![\"8.](\"http:\/\/www.hmdt.org.uk\/hmdtmusic\/trenchbrothersteaching\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2014\/06\/8.-Uniforms2_banner.png\")
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Although soldiers doing different jobs had different equipment, the uniform of private soldiers in any role was roughly the same. This comprised service dress tunic and trousers, made of tough, water-resistant khaki serge, a thick, green-brown, woollen fabric. A soldier\u2019s lower legs were wrapped in puttees, long green woollen bandages that provided support and stopped stones getting into the leather, hobnailed boots. From 1916 most soldiers wore a trench cap out of the line, but a steel helmet in the line. All soldiers had some version of webbing, a kind of harness designed to spread the weight of ammunition, food, spare clothing, cleaning and repair kit. All soldiers carried some kind of personal weapon, usually a rifle.<\/p>\n
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![\"Sketch](\"http:\/\/www.hmdt.org.uk\/hmdtmusic\/trenchbrothersteaching\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2014\/05\/1013983_thumb_altsquare.jpg\")
<\/a>A soldier’s sketch of an Infantryman in ‘trench kit\u2019
\u00a9 IWM Q 1013983<\/p><\/div>\n
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The Indian Army wore a khaki\/sand coloured shirt-like tunic called a Kurta, with a stand-up collar and a central opening fastened with brass buttons. It was worn outside breeches, usually with a belt, and reached nearly to the knees. It had chest pockets fastened with brass buttons and epaulettes on the shoulders, also secured with buttons. The breeches were secured below the knee with puttees and every soldier wore a Turban.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sikh Light Infantry in Uniform \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n An Indian Tunic\/Kurta The BWIR wore similar uniforms to The British Army but had their own insignia on their caps with the initials W I embossed inside a laurel wreath.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n BWIR Cap Badge <\/p>\n Soldiers wore a one-piece haversack type item to store all their equipment, which consisted of a series of bags and containers designed to ensure the weight of everything they were carrying was distributed evenly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Marching Order\u2019 required each infantryman to carry:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This weighed a total of 62 pounds.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\nFor hour upon hour\u2026\u2026. the long column moved forward. In fifty-minute stretches it trudged up hill and down dale and never were minutes so leaden. Sixty pounds needs lifting at all, but to carry it upon one\u2019s shoulders for successive hours is almost indescribable. The leather straps cut into the shoulders, the pack brings on an intolerable backache that never really disappears, the haversack on one side and the water bottle on the other; rub the skin from the thighs, and the rifle gets weightier every mile.<\/i><\/address>\n <\/i>Pte Arthur E Lambert, 2nd<\/sup> Battalion, Honourable Artillery Company<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Grenade Carrier MK1 Webbing Other necessary equipment included:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n These and the following items were kept in a simple roll of cloth, like a holdall, fastened with a strap of loops, each signed with their own regiment\u2019s number:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Officers also carried:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/a>
\u00a9 National Army Museum<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
\u00a9 IWM UNI 12271<\/p><\/div>\nThe British West Indies Army<\/h5>\n
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\u00a9 National Army Museum<\/p><\/div>\nEquipment<\/h5>\n
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\u00a9 IWM EQU 3919<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
\u00a9 IWM EQU 3891<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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