Regiment

Tunic Buttons

Badge on Collar

Badge on Shoulder

Plume 'hackle' on Bearskin

This is The Ensign of the Grenadier Guards. The tunic features single buttons on the front of the tunic and the bearskin, see right, features a white plume on the left hand side.

A Note on Names

Busby v Bearskin

A Guardsman would refer to his headgear as a Bearskin although it is often wrongly referred to as a Busby - a small fur hat approximately 8 inches tall that is worn by some regiments. We recommend therefore that a Guardsman's Bearskin is never referred to as a Busby - in military terms it is an insult!!
  We understand that even 'bearskin' is not now strictly the right description as wearing the skins of bears in this way is no longer politically correct and so, although many of the 'bearskins' in use today are still real Canadian bear fur, when they are no longer serviceable they are being replaced by artificial fur, a practice which has been going on for quite a few years now.

Ensign v Standard Bearer

The standard bearer would be known as The Ensign in the infantry as standards and guidons are only used by the cavalry - and the RAF sometimes has a standard too.

The Editor is grateful to Jim and Richard for their advice on this matter.