Here's a fun fact you will probably not know. The only regiment in the British Army that was allowed to wear Chainmail Epaulettes on its khaki No2 dress was the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry (DLOY), now amalgamated with the Queens Own Yeomanry. This was a battle honour granted to the regiment after service in the Middle East under General Allenby during the First World War. When doing my two-week TA officers' course at Sandhurst back in 1978 and wearing my No2 dress with chainmail, I was publicly berated in front of everyone on my course by the Academy's RSM for being 'undressed'! When I gingerly informed him that it was a battle honour, he grunted and snorted and informed me that he would go away and do some research. The next day, he surprised everyone by coming onto the early morning parade. He brought us all to attention and said that he had an announcement to make. He called out my name and then proceeded to give me a fulsome apology including reading out the citation to this battle honour. When finished, he saluted me and marched off the parade ground. What a man!

19th century military and all its curiosities really don't get enough spotlight in films and popular historical teaching. Thanks for the video!

Wouldn't be surprised if they were there to stop officers cutting their collar bones with their own swords

I remember my grandfather told me that back in the 18th and 19th centuries, Brits would often choose their regiment based on what the uniform looked like 😂

I wore them on my "patrol dress" while a member of a Royal Canadian Armoured Corps reserve regiment. They're a pain in the ass because you can't send your tunic to the dry cleaners with the epaulets on. We had to cut them off then sew them back on every time we needed to get the tunic cleaned.

"Never let progress get in the way of a snappy looking uniform!" ~England, probably😁

They do look cool

Sword wielding cavalry still required some protection from sword blows deflected from attacks aimed at the head.

well I would have to say that having worn them and used them often on for years, no the chain mail epaulets were not used to help prevent injury from a sword cut. Have you ever fought with a sword or been poked/chopped with one? Someone coming down on you with a cavalry saber on your shoulder would break your shoulder to pieces because it's a big heavy weapon and you're moving along several miles an hour on a horse probably both of you adding to it. The Chainmaile epaulets are symbolic of being a chivalrous knight on a horse. The chain mill epaulets basically took the place of wearing a breast plate like the household cavalry still does and the ceremonial French dragoon unit in France today. believe it or not the gorget tabs that are used as rank insignia for kernels up through field marshal's is supposed to be symbolic of the breast plate so it's called a gorget tab. That's the official word from the British government not my opinion. Hope this is helpful cheerio, up the Raj!

Actually Chain mail epaulettes originated during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 when a British officer of the 2nd Punjab Cavalry was seen sewing the curb chains of his horse's bridle onto his shoulders (on his tunic naturally) to ward off sword cuts. The idea caught on and soon after the mutiny they became a part of the cavalryman's uniform.

That without a doubt is another manifestation of that romantic medievalism that sprung up in the 19th century, hit its golden age just before WWI before slowing morphing into a more melancholy version.

Getting shot is a pretty horrific experience, having half the torso cleaved open is another matter entirely, both incredibly deadly thou the latter could at least in theory be prevented, if the saving-roll landed on two fours.

Nice to hear the Queen's Own 4th Hussars mentioned. My dad served in it and saw action in Greece, Crete, Nth Africa and then up through Italy to Berlin. I also have a friend who is a Frontiers man, they meet up and have fun doing military things and helping out at big events like air shows.

From what I've read, some years ago, was that the chainmail epaulettes originated in India before being used by the British.

Never seen (noticed?) these before. Thank you JJ. ❤️

'Whatever happens, we have got, the Maxim gun, and they have not.' Hilaire Belloc 1898. I notice that you can buy chainmail epaulettes as jewellery these days. Hmmmmm, probably the best use for it.😀

As usual, Johnny provides short and interesting comments! Love to see you more popular. I found your other side channel… but I think most your current fans do not know of it! Think you should plug it a few times!!

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I like this video. Very well done and informative. The use of film clips is a nice touch. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

I never heard of them till now thanks for the info