|
The Austro-Hungarian Army
in
Crete 1897-98
|
 |
 |
 |
Figure 1
Infantryman of the 87th Infantry Regt
Crete 1897-98 |
Figure 2
Infantryman of the 87th Infantry Regt
Crete 1897-98 |
Figure 3
Officer of the 87th Infantry Regt
Crete 1897-98 |
Uniforms of the Austro-Hungarian Army in
Crete 1897-98
The deployment of the 2nd Battalion of the 87th Imperial and Royal
Infantry Regiment on peacekeeping duties in Crete during 1897-98 was the
first time that Austria-Hungary had issued a tropical style uniform to
its troops.
| Uniforms - consisted either of the usual
Austro-Hungarian dark blue field tunic (pike grey uniforms as worn in the First World War were not
first introduced to the Imperial and Royal Army until 1908) or a newly
issued white
tropical uniform. The shade of the white tropical uniform varied from
white to a more natural pale beige. Both these tunics were of matching
cut with concealed fronts and four pockets, the flaps of which were
scalloped into three points. Austro-Hungarian army shoulder straps were
in the tunic colour without insignia but with a rolled end on the right
hand side to assist in carrying the rifle strap. Officers did not wear
shoulder straps. The tunic's collar was standing with a sea
green collar patch (Austro-Hungarian Infantry Regiments were
distinguished by their coloured collar patches and sea green was the
facing colour of the 87th Regiment).
Rank insignia for NCOs and officers
was in the form of white metal stars and lace on the collar patches.
White Summer trousers were worn with both tunics and were worn loose
over the boots.
Headgear - consisted of plain white
tropical helmets (made by P&C Habig hatters of Vienna) for other
ranks, while officers
had a white peaked cap based on the standard Austro-Hungarian officers
cap with a black and gold Hapsburg cockade and a white leather peak.
Highly Recommended External Link -
The Land Forces on
Crete 1897-98 page at
Austro-Hungarian Army
|
|
Austro-Hungarian Tropical Helmet
from the Crete Expedition
Photo by C Dale from the
Austrian Army Museum, Vienna
(See
Austro-Hungarian Tropical Helmets Page) |
The Illustrations
Figure 1 is based on a photograph of an
Infantryman of the 7th Company, 2nd Battalion of the 87th Imperial
and Royal Infantry Regiment taken at Suda in Crete 1897-98. He wears the
white other ranks tropical uniform and tropical helmet as described
above. He carries full marching order equipment fastened at the front
with a brass buckle bearing the double headed Hapsburg eagle. He is
armed with a Mannlicher 1895 rifle (or possibly the older Mannlicher
1890 rifle).
Figure 2 is based on a photograph of an
Infantryman of the 2nd Battalion of the 87th Imperial and Royal
Infantry Regiment taken at Fort Izzeddin in Crete 1897-98. He wears the
blue field uniform with white trousers as worn by the Imperial and Royal
army based at home in Summer months. With this uniform he wears the
white tropical helmet as described above.
Figure 3 is based on a photograph of an
Officer (Oberleutnant Johann Haberditz) of the 8th Company, 2nd
Battalion of 87th Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment taken at Canea in
Crete 1897-98. He wears the white officers uniform with the officers cap
in white with a white leather chinstrap and peak and the Hapsburg
cockade on the front, as described above. His rank ("Oberleutnant")
is shown by two embroidered white metallic stars on his collar patch.
Special thanks on this
page go to Glenn Jewison for his research on the
Austro-Hungarian Army
website.
|