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Published: 2021-08-16 04:54:55 +0000 UTC; Views: 9446; Favourites: 50; Downloads: 23
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Depicted is how I would redesign the New Zealand Army Dress Uniforms. We best remember our military heritage with our WWI involvement, in which we solemnly remember ourselves as having one of the highest casualty rates in the world and indeed the highest in the British Empire. It was also the first time that New Zealand troops had some distinctively, well, Kiwi, elements come into their military culture.Uniform-wise, the NZEF in WWI had unique elements uniforms from which we derive our iconic "lemon squeezer" hat today. Though it is difficult to establish some kind of period-specific uniformity (there was a lot of variation throughout the campaigns and between soldiers), there were nevertheless unique distinctions which stand out historically compared to other British Empire soldiers. Unique to us included our enlisted regimental-distinctive piping on the epaulettes & pants which were in usage from 1914-1915, regimental-coloured hat puggarees, and the distinctive "Onward" NZEF campaign hat badge (which was also heavily popular in WWII and is still used today for ceremonial occasions).
During certain periods in WWI and WWII, the NZEF also had noticeably darker uniforms than their British counterparts.
Nevertheless, many elements that held to tradition were dropped in subsequent years.
A return to traditional elements in a modern design is primarily what I have based these uniforms on.
Depicted here is what a ceremonial uniform could looks like with infantry (hence the red diamond and puggaree colouring).
On the left we have the officer uniform proposal and on the right is the enlisted uniform proposal. In both of these, we have returned to the distinctive NZ shade of khaki that our forefathers wore on their uniforms, in turn ditching the odd olive colour that we have today. Additionally, the large lemon squeezer chin strap has been removed & the original puggaree returned to return it to bring in a more authentic and streamlined design. The buttons have been given a more prominent shade of gold to make them look better. Kept are the current shoulder flash design which is prominent amongst the commonwealth militaries.
The officer uniform is largely similar to the WWI staff officer uniform except obviously using the lemon squeezer. The light-coloured grey-khaki shirt has been returned too, replacing the rather infamous mint one that we have today. The original riding boots & popular-amongst-officers light-coloured breeches have also both been returned.
The enlisted uniform is based upon our 1914-1915 service dress. Hence, the return of the original piping. The traditional stand-and-fall collar and square-cut pocket designs of the original WWI service dress tunic have been returned, as well as the number of tunic buttons. Uniformity with officers is brought in with the headgear and by giving enlisted soldiers the officer riding boots, as the puttees would be rather out-of-place in a modern & fashionable context. Combat boots would not work that well given the different colouring. Standard dress shoes would look fine, however, the boots are certainly striking, have a historical precedent, and would look sharp in ceremonial usage. In keeping in line with other commonwealth nations, I have changed the belt from black to a white & the belt buckle from bronze to gold which is more fitting for ceremonial occasions, more in-line with our commonwealth partners, and ultimately more palatable. The modern lapel badges have been shifted to the stand-and-fall collar.
Credits:
Grand-Lobster-King for original base elements
TheRanger1302 for the new base
Gir1010 , HolyREDeemer , & NexusI for some facial elements
Feel free to use with credits.
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Comments: 6
Brecnology [2022-07-06 16:23:26 +0000 UTC]
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Ameraudur [2021-08-21 08:09:51 +0000 UTC]
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ZongaSpider In reply to Ameraudur [2021-08-29 04:59:36 +0000 UTC]
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GallipoliGeneral [2021-08-16 09:08:50 +0000 UTC]
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Ameraudur In reply to GallipoliGeneral [2021-08-21 08:08:56 +0000 UTC]
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ZongaSpider In reply to Ameraudur [2021-08-29 05:05:50 +0000 UTC]
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