Pompom?

[Hammers]

What is the significance of the pompom in the Coldstream Guards bearskin hat? Some seem to have white, others red and some none at all. In same images they are worn on the left side, in others to the right. Does it have something to do with companies?

[Chairface]

The Coldsteam Guards plumes, are to my knowledge, always red. However the other guards regiments, not so much. I present you with the Woodlands Junior School website. Enjoy!

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/CUSTOMS/questions/royal/footguard.htm

[Hammers]

Ah, silly me! I thought the guard regiments had different uniforms! Do laugh at me and my foreign ways!

[Lowtardog]

Ah, silly me! I thought the guard regiments had different uniforms! Do laugh at me and my foreign ways!

[Chairface]

Ah, silly me! I thought the guard regiments had different uniforms! Do laugh at me and my foreign ways!

My friend I was not laughing at you! I knew about the different plume colours but I couldn't remember which regiment's plume was which.

[former user]

well, apart from different badges, plume colours and position, there is also the issue of the button numbers and arrangement, which in a way could be seen as "different uniform" detail.

While in some household formations uniforms used to be very different, I would assume that the general issue is that guards should be instantly and uniformly recognizable by outsiders as what they are (as opposed to regular troops), whereas only insiders would note the slight differences (that also accounts for enemy intelligence issues in combat).
And this is basically the modern approach, modified by tradition and lineage of the household formation.

During the times of colorful uniforms, rivalry between units was far more publicly discussed, aknowledged and displayed, whereas nowadays military forces are to be seen as the serving part of a nation and not the toy soldiers of some nobs.

[joroas]

Try this:

http://www.shinycapstar.com/footguardsinfo.htm

[Hammers]

My friend I was not laughing at you! I knew about the different plume colours but I couldn't remember which regiment's plume was which.

I am not really suggesting that you were. Thanks for the info.

[Hammers]

Well, well, where ever you turn there is some science behind it...

[former user]

Well, well, where ever you turn there is some science behind it...

Interesting point - We had something like that in the thread with the natural disasters...
I would always argument that science only provides a verifyable model to explain things, not the truth behind it.
One could always stick to the observable fact and simply say: that's how it is   

btw, does the Guard Infantry also have some kind of mounted squadron?

[Hammers]

Interesting point - We had something like that in the thread with the natural disasters...
I would always argument that science only provides a verifyable model to explain things, not the truth behind it.
One could always stick to the observable fact and simply say: that's how it is   

btw, does the Guard Infantry also have some kind of mounted squadron?

Surely you are thinking of the Horse Guards?

[Plynkes]

I think of all the ridiculous uniforms in the history of the British Army, the Life Guards have the most ridiculous one. Except maybe the Beefeaters.



Didn't Madonna have her hair like that for a while?

[Hammers]

I think of all the ridiculous uniforms in the history of the British Army, the Life Guards have the most ridiculous one. Except maybe the Beefeaters.



Didn't Madonna have her hair like that for a while?

Odds are that she's worn it like this to:


'I have a cock's ass on my head and dare you to laugh at me for it'

...and she had a skimpy nightie, stockings and pompomed slipper like these on on the ' Like a Virgin' tour.

[former user]

Surely you are thinking of the Horse Guards?

not quite
I remeber watching "trooping the colours" some long time ago and there were quite a few mounted guards in Bearskins

[Silent Invader]

I think you'll find that they are the mounted officers of the foot guards