Who are Britain’s elite bearded assault pioneers?

Beards...currently (March 2024) there aren't many jobs in the British army that allow beards...But Pioneer Sergeant is one of them.
But what is their story? Why are they allowed beards and what is the history of this important role?
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[@redcoathistory]

Gents, it seems the King watched this video and beards are now allowed in the British army! Thanks for everyone's input... - www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13250981/Army-British-soldiers-grow-beard-King-Charles-military-chiefs-permission-end-ban.html

[@JoesWebPresence]

My grandfather Robert Bonela was a pioneer sergeant in the black watch during WWII. He marched at the head of the parade and was paid an extra shilling a week for keeping his long black beard. His dress uniform was similar to the Dewars piper pictured on the label. He was decorated for getting ropes across a swollen Italian river in order to evacuate the wounded back to friendly lines. His medals are in the regimental museum at Balhousie castle in Perth.

[@redcoathistory]

Fantastic story - thanks for sharing!

[@Aaron-kp9xh]

Greetings from a retired Assault Pioneer from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. Our speciality like mentioned was to be trained up from within the Infantry Battalion into the Support company as a Senior Soldier to construct and advise on the strengthening of positions, constructing defenses, demolitions, mines, bobby traps, watercraft and breaching defenses. Was a tough job and from memory the Sergeant is still authorised to have a beard.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks mate - appreciate hearing from you. Hope retirment is going well.

[@malevolencemotorsports8361]

Ex Maggot from 2RAR here, stay up my Brother

[@markbrennan4693]

My Grandad was a pioneer sergeant who first served in the early years of world war 2 in the deserts of North Africa. He was then sent up to the north of Scotland and trained with commandos. On D day 1944 he and his coy. landed on sword beach within the the first landings. As a young lad in the early sixties and seventies he told me many war stories of his service. My hero. Thank you for this video, not a glamour reg. like paras. etc. but had there share of mud and blood.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks Mark - he sounds like a brilliant bloke and hard as nails. It's great you are keeping his memory alive.

[@philipwilkes2780]

Very enjoyable, thank you. My late father was a national service man (1950 - 1952) and served in the Royal Pioneer Corps where he became a sergeant. I am very proud of this fact.

[@neilmason1394]

As stated earlier horses were “dispatched” by the Regimental Farrier hence the blade and spike that they carry. It was not the leg but the horse’s hoof that was removed and carried the horse’s number.

[@davidcarr7436]

They were big, strong, and tough career soldiers who carried axes. Nobody wanted to tell them to shave.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

And if they WERE told to shave, they would have shaved with their axes. 😝

[@davidcarr7436]

@lyndoncmp5751 Bloody right! I meant that figuratively.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

@@davidcarr7436 😂👍

[@zulubeatz1]

Royal Marines Arctic & Mountain Cadre are permitted beards, apparently. I always thought that shaving in the field without the proper amenities was foolish, as it could lead to infection. However, there is the respirator issue too. That is the only problem I can see.

[@redcoathistory]

That makes sense thanks mate

[@allanburt5250]

Liked this one cheers . Yes, the number was on the hoof, proving the horse was lost. That's taking signing kit in and out to a new level. A difficult job for those lads 👌

[@edwhufc7]

Normally performed by a farrior in the cavalry. It was to prove they hadnt sold the horse

[@zen4men]

Gurkhas took an ear for much the same reason! /

[@24934637]

Anyone want to buy a 3 foot horse?? Still tastes the same!

[@davidking6172]

I was an Assault Pioneer in the RPC. It was a specialist course that we had to complete to wear the crossed axes badge. Brilliant qualification to have in the Military gets you some cracking jobs. Only ever saw one beard when i was in Bicester with 23 PNR. Great for tradition but not practical in the field. Unless you are trying to blend in with the locals 😂

[@BeardedChieftain]

Pioneer here as well from Aussie. I have a cousin in Canada who is also a Pioneer. We should start a club Brother of the Axe. 😁😁

[@geordiedog1749]

I really like your narration. It’s clear and easily understandable but is informal and friendly enough to be readily accessible. The editing helps mind but no amount of editing saves a mumbler.

[@demonorse]

Rapidly becoming one of my favorite channels. Btw, the book "Black Redcoats" isn't yet available in the states. I'll have to wait!

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks for the feedback. Hopefully the book will be out any day soon. All the best and keep in touch.

[@chrisstewart7420]

Always loved the "Pie and Ears." Without them many British victories would have been impossible !❤

[@subaruadventures]

Ginger Beers too

[@BeardedChieftain]

In Aussie, we are called "Pies 'n Beers" 🤣🤣

[@redcoated2517]

A story from my grandfather who went through British army infantry training in 1943 was that the threat of being sent to the pioneers was used by the training staff to motivate recruits into meeting the standards! (From memory, he spoke of an attached platoon or company designated 'P' for pioneers, which is where said slackers and scoundrels ended up who were deemed 'only good enough for manual labour')

[@zoiders]

That was the RASC. Assault Pioneers are a platoon within the Infantry Battalion.

[@willjohnson1273]

My Father was a Royal Pioneer during his National Service back in the late 50's I think. My understanding is the Tradition of Beards for Pioneers came from the days when they had to be up and getting fires ready before the rest of the army got up and functioning, so that means they were up before the cooks who in turn were up and doing their work before rest of the troops.

[@edmundsveikutis1698]

After 50 years in the blacksmiths trade I’d say long eyebrows would protect vulnerable spots better than whiskers.

[@markwalker4485]

As a Trade qualified Blacksmith/Iron Ship Builder and Boilermaker and a B pressure welder. I don’t trust my face hair for nothing. And my nickname is about my facial hair. Hair on your eyebrows collects grinding grit and other crude that tends to fall in your eyes when you cool down and wipe your brows. It’s a skilled trick not to get grit in your eyes. Sorry mate you failed on this one. Cheers. Hint. Also am nuclear plant qualified…so I ain’t bs you.

[@Man_fay_the_Bru]

@@markwalker4485maybe his trick not to get crap in his eyes wasto grow his eyebrows🤷‍♂️

[@markwalker4485]

Don’t worry Don’t grind in a vessel and crap probably won’t get in your eyes. I don’t like lies. This was about Pioneers. And to my knowledge oh mythology they grew beards because they had to wake up so early. I also know that every Legion Barracks has a Pioneer mirror in the … can’t say in English. There Guard house to inspect your uniform to see if acceptable. Don’t know that reason but it’s there. @@Man_fay_the_Bru

[@quirkygreece]

I’m loving the short info vids Chris.

[@redcoathistory]

That's great thanks a lot. I'm hoping to mix up long and short videos.

[@richardcutts196]

The only reason I can think of for forbidding beards is they might interfere with NBC gear.

[@warpartyattheoutpost4987]

That's the reason they told us in the U.S. Army.

[@meme4one]

That's what we were told in the British army. New respirators work fine with a beard though and let's be honest, if we entered a war with a real cbrn theat, I'm sure the lads would shave it off if it was an issue.

[@keithday3658]

lol

[@kernowman2768]

Serving in the British Army in the 1980s we were told that beards made it difficult to wear a respirator. Came across quite a few Chunkies whilst serving in the R.A.O.C. Great bunch of lads.

[@meme4one]

@davidyoung5830 on the old ones maybe but the gsr?

[@andygeorgeparkinson2515]

Really enjoying these short sharp info videos 👍

[@edpzz]

The Mexican Pioneer assault in the 2004 movie The Alamo is the best depiction of this role that I have seen in any Hollywood Movie

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks - I will look it up

[@Al-iv3mb]

In photos from the Crimea war there are many, possibly most, of the photos showing soldiers of the line with fine beards. I always wondered when beards in the army ceased. Happy to say that in my time served I applied for and grew a "full set" although I was in the Senior Service

[@multipipi1234]

Harsh conditions in Crimea.Then the soldiers shaped them for individualism. The Romans were clean shaven for the most part and easier to recognise. Most barbarians had long hair and looked the same.

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

WW1 ...gas attacks and the need to don a gask mask... You cannot get a good seal on top of a beard but moustaches were still allowed. See JRR Tolkien. Time in Afghanistan as well also saw the troops gain beards to gain Kudos with the local populations.

[@keithagn]

My dad was WW2 R.C.N. he told me beards were not allowed because usually in a sinking the sea would be covered in bunker oil, and it would get in the survivors beard, and choke them. Very interesting video! Thank you!

[@ryanziegler1410]

I love videos like this that tell you the atypical kind of stuff. Very interesting!

[@jamescstanley5018]

Hi Chris, just a quick comment on beards and blacksmithing. In the 70's I earned my living welding up the rust buckets produced by Vauxhall and British Leyland, and, you guessed it, I had, and still have a full beard.The problem is that working with metal and flame, sparks are a fact of life and it is easy to set a beard on fire! I used to keep a pan of water by me to "dunk" my face in when that smell of singed hair wafted up my nose. All was fine until one winter, while working outside, my pan of water froze, so, when dousing the singe, I split my eyebrows and had 14 stitches, more that I ever got playing rugby, and a 4 hour wait in A&E plus an explanation to a very skeptical nurse! So to anyone with a beard thinking of either welding or similar work, maybe a shave might be a good idea, or maybe just check your water ain't frozen!

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks for sharing. A good lesson learned!

[@davemurrell3793]

It's one of the oldest recorded military trades across the world, the original pioneers took alot of stick through the years but are a proud bunch ,work hard and much travelled, I enjoyed my years with 187 tancred coy royal pioneer corp

[@thomaseley8386]

Entertaining and informative! Going back to an earlier video about physical training in the British army during the nineteenth century; I would like to see research on: Bayonet drill Bayonet Fencing Treatment of PTSD during the 19th century. The reason for my interest in this gruesome area is that infantry needed to close and win by Bayonet during the nineteenth century.... most of the time.

[@welshwarrior5263]

Very enjoyable, thanks mate. Im not too sure on the beards though. I think nuclear biological and chemical warfare training with the respirator would be a serious problem.

[@Jammil2477]

I was an assault pioneer with cross axes. The beards maybe good for low key elements, but would need to be shaved asap upon deployment. We learned a great deal of skills and fun.

[@douglasherron7534]

When I was doing my basic training / annual NBC test during the 80's we were told that facial hair was not allowed as it prevented an airtight seal between respirator and skin.

[@johngreen-sk4yk]

As an ex reservist infantry assault pioneer I appreciate you giving the chunkies the recognition they deserve 🫡👍. The problem with beards is they dont work well with service respirators, lets see how the Army works around that 🥴

[@MickyDaMoo]

Quite simply, they adopt the navy way. Beards are shaved of when you got to war. That way the respirator will fit tight

[@thenapalmbrothershq5585]

The beard itself functions as a respirator.

[@zen4men]

Bearded men will identify as gas-proof, and as we all know, it is a hate crime to puncture the bubble! /

[@jochannon]

The Israeli army makes a full head hood respirator.

[@davidleonard1813]

​@@MickyDaMooI noticed this with every 2nd person sporting a 3 day growth or beard in Afganistan 😅 maybe not the Brits but Aussies and yanks were 😅

[@billmmckelvie5188]

Moustaches and Beards are vital as I found during my service in the RAF fortunately one of the services renowned for the handlebar moustache. Back in the mid 70s when just about every film actor was donning a Mexican or a Selleck we had peer pressure on our side. I looked in the mirror and realised I looked far too young and I needed to grow a tache and the RAF almost flew on them. How else was I going to scare the enemy! Fortunately with me being in the RAF and a tradesmen, We weren't on the parade square every day where the possibility of a swooping Eagle-eyed S.W.O looking over his men, would tell anyone to wipe that b-fluff from their top lip. To anyone who surreptitiously was trying to procure one! So my moustache came into being a full Selleck and kept totally clear of the top lip. still proudly kept today, 44 years later despite so called friends and in laws telling me to shave it off as I will look younger to which my wife politely told them you ain't seen him without it. No it stays! She declared menacingly! Bless her! So I hope the Army follow the Navy and the RAF and allow facial hair as I am sure when young men who trying to find their way and identity in life will find them really scaring the enemy as we did in that Cold War period!!

[@Man_fay_the_Bru]

Behave,raf only scare champagne bottles mate😉🫡

[@jamesg9468]

Beards can be good, but a of men's beards look rubbish, particularly under the age of 30. They are discussing allowing beards in the Army (already allowed in the Royal Navy and RAF), but I'm kind of torn on it. I think a lot of them will just look scruffy.

[@frakismaximus3052]

The Forces will have to pay for beard transplants then

[@JohnSmith-ei2pz]

Beardy weirdo's!

[@ducthman4737]

A professional cyclist shaves his legs because this makes cleaning the wounds from falls much easier and therefore less chance of infection. So in a combat situation, having a facial wound would be harder to clean if you wear a beard (usually full of dirt).

[@JohnSmith-ei2pz]

No it's because his boyfriend prefers him, that way!

[@ianmason8713]

Having at least a moustache, if not a full beard, was compulsory in many British regiments, up until the Great War (WW I). Clean shaving was introduced, as a standard, so that gas masks could be fitted properly. After gas attacks started in that conflict.

[@lewisricekrispy2]

I was an assault pioneer in the RGJ. Instead of utilising my new found knowledge on explosives and other basic engineers tasks, all we were deemed useful for was digging trenches and carrying a prefrab bridge; neither covered in the course. LOL.

[@brokenbridge6316]

I remember when watching the movie "The Alamo" in the final assault on the place itself I saw a group of bearded soldiers carrying heavy axes and I wondered who they were at the time. Now I have some idea as to whom they are. So thanks for that, friend. It's something I had forgotten about till now. Nice video.

[@redcoathistory]

Lovely thanks - I must watch that film! If there was Britis there I could do a film on the Alamo...any Brits you know of with the Texans?

[@brokenbridge6316]

@@redcoathistory---TBH I don't know. You would have to look it up yourself. But I do know that the Mexicans were using British made guns. It's been suggested that Colonel Travis was killed by a British Baker Rifle. And your welcome.

[@brokenbridge6316]

@@redcoathistory---And your welcome

[@brokenbridge6316]

@@redcoathistory---I don't know really. You would have to look it up yourself. But I heard that a Baker Rifle might have killed Colonel Travis.

[@swagmanandy]

The pioneer's and catering corps are two of the most underrated regiments, not glamorous but essential and surprisingly unappreciated they are two backbones of the army.

[@OscarGomez-hx8zc]

Excellent episode, thank you Chris!

[@redcoathistory]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks mate

[@BertPreast]

Our Assault Pioneer platoon would have been most upset if one compared them to Pioneers. And trust me, you would not want to upset them! Infantry Assault Pioneers have all the shiniest kit, big explodey things, flamethrowers and that. Pioneers referred to the now defunct Royal Pioneer Corps, who had picks and shovels and dug reserve trenches and graves and that.

[@redcoathistory]

Fair one. Are flamethrowers still around? Surely too dangerous?

[@BertPreast]

@@redcoathistory They were back in the 80's. Not for burning folk, you understand, as that would have been illegal under some convention or other that we were signed up to. Nonono, purely for area denial and umm... welding or something!

[@zoiders]

@@BertPreast There were no flame throwers available as a support company weapon in the 1980s. The flame thrower became obsolete due to the development of the white phos grenade which did the same job and was far safer to carry and use. The phos grenades were not removed from service until this century. The last notable use of them being by 1 Staffords during the first Gulf War when they used them to clear Iraqi trenches. If the Iraqis wouldn't surrender after being pasted with Warriors chain gun and LAW94s - in went the phos grenades and they burned them to death.

[@minuteman4199]

I knew a guy who was a platoon commander in the RPC, At the time of the Gulf War his unit was deployed and they are basically labour where ever you need labour. One of the tasks expected of them was digging graves and cleaning up the dead.

[@danstotland6386]

There was one group of soldiers that were allowed to wear/grow beards. And for centuries. They were the blacksmiths and farriers. A beard gave some protection from the red hot 'fleas' and sparks that accompany hammering red hot iron/steel. Alexander the Great forbade his troops from wearing beards. And for a great practical reason. Soldiers regularly grabbed opponents' beard and used their sword in their other hand to strike them. OUCH!

[@arailway8809]

Hi Chris, Thanks for this video that included the Pioneers. I had known for some time of the French Pioneers. We catch Pioneers in the wagon train days in the movies. How the West Was Won shows a glimpse of men clearing the way before the wagon train. In John Wayne's Alamo, they show Pioneer Mexican troops. We also have records of Josiah Gregg cutting a path through the Texas Cross Timbers in his new southern route for the Santa Fe Trail. Pioneers were also used to reduce the slopes at stream crossing. While it was not mentioned much, the Mormon Battalion had pioneer duties as they made their way from Santa Fe to California during the war with Mexico.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot. Appreciate the info.

[@pincermovement72]

Growing beards will deprive drill sergeants of their favourite joke , “ Have you shaved today private ?” . “Yes Sir , “ . “ Did you use a mirror ?”. “Yes Sir “. “Well next time use a razor ! “.

[@HaurakiVet]

When I commanded Support Company in an infantry battalion in the NZ army some years ago one of the specialist platoons was the assault pioneer platoon. Their role was essentially demolitions, advising and leading in mine and booby trap clearance and improvised bridging and other light engineering tasks. None of my pioneer sergeants in my time grew beards, but the tradition was regularly discussed by those holding the post.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot. Out of interest, I am looking to do. video looking at the history of Maori soldiers. . . Do you know anyone you think I should interview?

[@nickwilkinson5849]

RPC God bless the Chunkies👍

[@retriever19golden55]

Not just gents watching your videos, Chris. I enjoy you and the History Chap!

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks - I say "gents" for a bit of fun as according to my analytics 99 percent of viewers are men...But you are very welcome!

[@Robert-f1g4i]

As fascinated as I am by Pioneers, my view is that it would make more sense to split the role and have assault pioneers majoring on doing shock assaults, explosive entries and mining de-mining (which is how the germans deployed them in WW2. A three man assault pioneer team managed to capture a huge swaithe of the Majanow? Line in france when they found a way into the underground network. At the same time I would adopt the American Naval unit CBEB from world war 2 which generally consisted of trades persons carpenters brick layers artisans plumbers etc. they tended to be older guys from the civilian world who were practical. They were supported by young lads who were fit enough to do the labouring, but as a unit it was incredibly successfull (probably super chilled and laid back too because it was manned by predominantly older guys). But, failing that dividing assault pioneer platoons in to two with one half focussing on assault sections and the other focussed on construction and pioneering, in my view would be the way to go. By the way pioneer comes from the french word pion meaning on foot. The British army copied the French army.

[@docplec]

I was always told that beards, including stubble, affected the seal on the respirator so consequently were not allowed and in a war where nbc weapons were anticipated even the pioneers would have to lose their beards.

[@MrConna6]

Beards look good, uniform looks good, can’t believe it’s taken this long!

[@MrConna6]

I’m not a Sikh but I am seeking love, you reckon they’d let me keep my moustache? 😂😅

[@anthonyhargis6855]

That's because the military cares about function, not looks. Beard? Don't bother with a gas mask. The mask won't seal. Nice knowing you. 👋

[@TheJon2442]

Er the current uniform is more teli tubby outfit than uniform!

[@MrConna6]

@@anthonyhargis6855 disproven but ok

[@anthonyhargis6855]

@@MrConna6 Former military here, not disproven.

[@poisontoad8007]

Here in NZ beards are mandatory for our Special Forces units about to be deployed to Muslim countries.

[@mochabear7159]

Hi Vet signals Assault Pioneer here also part of our role was to purify drinking water, piloting rigged raiders. building / supervising the building of trenches. various defence building and demolitions to name but a few.

[@rather_be_a_cat]

When i tried to grow a beard it just made me look like i live behind the bins in Tesco car park.

[@redcoathistory]

Ha Ha yep me too.

[@wisconsinkraut3445]

American and having to shave my beard is honestly a knock against the military for me

[@skypilot7162]

Beards still aren't allowed in the regular U.S. armed forces outside of medical or religious reasons, unless things have changed very recently. However, when I was serving ('08-'12), the medical excuses were handed out pretty regularly for any kind of discomfort shaving caused. Guys would have full beards and proudly wave their medical slips to anyone who questioned.

[@poil8351]

pioneer were common in most armies. the foreign legion still has personal who wear leather aprons on parade.

[@medler2110]

And sport big beards and axes, 😁

[@redcoathistory]

Yep those lads do get a hat tip at the end of the film

[@michaelw2288]

French Foreign Legion parades are usually lead by axe-weilding Pioneers with big beards and aprons.

[@redcoathistory]

Yep, covered in the film mate 👍

[@FrankieSaunders-os7lz]

My new favourite channel

[@redcoathistory]

@@FrankieSaunders-os7lz Thanks a lot mate - I hope you continue to enjoy. Lots of interesting stuff in the pipeline.

In fact, in the 1950s. The British tried to Colorise Cyprus and Greece and got good flogging and they ran to Turkey for help.

[@bruceleealmighty]

3:50 I'm questioning why you suggest the picture denotes a Lance Sergeant rather than a Pioneer Buck Sergeant as he clearly has the crown and crossed axes above 3 stripes. A Lance Sergeant would have 2 stripes not unlike a Corporal but a crown and Axes as well. At least that is what I've seemed to ascertain from the information during the Victorian Age of British Military Ranks. A Lance Corporal is 1 stripe a Corporal is 2, but a Lance Sergeant is merely a title given to one acting in the position of a Sergeant while everything else is put in order. A Lance Sergeant wouldn't be the equivalent to a Corporal it would be one rank between Sergeant and and Corporal. In the USArmy although not authorized beards per-se' "Pioneers" are called Sappers. The Sapper Tab is one of 5 tabs authorized in the USArmy (Special Forces, Ranger, Ariborne, Sappers, and Presidents100 ). Beards are authorized during field action and most Tier 1 military units for the time being.

[@redcoathistory]

Hi mate - according to the caption a Guards sergeant would have had three gold stripes - a Lance sergeant three white stripes.

[@joachimogereau4531]

Interesting video. FYI the French Foreign Legion has also a specific pionner battalion and this is the only one in French military, and they are usually the most applauded battalion when parading on the 14th of July. One reason i found for the beard is their life expectancy was usually low as they were the first line in a battle hence allowed not to shave and when coming back if they had survived they usually had grown a beard. Beard is now mandatory in this battalion since 1844.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks mate. They do get a mention at the end of the video but appreciate the extra info.

[@butchbinion1560]

Thanks. ✌🏻👊🏼

[@lamaha564]

My great grandfather was a pioneer in the Dubs, Royal Dublin Fusileers, at Gallipoli. He got his role as he was carpenter as a civvy and a Sergent in the Boer war with the 1st Wilts. My understanding was he was responsible for trench support and infrastructure etc. No beard but a splendid tash.

[@mickwful]

Within an infantry battalion there were, assault pioneers who did the engeneering tasks. There was also a small section of demestic pioneers who did general building digging type work mainly in barracks, it was these guys who were allowed the beards to show that tradition that they origenaly were supplied by the Navy. I think the domestic pioneers have now gone.

[@cameronsimpson-ld8nk]

Brilliant Chris another great production

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks mate - it was your idea so thanks for that!

[@martybartfast1]

32 Reg RA, 74 Battery, The Battle Axe Company had the tallest member carry a French Pioneers axe on parade with the relevant lip whiskers.

[@midnightteapot5633]

The RAF regiment and possibly all of the Squadron airmen are now allowed to wear them, also the RAF bandsmen. They all look like Prince Harry clones, and that is not a good thing by any means !!! It's a bloody terrible change in my opinion.

[@trevormoat6919]

As a veteran I feel that the regs should stand as it detracts from those who have it as part of tradition of Regt, Corps or religion....

[@jmccallion2394]

The photo of the lance sergeant, is that an early version of the Medal of Honor that he is wearing?

[@FranciscoPreira]

Cool subject mate, I got a Brit pioneer model that I painted somewhere, great to see those chaps remembered. In Portugal beards and moustaches are alowed within reasonable proportions, beards are more traditional in the naval Fusiliers and Navy, moustaches are more or less used in all ranks acording to personal taste, one can ask to be allowed to grow a moustache or a beard by special request to the unit commamder, all of this is legislated and part of military decorum. Best regards mate, by the way send some of that heat up here cause its a bloody chilling weather.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks that is really interesting to know. I wander if unit commanders get sick of dealing with moustache and beard requests. PS sadly the heat is starting to go now and we are moving towards winter which is a shame

[@FranciscoPreira]

@@redcoathistory I got a small paper, nothing much, that I used ages ago in University, about the British military relations with Portugal that could help you in future stories about British military History, ist around 4 pages or so if you want I cant sent it to you, best regards.

[@redcoathistory]

@@FranciscoPreira That would be great if you dont mind. redcoathistory at gmail dot com - thanks mate

[@mikesmith2905]

I'm not a serving soldier but I was under the impression that beards were banned due to the problem of getting a good seal on a gas mask. If they have replaced the S6 with some form of 'hood' beards would not be an issue, if not I am not sure I'd want a beard given the goings on in Ukraine.

[@anthonywalsh7613]

Funny tale: We were going out for the afternoon in West Berlin. As we left camp our assault pioneer sergeant was walking along outside the camp. A lad with us didn’t recognise him & thought he was German. He says to him,”you need a shave.” 😂😂 Assault pioneer sergeant grabbed him by the throat & pushing him backwards goes, “who the fk are you talking to!” 🤣🤣

[@redcoathistory]

Ha Ha brilliant!

[@anthonywalsh7613]

@@redcoathistory it was. But we couldn’t laugh(even though it was hilarious) coz assault pioneer sergeant was a lunatic. So this is the type of man he was. Our barracks, like many in Germany were formerly Wehrmacht barracks (four, five storeys high) He scaled the roof barefoot & walked along the top to bring a soldier down who was up there protesting 🤣

[@hughledger7835]

Have you seen the pic of 2 Canadian Pioneers in Yugoslavia in the 1990's? Huge beards and meme calls the lumberjack commandos

[@hughledger7835]

Never mind you show the picture lol

[@kleinjahr]

A major problem with beards is that they can interfere with the sealing of gas masks.

[@pcka12]

The horse's hoof had a brand on it.

[@meme4one]

Very cool traditional, Pioneer Sgts are always well respected by all troops.

[@janlindtner305]

Pioners clear the way, airborn all the way!👍👍👍

[@daz6637]

I was an Assault Pioneer, one of a few in the RSignals. I did my course in Hameln in 1998.

[@Man_fay_the_Bru]

Certa cito😉

[@jackoshea7668]

We had one of those axes on our farm in the 1970s. It had a spike on the heel though and I remember my father telling me they used it to kill cavalry horses long ago , I was too young to show further interest .My grandfather used it to kill the cattle in the little slaughterhouse we had.. I have no way of knowing the story of its origins, but I wonder if it belonged to my ancestor.💂🏼‍♀️☘️☠️

[@christopherruff4001]

Seems like in the late Victorian era there were no grooming standards in regards to facial hair. The period I regularly portray, 1746-1781, clean shaven was the norm!

[@brickbat44]

Was building a house in saltau- fallingbostell about 25ears ago and met a load of tankies at a strassen fest and one adorned the cutlet beard or the porkchop and what a good good laugh Btw in the RN you have to ask permission to grow a beard hence the cig packet players and submariners are excempt

[@brickbat44]

I forgot due to desertion

[@Briselance]

Same as the sapper of the Foreign Legion, for the Bastille Day march.

[@redcoathistory]

Please watch till end of the film...

[@JelMain]

There's another outlook. The skirmishers who became Special Forces were not alone. If the enemy had done a proper job, bridging and similar units would be needed as a fairly high priority, and finding useable launch sites falls to engineer specialists out ahead of the main force. At Agincourt, we find Henry V's childhood chums, Fluellen (Llewellyn) prepping the battlefield. A river runs through it. Jobs like that. John Chard at Rourke's Drift

[@MichaelCampin]

When I served with 42RM no-one was allowed to wear a beard as it covered up the first signs of frost nip the precursor to frost bite. Method in the rules of madness.

[@MichaelCampin]

That's strange as the algorithm has removed the phrase " in Norway"

[@redcoathistory]

That is weird mate...I also get confused with what Google bans on here. Bizarre.

[@Yandarval]

Personally, the Army should not be allowed beards. Unlike the other services, the Army does not have access to the cleaning facilities in the field, that the Ship and base based navy and Air Force does. To say nothing of compromising the respirator seal. You want rubber on skin for a good seal.

[@0010303]

I thought beards effect the seal on a respirator?

[@Yandarval]

They do. 2-3 days of stubble compromises the seal. So we always were very careful with shaving on the day we did the CS Gas tent.

[@0010303]

@@Yandarval yeh that’s what I remember. Granted i got out in 2011 so I’m sure plenty has changed

[@Yandarval]

@@0010303 90s for me.. We would need to return to the WWI bag over the head an tuck in, with crossed fingers type respirator. Should be beards be allowed. Relaxing rules for tattoos are one thing due to the recruitment crisis. Tats are unlikely to get you killed. The same cannot be said for beards.

[@0010303]

@@Yandarval yeh, it does seem like a weird thing to bring in but who knows what the top brass are thinking these days

[@geordiewishart1683]

Police Scotland recently decreed in their uniform policy that officers had to be clean shaven. A reason offered was that stubble would adversely affect the efficiency of a respirator. But the LGQBT brigade complained, as women who pretend to be men might want to take hormones to promote facial hair, as a way of strengthening the delusion that they were indeed police men. Not women. So the policy was binned.

[@larryspiller6633]

Being a Pioneer or rather a Combat Engineer was a blast at times, literally. When I became a Clerk, I breached more obstacles with an ink pen than I ever did with C-4. As for beards, fine by me. For ceremonial purposes that is. The gas mask argument is over rated, right up until the time you need it, which is almost never. Almost.

[@michaelmacdonell4834]

A veteran Pioneer told me - back in the 80s - that the old pioneers - before modern battlefield medicine - would provide the coup de grace for soldiers too far gone to be helped. Whether this is historically accurate I don't know, but the beards were there to "hide the tears they shed" performing this awful task.

[@larsfredriksson2218]

In the Swedish army museum collation they have a falsbeard from the 1800 maby whorn by a pioneer that wasn't abel to grow it.

[@redcoathistory]

Wow, that is brilliant. I would need one of those!

[@UkrainianPaulie]

The Roman myth is a myth. Every Roman Legionaires was an engineer. They would build fortifications around the camp each night. Trenches and a wooden fence made of Sudis. (Oak stakes 5-6 ft long)

[@andycocker1787]

Used to be an Assault Pioneer Sergeant. Had to grow a beard for the RSM. It was finger. Gutted.

[@Man_fay_the_Bru]

When I lived in Gib I was told that in the navy, you can have a beard but you can’t be on display until it’s an actual fully grown beard, it’s not as if it makes you any less a fighter🤷‍♂️

[@Roberto-tu5re]

A bearded man in an apron with an axe is the stuff of nightmares.

[@redcoathistory]

Ha ha very true!

[@Roberto-tu5re]

@@redcoathistory I could have said pinny and that would have really changed the narrative

[@robertpearce2244]

New Zealand Army is brining in beards in the next 18 months. As a 30-year career soldier, I applaud the move. It’s 2024, beards are in vogue, if needed (CBRN etc) you can shave them off! Plus it saves money, time and having a sore face 😂

[@mac7040]

Is the main reason for smooth faces to ensure gas masks fit properly? I know a friend who works removing asbestos has to be clean shaven for the correct fitting of the PPE.

[@caramelypoops]

As an ex-serviceman my understanding of why we were not allowed beards was that a clean shaven face makes a good seal with your respirator (gas mask) this makes me wonder about the reasoning for the change . If you wanted to grow a mustache you could but you needed the permission of your CO.

[@peterwait641]

The joke was that they were expendable in the NBC situation !

[@gerardhogan3]

I thought the Regimental Farrier or he delegated, the dispatch of wounded horses with the pick axe. The saying "no hoof no horse" derived from the requirement to produce the hoof to prove the loss of the animal, to deter illicit sale of horses by unscrupulous individuals

[@redcoathistory]

I'm not an expert on this mate but did infantry regiments generally have farriers? Would a similar role for the officers horses and also any other horses working alongside the infantry need doing? Like I say, I could be wrong...

[@gerardhogan3]

@@redcoathistory that's a good question Chris, I honestly don't know

[@tonynewman77]

I was an a assault pioneer TA 5 Royal anglian for 5 year loved it

[@lc3853]

Beards became unfashionable among working men after 1918. Gas masks required a clean face to seal, and the fear of a horrible, choking death spread into civilian life. A clean face showed others that you could handle a blade and were prepared for a gas attack. Fast forward a century.... 20 years ago, Canada's JTF2 was photographed with scruffy beards in Afghanistan. After that, I watched all the armchair warriors, sportsmen, and news announcers grow out their beards. Then the movie "300" kickstarted the ridiculous beard care industry.

[@minuteman4199]

I served almost twenty years in the Canadian army. i was 17 when I joined and hadn't needed to shave before that. As soon as I got out I stopped shaving. There is nothing worse that being on a field exercise scraping the camouflage paint of your skin so you can shave with a dull razer, a bar of hard soap and cold water, then reapplying the cam paint to your still bleeding face. I haven't shaved since I got out.

[@johnmurray1529]

The US Marines have been issuing no shave waivers for years. It's for men whose skin can't handle daily shaving. They did allow a Sikh to graduate with his beard. I was always under the impression that it interferes with gas masks. I did recently hear that it doesn't. Personally, I wouldn't want to put that to the test. No thanks, I'll shave.

[@davebarber9510]

Cheshire regiment had a bearded assault pioneer well versed in bomb and booby traps 1987 ish called papa Smurf because of the beard. Top interesting man.