Capt. Beachcroft Towse VC. Gordon Highlanders. Gallant chap. Excellent moustache. (Shared by Blind Veterans excellent new Twitter account: Blind Veterans UK (@BlindVeterans): Blind Veterans UK (@BlindVeterans) | Twitter )
RAF to allow beards for the first time Royal Air Force personnel will be allowed to grow beards under new rules aiming to promote inclusivity. The hair-raising move, which comes into force on 1 September, will allow serving members to wear "a smart, neatly-trimmed, full set beard". An RAF spokesman insisted that members would still have to maintain "high standards of appearance". Airmen were already allowed moustaches, but the relaxed rules will bring the RAF into line with the Royal Navy. Scraggly or patchy beards will not be accepted, the spokesman said. "A revised facial hair policy has been agreed by the RAF." "This move will help broaden the recruitment pool, promote inclusivity and help us retain our highly-skilled personnel." Beards were originally banned in the RAF for both historical and practical reasons - hair makes it harder for gas masks and other breathing apparatus to form an airtight seal around a person's face, according to the spokesman. The new rules, which will cover both regular and reserve personnel, will be confirmed in a routine internal notice. There are no plans to revise the rules for facial hair in the Army, where only moustaches are allowed. Under current rules, navy personnel hoping to grow a beard have to get approval from their commanding officer. They are then allowed a certain amount of time to grow their facial hair, before having to present their beards for inspection, a government spokesperson said. It's yet to be confirmed whether beard-growing in the RAF will operate in the same way. Facial hair in the armed forces: In the Army beards are not allowed but moustaches are permitted In the navy both beards and moustaches are permitted Under the RAF's new rules both beards and moustaches will be permitted All three services allow beards on religious grounds.
A mate has accidentally become a collector of 'silver coins with good moustaches, or eagles'. (The Fens, in case explanation required.) His favourite is King Umberto of Italy. Can't say I blame him really. Quite the 'tache, though the success of the Italian empire remains debatable. (It wears first on coins, apparently. So more 'tache = higher numismatist value.)
There was an article on this topic in the Journal for Army Historical Research. Until the Crimean war most soldiers were forbidden to have facial hair apart from the moustaches of the faux Hungarian hussars and the beards of the sergeant of Pioneers. The conclusion was that beards and exuberant facial hair was the product of a shortage of hot water on campaign in the Crimea. This triggered a whole fashion in facial hair.
Not only "won an empire" but helped regain islands too! Kind regards, always, Jim. P.S. Invariably captioned "Did you spill my pint?"
Concerning the Falklands post, a friend of mine, who I knew well before the Falklands campaign, told me that, on the long sea trip down there, the men of his engineer squadron, impressed by the Navy's beards, asked if they could have a beard growing competition. After consulting Queens Regs (and the SSM), a moustache growing competition was agreed. I must say that his, which he liked so much he kept it, was very distinguished, if not so flamboyant as some of those above. But that might account for some of the moustaches seen there. Chris
Of some renown, a moustache of empire. Times were oh so very different then. Words and pictures courtesy of "The Sapper" (official organ of the Royal Engineers Association) Volume 22, Number 1 (February 1985) Kind regards, always, Jim.
