Behind The Uniform: Making The British Military Look Impeccable | Forces TV
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- Опубликовано: 20 ноя 2017
- When George Cross winner WO1 Kim Hughes needed a new set of uniforms, he had them made to measure. The work was done at a very traditional company in a very traditional Army town. We follow him through this fascinating process and hear the rather unfortunate reason he needed the new uniforms at all...
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Wow, I'm shocked that he defused seven bombs in one day alone. That's absolutely amazing.
Nerves of steel
I have done 10 in a single day, but American EOD tends to be more busy then our British counter parts.
@@pabloescabar1038 tell us more about ur defusals, are they freaking hard n scary
El'amin mochichi I would be happy too. I’m an EOD tech in the US military, I have defused IED’s in Iraq, Afghanistan with a total of 5 deployments.
Pablo Escabar : Only difference is someone announced his deeds; you announced your own. Did you notice?
The British have some very sharp uniforms. God bless the British military.
Their bayonets are even sharper!
I thought I'm the only one who sees them as the best in the whole world. My country was British colonised hence using the same kind of the British uniforms which make most young guys wish to join the military.
@@thomasmackenzie8766 My country also, with the army's mess kit being a white top & jacket with black trousers & red bowtie, though I'd heard a complaint that it makes 1 look more like a waiter. The navy uses a white jacket also (though black tie instead) but the collar uses curved instead of sharp edges
@@thomasmackenzie8766 same here in india, though unfortunately they changed up the uniform quite a bit here and they don't look nearly as smart anymore
Muertos elegantes !
U.S. Navy retired, mid 70s - mid 90s, uniform quality and fluctuations was a horror story. Wy wife was appalled by what I wore to work most of the time that she made shirts from scratch. When I was assigned to a billet that required a shirt and tie uniform, I mail ordered higher quality (before Internet) shirts and shopped at some high end stores until I found suitable trousers, took them to a "real" tailor who took them apart and remade them. Best money I ever spent on uniforms. Bespoke gets my vote! It's OK to invest in yourself!
Well said 👍
Interesting that he was present at an ANZAC day event, cheers to the brits for not forgetting Us
Honour to the country with the communtiy.
My school in Edinbugh honoured ANZAC day every year. We should never forget our Commonwealth brothers.
We never forget our comrades whom we were honoured to serve with from all over the world.
Canadian here. On my NZ honeymoon I made sure that I could attend an ANZAC day in Christchurch in honour of the lads I was with on my last tour.
yer damn right mate
How about showing him the respect he deserves, he's earn't it, unlike the trolls who've posted on here.
The real thing is usually less visually appealing than the Hollywood posers.
David Robinson
Thank you.
If 20 years service does not allow me to take the piss out of a Sapper, then I am a troll!
Piere Vojzola
Depends on your comment......
Big difference between banter and disrespect.
Well said.. He's got my respect, you all have.. 33 years (and counting) service in the Irish army here.. Respect from Dublin, Ireland
A very brave man who deserves the utmost respect. I hope the kit fitted perfectly!
A bespoke suit always fits perfectly.
They won't let you have a sub par uniform because they are perfectionists and have a reputation for their work.
I’ve inherited my fathers Singer 16K 115 - it was specifically made for the manufacture of military uniforms in the first 6 months of 1916, I’d love to find out more about the tailors of this period. The machine was mounted on a treadle, all foot power …
My grandmother (b1895) used a treadle Singer which by the time I came along my grandfather had rigged up with a motor. Not pretty to look at but that sewing machine lasted her a lifetime.
In the Canadian Forces, we get a new dress uniform every 1-2 years as needed. We have a tailor on the base to tweak the fit, thankfully. Nothing looks better than a tailored uniform. Nothing looks worse than someone squeezed into their kit like a sausage..
My God I would have joined the army in a heartbeat if I had known there were women like you in it
@@JohnDoe-yq9rtYou can't actually do that in the army my friend...
Over the years since my retirement, my mess kit has shrunk !!!!
A.M. Fortas It's the calorie fairies that sneak into your wardrobe at night and adjust all your clothes. They've done it to my No1's and Mess Kit too! 😏
Have another Scotch (no time like the present!).
I've always said whoever will devise a mess kit with stretch panels will make a fortune
My US Army dress blues have also changed size. For some reason they have gone from a size 38 waist to a size 34.
Michael Hanlon I’m glad I wasn’t the only US Army soldier to have his shrink up, too!
Interesting that the fabric for the uniforms is woven in the UK. AW Hainsworth in Stanningley, West Yorkshire supplied the woolen fabric for uniforms worn at Trafalgar and Waterloo and still produce it for the scarlet uniforms worn by the Guards regiments and Royalty as well as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Wow, brilliant! 👍🏼(Former fashion designer and pattern cutter here)
Total respect to him
Such excellent quality and skill involved in making these uniforms no one else can do the same the styles have been used for decades and and they show the tradition and legacy and make our forces look the best in the world
My Great Uncle is Buried at the Aldershot Military Cemetery, pretty close to where this is filmed!
No: 10544
Pte Gilbert Owen Mitchley
4th Regt. South African Inf.
KIA - 20th February 1917
Fampoux, France
Age: 22
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM!!!
We will!
When my father reported to his first duty post in the early 50s he had a $400 allowance to have his officer's uniforms fitted and tailored. He spent extra to have his uniforms made ...as a General's Adjutant, and a sharp dressed officer out in public. Off the rack was only for on-post wear in those days.
I love the eye for quality and the attention to detail of a bespoke uniform.
Wow that's nice. I'm personally an Member of the german Guardbatailon. De jure 1. Garde Regiment zu Fuß. We get our imperial Uniforms by an old Uniform producer too, which as I heard was used by local british occupation officers as cutter too.
Was ist ein "local British occupation officer" bitte?
@@keithpringle3940 Just what it says on the tin; Allied troops occupied West Germany and West Berlin for many years after the Second World War. Presumably they asked around and figured out who could be trusted with their uniform tailoring.
That gap between the first and second button closure bothered me. Is it supposed to do that?
I noticed that immediately. Also, the tailor placed his right hand over that bulge in an attempt to hide it from viewers.
The placing of the buttons are to represent the different regiments the soldiers are serving in the royal welsh buttons are placed in different positions to the Irish guards and so on and so forth
No, that's poor work right there. And at a grand a time? I had my issue No.2 dress tailored for a lot less than that!
I stopped that
@@FunnyWithlunny That's only with Household Division Foot Guard Summer Tunics.
I use to make Army uniforms when I first started working after I left school I love making them just saying ......
That's nice
Hi J, I worked in a sewing factory where I did the camouflage uniforms as well as the dress uniforms everything was already cut and ready to sew. I think how they would fit the dress uniforms was by having some soldiers come to the factory and get measured if their uniform needed to be altered in anyway but I am not sure as it was nearly 40 years ago wen I had just turn 16 and left school. I loved doing this work and I can honestly say it's the only time I had my hands in a soldiers trousers lol.....
@@suejones8661 Lols fascinating. Thanks for your story!
Keep up the good work! Its nice to watch this handcraft.
1) "Mess kit" means something different in the US...
2) How is defusing IED's not "in the face of the enemy," when a hiding bad guy could detonate one remotely at any moment?
Stephen Britton Many IED’s don’t need someone to set of the bomb. Most have a pressure sensor attached to a phone etc so when the item is moved, stepped on normally, it explodes.
Point to the taliban who will spend a month sitting in the middle of the road hiding and waiting for a truck to drive by to remember where the IED is and detonate it RIGHT when it gets driven over, and hope the signal gets to it to detonate it right at the moment he remotely presses it. I think he's just made it work like a landmine instead of doing that.
I’m with you on you second point. Walking up to a bomb to diffuse it must take a very brave man. To do it 7 times in one day is almost unbelievable. The terminology is historical, probably from before the days of bomb disposal.
The Victoria Cross is for valour in the face of the enemy, the George Cross does not have that restriction.
Of course in the UK "kit" refers to your uniform, so football clubs (soccer teams) have a Home Kit, Away Kit, and Change Kit and the club has a Kit Manager. (There's a thing called "Kit clash".) "Kit" can also refer to equipment as it does in the US.
Thank-you Kim. ❤️
Thank you
Hope the top button on your 2's got moved slightly to remove that bit of raised material below it. Other than that Sir, carry on :D
It's too bad about the gap between the first and second front buttons. They should have redone the button placement!
Looking great!
Fascinating video:)-John in Texas
Very, very good video
As spanish military, i agree with VerminHator. Respect to the persons who serves their countries!
Nice to see they have stayed traditional
He is an amazing person
8:38 when he does side-view to the mirror. The bulge between the buttons suggests to me this is not as well put together as it could be
RSM(WO1) SATO. Regimental Sergeant Major. Senior Ammunition Technician Officer. Used to be R.A.O.C. Royal Army Ordnance Corp when I worked alongside them in Ammo Section. Now part of the RLC. Royal Logistics Corp.
It'll be over to the Palace soon for fitting and a full update of my kit.. Best ,, No. 9!!
Red flashes for Staff officers?
Brilliant, simply brilliant. ^~^
08:20 the tailor is 'happy' but I see a bulge between the first and second button from above because there is too much fabric inbetween?
What is going on between the top two buttons of his Service Dress?
I don’t consider approx £1000 to be expensive for mtm clothes, with all of that handwork. But, that does make me Re-evaluate the amount of work I put into my own sewing. 🤔
The legend that is WO1 Hughes,,,,,,,,,,,
Good-looking stuff.
Thank you for your service. God bless the Queen. Best of luck from Hamilton Ontario Canada.
Thank you for your service my fellow British ally brother in arms. Cause of soldiers like you and I some of these ungrateful sons of bitches sleep well at night. Hello from Texas USA brother God bless you.
Any more service gongs and he’ll be on a second row👏👏👏
Can we see a full worn kit and other types?
And honour!
go in a specified direction or manner; change position.
Poor fit around the top button
Well done kim, job done.
British Army my Dream will do work hard to get in military as an officer. ❤️
Gant shirt with wide open collar, messy hair. Proper posh lad.
Cool.
Tbh I did not think the jacket had a good fit
Wow.
I can't sew to save my life so I shouldn't criticise but...when he's trying on his service jacket at the end,the gap between the top and second top button doesn't seem to work-too much fabric so it billows out a little.I'm sure Lee noticed this but nothing was said during filming-it would be corrected afterwards.
So gorgeous
Respect to WO1 Hughes for his service.
And great to see a business thriving by providing bespock military uniforms.
But sad to see that the battle dress of today, the uniform used by the troops is seen as shabby or rude and inappropriate.
Too much pomp and ceremony.
bespoke
you seem to be saying two contradictory things
Edwin Cheesecake i agree, its a fine balance to strike between preserving the proud history of the British Army is essential- its what makes it one of the greatest armies in the world, and gives each serviceman a shared identity. But you have to balance practicality and changing times. Its bery hard
Edwin Cheesecake no problm :-)
Edwin Cheesecake there is nothing wrong with the working dress, the reaon some soldiers look like a sack of potatoes is because of a few reasons. Poor sizing at the QMs, soldiers gaining and losing weight, soldiers not caring at all in their appearance.
I myself have served with a number of soldiers who just don’t bother putting the effort in to get a perfectly flat collar, sleeves 4 fingers long and four fingers from the elbow, one trouser leg in place and the other hiked up. Berets like helicopter landing pads. Its a point of pride and many just do not have it.
when it comes to british uniforms there are no half measures! they are always smart looking, put together with great skill the made of the highest quality materials. british military tailor
s are the best in the world
Fine uniforms...
and the average soldier gets an off the peg best dress.
For free.
However, they are still tailored if a soldier is betwen sizes, or sleeves / trousers need shortening etc.
Now it’s time to make the army look good
too bad there's only 80,000 or so british military...need to increase the size ASAP!
72000 in the army and i believe just over 100k in all branches. Our army is so small now it doesnt even qualify as an army anymore. More of a militia now
Are all officer uniforms bespoke or are there off the shelf ones too? I mean a bespoke uniform must be pretty expensive?
coolspot18 for Scottish regiments, about £5000. Sporran alone is £500+ You can buy off the shelf.
too bad in australia there made in china
You bought them for cheap, blame yourself
One happy rsm. That means happy ncos and troops. Never upset rsm.
I miss wearing my mess dress. Makes you feel the part.
Dont do new rows for medals?
about half the world does not:-Nordics,Germany Netherlands ,Canada,Aussies,Kiwis ,Indian subcontinent, most of Southeast Asia and a big chunk of the middle east and about half of Africa
No, I've seen a few WOs with medals stretching halfway across their arm 💪
I want that man to make me a vest just like his...
"I can't kill you; it'd mess up that................... handsome coat!"
Wait a minute! What was that bulge between the first and second buttons? A bit shoddy if you ask me.
and the back panel puckering along with the gape at 1st and 2nd buttons!
so service dress are no2s
"troop professionals" - good pun
"if it isn't broke don't fix it". Words to live by!
The British mil has some best looking uniforms….
He does two fittings without ever wearing a shirt? wtf. And the coat collar has that hallmark "flying away from the neck" look. And the fronts are incorrectly cut as the very visible bulge at the top buttons indicates. And then there's the sleeve. With the sleeve head/top of the sleeve way too tight horizontally, as you can see it really kinks inwards just below the shoulder padding.
All in all, as a 1k quid "bespoke" its pretty atrocious with all the fitting issues any proper tailor and cutter would be able to solve after the first fitting
Glad it wasn't just me. That thing was riddled. 😢
Since when was the crown worn near the elbow?When I was in it was on the forearm!
@@joe4066 other NCO ranks are sewn on where? The crown is actually worn on your wrist, around the same place you'd wear a watch but in your right arm! Other NCO ranks are sewn into your upper arm, 4 fingers above the elbow!!
can anyone explain what the red collar and band mean on a British army uniform means? I've been searching the internet and it appears to be one of the quirky British secrets.
Staff officers. Those above the rank of Lt Col
@@nickharvey5149 And since I’ve seen enlisted personnel such as guards with the red band that this includes any support troops.
@@nickharvey5149 Not true! Staff officers can be captains! Usually you'll pick up your first staff job as a captain, once you've finished a platoon commanders tour. It's part of the big step of preparing you to become a company commander. True to a certain extent though! Staff officers do wear the red tabs on their collars. The red sash Herr geist is asking about I think, is the one worn by a platoon sgt. If he was referring to the dam brown belt and band, then that is a dark brown or black belt and sash combo worn by wo2s and upwards, all other ranks in no2 dress should be wearing white belt kit with bayonet and scabbard!
@@nickharvey5149 I think you mean “General Staff officers”. In WW1 all staff officers, even Captains, wore red tabs, but nowadays it is only full Colonel and above who wear this, together with the GS capbadge.
Staff officers up to SO2 can be Captains, Majors or Lt Cols, but they will all wear regimental insignia, while most, but not all! - SO1 staff officers will be full Colonels.
nor the uk we respect that
It's great that officers get all this ,but the poor ordinary soldier,the backbone of the British army just get stuff thrown at them,and told try on for size.
Because enlisted get their uniforms for free. Officers have to buy their own uniforms on their own time which can cost $500 or more dollars
I spent time enlisted and Officer. Getting thrown a uniform to try for size us better than paying $700
That tailor really leans on the "ums".
Well he is working for the ummed services.
Wheeyy nice one!
Stick a camera in front of someone "normal" and watch it happen!
L ' Italia ha una lunga tradizione per le sartorie militari con divise fatte su misura sarebbe bello che i soldati della Gran Bretagna portassero uniformi made in Italy .🇮🇹❤️🇬🇧
Pica la piel con la lana italiana
Probably the same firm that made my mess dress in 1982
He's posing so hard lol
Don't distract the tailor when he's measuring a client.
£1,000 for a bespoke British suit is very cheap, for a complicated uniform, it is extremely good value.
Sorry to say, the new FAD is just crap in contrast with the snug fit stiff material darker No.2s back in the 80s. And why was the tailor with an English accent wearing a Black Watch reg't tie.
Yeah I've been told that the material for the FAD No 2 dress, loses its shape and creases like fuck. You can't do anything with the crap apparently, they really look scruffy today. Nothing's too shit for the Army.
Many members of Scottish and Highland regiments come from families of Scottish extraction who grew up in England.
David Niven is an excellent example. Though raised in England, his family regiment was the Argyle and Sutherlands. When he applied for his first regiment he had to give three choices. He listed 1) Argyle and Sutherland, 2) Black Watch, 3) Anything but the Highland Light Infantry. He was sent to the HLI.
@@blacksmith67 Or another way to put it is, many Rupert's in Scottish regiments come from a long line of aristocratic Englishmen who were awarded titles and vast estates to remain loyal to the monarchy back in the days of Oliver Cromwell. Despite crippling death taxes, the us civil war, the Boer war, ww1, ww2, Palestine and Korea, there remains a steady flow of groinal secretions ready to step into the breech in the name of family history and perceived scottishness, to join those famous old regiments! (That Whitehall is slowly grinding into the dust!)
Anyone used Knight's Tailoring in Tidworth? Shocking service and the woman in there is as rude as hell. Guess it doesn't matter what sort of service they provide when they have the contract for the Garrison!!!!!!!!!!
Wonder who we'd complain to? I'd suggest themselves but they don't give a toss!
Most of the garrison will have been up her at some point.
Recuperan la ropa antes de cremar los muertos ?
I was wondering how many uniforms do British Army soldiers have to own? The one time I worked with the British Army was on a REFORGER exercise in Northern West Germany in '87 (?). The British Army guys that were with us were wearing a bunch of uniform combinations. The US Army had one. I was told by the ranking British Army Captain that there were 16 different uniform combinations in the field. I'm sorry but I thought that was crazy. So how does it work today for soldiers?
well it kind of depends. Theres No. 1 and 2 dress, both of which are parade dress. Theres mess dress, which is an evening thing worn on formal occasions, like a 'tux' as you americans call it. Theres No. 13s (idk why is skips the others) which is not really used but its a semi formal sort of thing, but still work dress. Then theses the general Issue MTP stuff for day to day and actual combat. The exact kit used on the day (ie helmet, ballistics protection, ect) is set by the OIC and is mission dependant. Then there is various Regimental dress. That about sums it but, but im not actually in the forces so im not 100% sure
We were in the field at the time and it seemed each of the British Army soldiers was in their own uniform combination. I guess the Officer In Charge (OIC) had not specified a specific uniform. Soldiers get a uniform allowance and officers get a one time allowance to buy uniforms (1983). It may be different now. Does each regiment have their own specific uniform? That could get expensive I would think.
IIRC, they have quite an extensive list of dress uniforms, but not all of them are required for all service officers or members. It also depends on the regiment. Here's a handy Wiki list:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniforms_of_the_British_Army#Numbered_orders_of_dress
A lot of those 16 'orders of dress' are just variations of each other, such as summer/tropical vs winter/temperate wear. Then you have mess dress and multiple combat uniforms, some of which are phased out. Also, a lot of the uniforms are only issued to certain units or certain billets.
If you think of it in US Army terms, think of the Class A's, Class B's, and the Mess dress being separated into different uniforms. Then you have the cammies and the variety of parade uniforms you only see worn by ceremonial units. Granted, it's still less than what the Brits have, but that's because the US Army did away with its service and white uniforms. It makes more sense if you served in one of the Naval services like the USN or USMC, but even then it's still organized terribly IMO. At least the USN/USMC categorizes it's uniforms into specific levels of dress (utilities/service/dress uniforms) which makes it easier to follow.
That's a pretty fair summary - top work!
...and the very best would be Dege & Skinner.
As an American former Marine I'm still getting used to the idea of seeing a soldier wearing an immaculate uniform and having long-ish hair. Trying to get my head wrapped around that concept.
british officers are usually a different class (gentlemen) to the other ranks ,so therefore have more leeway in their outward appearance , i have been out on exercise with officers who look and dress like blood sport enthusiasts !
Peter Scotney he isnt a commisoned officer, he is a soldier rank. Warrant officer
Ron Rook he’s retired from the service I think.
Kyle A WO1 is almost commisioned and has the respect of all ranks as there are not so many holding the rank at any one time. Usually after their time as WO1 they are commisioned into Captain.
Firstly mate he is a WO1 right second point as long as his hair is short around the sides and the rest can't be seen under his head dress job done. Yank marines have tight hair cuts we know. When your at his level in the British army and bomb disposal he will probably be heading toward late enterent LE commission. There as a warrant office holding the Queen's warrant and probably heading towards being commissioned his hair is well in the guide lines of Queens regulations.
What's up between the first and second button.not good.
I always thought our No2 dress was like an army blanket compared with other countries . Trousers always looked like th cat had died. RM dress uniform was always smart .
Got to agree, unbelievably uncomfortable as they never fitted correctly
a L1000 is cheap for the quality and care it takes to make these bespoke uniforms. yes, and many Br. uniforms are real class.
Where’s Hugo Boss?
I'm a Yankee, so how do you tell the ranks?
Stripes, pips, crowns and wreaths.
How do you tell your ranks? Research!!
Surprised the jacket didn't fall apart with the 17 tonnes of metal he has on his chest. Well done Sergeant Major!
They will be busy now changing the uniforms for the new King
You'd think they know that Service Dress no longer exists. No.2 Dress for all ranks now
Ron Bromhead They do know, but when your in the forces, the tailors, it’s hard to keep up when no one tells you. Also, as an independent business they dint need to follow the exact names,
....or fad...lol
Ive always thought their uniforms looked like brown paper bags. Their ribbon bars and chords are weird too
What's a chord?
I never liked the army service dress. The colour, that a belt is not worn as standard and, for O.R’s, black boots! Major revamp long overdue!
It's a shame though that most standard uniforms are made in some cheapo country abroad.
leedsman54 All parade uniform regardless of rank are made in the UK.
Mostly in China now! The first batch of MTP arrived with Union Jacks sewn on - upside down!