Bearskin

A bearskin is a tall fur cap, usually worn as part of a ceremonial military uniform. Traditionally, the bearskin was the headgear of grenadiers and remains in use by grenadier and guards regiments in various armies.

For other uses, see Bearskin (disambiguation).
A bearskin cap used by the Grenadier Guards of the Kingdom of Italy during the Napoleonic Wars.

Bearskins should not be confused with other forms of headdress, including the busby, and other types of smaller fur headdresses.

History
An officer of the grenadiers of the French Imperial Guard, c. 1808. Use of the headgear by the French dates back to the mid-18th century.

The cloth caps worn by the original grenadiers in European armies during the seventeenth century were frequently trimmed with fur. The practice fell into disuse until the second half of the eighteenth century when grenadiers in the British, Spanish and French armies began wearing high fur hats with cloth tops and, sometimes, ornamental front plates. Imitating their Prussian counterparts, French grenadiers are described as wearing bearskins as early as 1761.[1] The purpose appears to have been to add to the apparent height and impressive appearance of these troops both on the parade ground and the battlefield.[2]

During the nineteenth century, the expense of bearskin caps and difficulty of maintaining them in good condition on active service led to this form of headdress becoming generally limited to guardsmen, bands or other units having a ceremonial role. The British Foot Guards and Royal Scots Greys did however wear bearskins in battle during the Crimean War and on peacetime manoeuvres until the introduction of khaki service dress in 1902.[3]

Immediately prior to the outbreak of World War I in 1914, bearskins were still worn by guard, ceremonial palace or other units in the British, Belgian, Danish, Dutch, Imperial German, Russian and Swedish armies.[4] The Italian Sardinian Grenadiers had discarded bearskins in the nineteenth century but were to readopt them for limited ceremonial wear in modern times.

Bearskins by country

Australia

Presently, the Pipes and Drums Band of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment is authorized to wear a bearskin cap as a part of its ceremonial dress.[5][6]

Belgium
The ceremonial uniform of the Belgian Royal Escort includes a bearskin cap.

Two units in Belgium presently use the bearskin cap, the Belgian Royal Escort (since 1938), of the Belgian Federal Police;[7] and the Regiment Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn – Grenadiers of the Belgian Armed Forces Land Component.

Until 1914, bearskins were worn in parade uniform by the "Régiment des Grenadiers" of the Belgian Army.[8] Bearskins were used in peacetime maneuvers until around 1900, the bearskins were left in barracks upon mobilization in August 1914 and German troops occupying Brussels reportedly took many as souvenirs. The Regiment of Grenadiers' modern successor, the Regiment Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn – Grenadiers has readopted this headdress for limited ceremonial purposes.

In addition to military units, the bearskin cap is also used by the Belgian Royal Escorts, a civilian police unit. Accompanying the monarch of ceremonial occasions, the duties of the escort unit were previously held by the Gendarmerie, a paramilitary unit of the Belgian Armed Forces that was disbanded in 1992. The present Royal Escort Unit wears the pre–1914 full dress uniform of the defunct Gendarmerie, including its bearskin cap.

Canada

The bearskin caps used by the Canadian Armed Forces are of black fur, and include a coloured plume on the side of the bearskin, and a gold-coloured chin strap. The Canadian Forces Dress Instructions authorize the use of bearskins for all of its foot guards and fusilier regiments.[9] Bearskins used by fusilier regiments and the Royal 22e Régiment (R22eR) also have their unit's cap badge at the front of the bearskin.

Bearskins used by the Canadian Army are coloured black and include a coloured plume.

In addition to foot guards and fusiliers, two line infantry regiments are also authorized to wear a bearskin cap along with their ceremonial full dress uniform: the R22eR and the Royal Regiment of Canada (RRegtC).[9] Usage of the bearskin cap by the R22eR is attributed to its historical regimental alliance the British Army's Royal Welsh Fusiliers,[10] while the use of bearskins with the RRegtC is attributed to the regiment's historical lineage to the Royal Grenadiers of the Canadian Militia.[11]

The following is a list of regiments whose members are authorized to wear a bearskin cap with their full dress uniform, along with the colour used on the unit's plume:

Additionally, the military band of a unit that is authorized to wear the bearskin cap are also allowed to wear it as a part of their ceremonial uniform. These bands include The Band of The Royal Regiment of Canada, La Musique du Royal 22e Régiment, and the Governor General's Foot Guards Band. In addition to these units, the drum major of the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada Band[note 2] are also authorized to wear the bearskin.

The bearskin caps that are used by the aforementioned Canadian units, should not be confused with the busby, a headdress featured on the full dress uniforms for Canadian Army artillery, and hussar regiments.[14]

Denmark
The bearskins used by the Danish Royal Life Guards features a bronze cap badge.

The Royal Danish Army's Royal Life Guards review order uniform is a type of uniform used for special state occasions, and includes a bearskin with the bronze cap badge. Use of the bearskin in the Danish Army dates back to 1803.

Italy

Two units within the Italian Army's Granatieri di Sardegna Mechanized Brigade use the bearskin cap as a part of its ceremonial uniform, the 1st Granatieri di Sardegna Regiment, and the 8th Cavalry Regiment Lancieri di Montebello. As opposed to real bearskin, the bearskin caps of both regiments uses artificial fur.

Kenya

The bands of the Kenya Defence Forces: the Kenya Army Band, the Kenya Navy Band and the Kenya Air Force Band all use a distinctive white and black monkey bearskin as headgear on parade. They are the only KDF units to use such a headpiece. It is based on a pattern used by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards of the British Army. The first of these bearskins were distributed in the 1960s after independence.[15]

Netherlands

Presently, one unit of the Royal Netherlands Army uses the bearskin cap as a part of its ceremonial uniform, the Grenadiers' and Rifles Guard Regiment.[7]

The bearskin caps used by the Grenadiers' and Rifles Guard Regiment should not be confused with the busby; a smaller fur headdress used by the hussar regiments of the Royal Netherlands Army.

Spain

One company of the 1st King's Immemorial Infantry Regiment, which during ceremonies is authorized to wear grenadier uniforms of the Charles III period, uses bearskins.

Sri Lanka

Presently the military band of the Sri Lanka Artillery uses the bearskin cap as a part of its ceremonial uniform.

Sweden

Presently, the grenadier company of the Swedish Army's Life Guards wears a bearskin cap as a part of its ceremonial uniform. The bearskin is made out of nylon as opposed to real bearskin.

Usage of the bearskin by the Life Guards originates with its predecessor unit, Svea Life Guards. The unit was eventually merged with the Swedish Life Guard Dragoons in 2000 to form the present Life Guards unit. Usage of the bearskin with the Svea Life Guards dates back to 1823, when Alexander I of Russia presented Charles XIV of Sweden a bearskin cap as a gift to be used by the Svea Life Guards.

Thailand
Several units in the Thai King's Guard use a pith helmet with a heavy plume, resembling a bearskin cap.

A number of units within the King's Guard of the Royal Thai Armed Forces wear a pith helmet with heavy plumes, making it resemble a bearskin cap. The pith helmets are used with the unit's ceremonial full dress uniform, for occasions including the Thai Royal Guards parade held every year in December, royal coronations, funerals and anniversaries. The colours of the plumes vary from black to pink and blue, depending on the units of the wearers, similar to the uniform facings in the Commonwealth. The majority of the units entitled to wear these headdresses are from the Army and Air Force, with two Royal Thai Marine Corps battalions also maintaining this privilege. In addition, the Royal Security Command's two guards regiments wear the pith helmet with black plums in their full dress.

United Kingdom

Following the Battle of Waterloo and the action in which they gained their name, the Grenadier Guards were permitted to wear the bearskin. In 1831, this practice was extended to the other two foot guards units at the time. The practice was later extended to the other foot guard units of the Guards Division. Members of the following units are authorized to wear the bearskin cap with their full dress:

Along with these units, officers of fusilier regiments are also authorized to wear the bearskin as part of their ceremonial uniform. Additionally the members of the regimental bands for the five regiments of foot guards, the Honourable Artillery Company, and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards are also authorized to wear the headdress. The drum major of the band for the Royal Highland Fusiliers is also authorized to wear the bearskin.

The bearskin caps for British foot guards are coloured black, with most caps made from the fur of a Canadian black bear.

The standard bearskin for the British foot guards is 11 inches (280 mm) tall at the front, 16 inches (410 mm) to the rear, weighs 1.5 pounds (0.68 kg) and is made from the fur of the Canadian black bear.[16] However, an officer's bearskin is made from the fur of the Canadian brown bear as the female brown bear has thicker, fuller fur; officers' hats are dyed black. An entire skin is used for each hat.[17] The British Army purchase the hats, which are known as caps, from a British hatmaker which sources its pelts from an international auction. The hatmakers purchase between 50 and 100 black bear skins each year at a cost of about £650 each.[18] If properly maintained, the caps last for decades.

The bearskin should not be mistaken for the busby, which is a much smaller fur cap worn by the Royal Horse Artillery and hussar regiments in full dress. Nor should it be confused with the 'sealskin' cap worn by the Royal Fusiliers, a smaller furred cap that is actually made of raccoon skin.[19]

Opposition

On 3 August 1888, The New York Times reported that bearskin caps might be phased out because of a shortage of bear skins. The article stated that, at that time, bearskin hats cost £7–5s each (about 35 contemporary US dollars;[20] £600 in 2007 pounds)[21] and noted "it can readily be seen what a price has to be paid for keeping up a custom which is rather old, it is true, but is practically a useless one save for the purpose of military display."[22]

In 1997, Minister for Defence Procurement Lord Gilbert said that he wanted to see bearskins phased out as soon as possible due to ethical concerns,[23] but no replacement was available at that time.

In 2005, the Ministry of Defence began a two-year test of artificial fur for the hats. The army has already replaced beaver hats and leopard skins, worn by some of its soldiers, with artificial materials.[24] In March 2005, Labour MP Chris Mullin called for an immediate ban on bearskin hats stating that they "have no military significance and involve unnecessary cruelty."[25]

Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has protested against the continued use of real fur for the guards’ hats, alleging that the animals are killed cruelly. For several years, PETA members have held demonstrations, including one at St Peter's Hill, near St Paul's Cathedral, in 2006.[26] PETA wants the fur hats to be replaced with synthetic materials and claims that the Ministry of Defence has not done enough to find alternatives. In February 2011, Joss Stone appeared in a PETA advert targeting the Ministry of Defence, showing the 23-year-old soul singer holding a teddy bear that covers her naked body and features the slogan "Bear Hugs, Not Bear Caps".[27]

United States
A drum major of the United States Army Band wearing a bearskin cap. The drum major of most American military bands wear a bearskin cap.

Presently one military unit in the United States uses a bearskin cap as a part of their ceremonial uniform, the 2nd Company of the Governor's Foot Guard of the Connecticut State Guard, a state defence force. The unit's bearskin caps feature a shield in front bearing the coat of arms of Connecticut, which is supported by a red and black feather plume on both sides of the shield. The bearskin caps used by the 2nd Company should not be mistaken for the busby worn by the 1st Company of the Governor's Foot Guard of Connecticut.

In addition to the Governor's Guard, bearskin caps are also worn by the drum majors of various United States Armed Forces military bands. Bands whose drum majors are authorized to wear the bearskin cap include the United States Air Force Band, the United States Army Band, United States Army Field Band, United States Coast Guard Band, United States Marine Band, the United States Navy Band, bands of the service academies, and a variety of other divisional and fleet bands.

In addition to military units, a number of civilian marching bands also adorn their drum majors with these headpieces as opposed to their synthetic counterparts. University marching bands which were established through military means typically follow this style of dress for their drum majors. There are also several secondary school bands that use real bearskin hats.

Uruguay

The Uruguayan Army's Company of Sappers of 1837 uses the bearskin cap as a part of its ceremonial uniform as the guard of honour company of the Uruguayan Supreme Court.

Vatican City

Select members of the Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City formerly wore a bearskins cap with a red plume as part of their ceremonial uniform. The ceremonial uniform for the unit was taken out of use in 1970, after Pope Paul VI demilitarized the gendarmerie, with law enforcement falling under the Central Security Office (later reverting its name to the Corps of Gendarmerie in 2002).

See also

Notes
  1. The unit is authorized to use either the bearskin cap, or a Wolseley helmet along with their full dress. Members of The Princess Louise Fusiliers will typically wear the Wolseley helmet when in full dress.
  2. Despite using the term fusilier in its name, the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada is considered a Lowland Canadian-Scottish regiment.

References
  1. Mouillard, Lucien: Les Régiments sous Louis XV, Paris 1882
  2. Military Uniforms of the World: Preben Kannil SBN 71370482 9
  3. British Military Uniforms From Contemporary Pictures: W.Y.Carman Hamlyn Publishing Group 1968
  4. "Uniforms of the World": Richard Knotel, ISBN 0-684-16304-7.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2009-12-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. http://www.rar.org.au/documents/3RARHistoryCom%5B%5D
  7. World Uniforms in Colour volume 1—The European Nations: Rinaldo D'Ami ISBN 0-85059-031-0
  8. Pages 24-25 "Les Soldats de Leopold Ist et Leopold II": Guy Derie/John Pacco. Published Paul Legrain Bruxelles.
  9. "Annex B Royal military colleges and infantry regiments". Canadian Armed Forces Dress Instruction. Government of Canada. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  10. "Officer, Royal 22e Régiment, 1930s". Canadian Military History Gateway. Government of Canada. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  11. "Private, 10th Regiment Royal Grenadiers, circa 1912". Canadian Military History Gateway. Government of Canada. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  12. GGFG – About Archived October 7, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  13. "Canadian Army Bearskins - Maciej Swulinski". swulinski.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  14. "Annex A Armoured regiments". Canadian Armed Forces Dress Instruction. Government of Canada. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  15. https://reuters.screenocean.com/record/910653
  16. "Britain Will Never Part with Bearskin Hats," Associated Press, 9 January 2008.
  17. Rachel Shields, "They're Changing Hats at Buckingham Palace To Save the Black Bear," The Independent 31 Aug. 2008.
  18. "People's Daily Online -- British Royal Guards criticized for wearing bearskin hats on Queen's Birthday". people.com.cn. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  19. A Dictionary of Military Uniform: W.Y.Carman ISBN 0-684-15130-8
  20. "Measuring Worth - Measures of worth, inflation rates, saving calculator, relative value, worth of a dollar, worth of a pound, purchasing power, gold prices, GDP, history of wages, average wage". measuringworth.org. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  21. http://www.measuringworth.com/ukcompare
  22. "BEARSKIN HATS IN DANGER" (PDF). nytimes.com. 3 August 1888. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  23. Buckingham guards' bearskins face their Waterloo Archived July 26, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  24. "PETA roars over U.K. army's hats - World news - Weird news - NBC News". NBC News. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  25. Call to ban British royal guards from wearing bearskin hats gains support
  26. "BBC NEWS - UK - England - Naked demo against bearskin hats". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  27. Joss Stone goes nude for a PETA campaign against the use of bear fur for military hats

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