Officers Helmet
UNIFORMS
Full Dress
Mounted uniform was as for dragoons — a silver helmet with brass fittings and fronted with an eight-pointed Garter Star.
The jacket was of scarlet serge with purple facings, cuffs, and shoulder chains.
Breeches were of black barathea with yellow leg stripe and normal military riding boots and spurs.
Gauntlets, white buff leather and sword belt and a cross belt with black patent leather pouch completed the uniform.
Walking Out Dress
Similar but with black overalls and box spurs, a blue pill box hat with a wide yellow band and a swagger stick.
Service Dress
Whilst on duty an adapted khaki uniform was worn (first used in South Africa) which included a purple collar and cuffs, a slouch hat with turned up brim and a small purple plume. Brown boots, leggings and a bandoleer were worn. Later a flat peaked khaki hat was adopted.
The Slouch Hat had a rosette with the Prince of Wales’s feathers and purple plume, which later changed to the Westminster Dragoons badge once old stocks were depleted due to costs
The Officers cap badge was the staff officers’ badge of a lion surmounting a crown, but this was also the original badge of the "Royals'' from which Regiment so many of the officers had come
Slouch Hat Rosette
Officers Cap Badge
OFFICERS & ACCOUTREMENTS
Gold Pouch belt: Gold 1 ¾ inch Austrian Wave lace on black Morocco grain wave, Gilt buttons 2 1/8th inch.
Gold Sword belt: Sword Slings 1” Gold Austrian wave, Tasche slings ¾ inch on black Morocco. Web-waist strap. Square wire buckles.
Sabretache: Black patent. Dragoons shape. Gilt ornament as on helmet.
Mess Jacket: Blue cloth. Trimmed all round and top of collar with Gold 7/8th inch check. Double Scp . Eyes on tips. A point of same lace on cuffs. Studs down front. Gold 3 dwt Russia at base of collar. Gutless cord shoulder straps. Silver rank badges, Lined drab.
Mess Vest: Scarlet cloth trimmed all round and top of collar with 1 row 3 dwt braid, with eyes behind purple cloth under. 4 crows foot pockets, figure in corner, Guilt studs down front.
Scarlet serge Frock: Usual infantry scarlet, purple cloth collar, Gauntlet Cuffs and pads under chains. R B plated chains. Gilt rank badges, silver P.O.W feathers collar Badges (Later changed to Westminster Dragoons)
2 breast pockets with bright buttons, pockets expanding at the side.
2 bottom pockets no buttons.
5 Gilt crest bright buttons, down front.
4 Gilt crest bright buttons on each cuff.
2 on chain and lined.
* Note: the plume in the drawing should be white.
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​Forage cap: 1¾ inch gold Austrian wave band. Blue cloth. Tip traced gold 3 dwt braid. Small (hus size) netted pearl button.
Khaki Serge: Government shade, cut as patrol jacket. Purple mufti collar. Purple gauntlet cuffs, guilt gold buttons
Around top edge 4 buttons
4 Patrol pockets, buttons to top ones.
5 buttons down front.
Guilt rank badges
Guilt 2nd county of London yeomanry badges, no other badges.
Cloak: Blue, Scarlet under collar, Lined scarlet. Short bright gilt buttons with crown on. Gold embroidered rank badges.
Overalls: Blue Barathea, 1 ¾ inch yellow cloth stripes, Gold checks lace.
