Stripe

STRIPE (Chevron—"A charge or device consisting of a bar bent like two meeting raf ters."—Heraldry).

(I) Rank Stripes.—In the fighting services of practically every country the rank of non-commissioned officers is indicated by the wearing of a certain number of chevrons on the tunic.

In July 1802 a General Order was issued stating that in future British non-commissioned officers would wear as an indication of rank, instead of epaulets and shoulder knots, the following chev rons on their right arms, viz.:—Serjeant-Majors and Quarter master-Serjeants 4 bars; all other Serjeants 3 bars; Corporals 2 bars. In 1862 a crown over the 3 bar chevron was introduced to distinguish Colour-Serjeants. In 1881 the 4 bars were abolished for Serjeant-Majors and a crown substituted. When the appoint ment of Lance-Corporal was introduced this was indicated by I bar. At the present time (1929) stripes indicate the following ranks or appointments :—I bar, Lance-Corporal; 2 bars, Cor poral; 3 bars, Lance-Serjeant and Serjeant. In the Foot Guards Lance-Corporals wear 2 bars. Although stripes were originally worn on the right arm only they were later worn on both arms for a time in full-dress, but at present they are worn only on the right arm. In service dress they are worn on both arms above the elbow. Rank chevrons are V shaped.

Rank chevrons are worn in the following armies as indicated:— United States Army. Master Ser jeant . . . . . . 3, and an arc of 3 bars.

Technical Serjeant . . . 3, „ „ „ „ 2 „ First Serjeant . . . . 3, „ „ „ „ 2 „ with a loz enge in the centre.

Staff Serjeant . . . . 3, and an arc of i bar. Serjeant . . . . . 3 Corporal . . . . . 2 Private, first class . . .

The chevrons are made of olive drab material on a dark blue ground.

French Army. Serjeant-Major . 2 together in silver below the elbow.

Quartermaster-Serjeant . . 2, one above and one below the elbow, in silver.

Serjeant . . . . . i below the elbow in silver.

Quartermaster-Corporal . . i above 7/ /9 and 2 below the elbow in red mate rial.

Corporal . . . . .

2 below the elbow in red material.

Private, first class . . .r fl 7/ 7, 7/ worn diagonally on the sleeve.

German Army. Obergefreiter (Senior Lance-Corporal) . . 3 silver chevrons. Gefreiter (Junior Lance-Cor poral). . . . 2• ft Oberschtitze (Senior Private) .

Oberreiter (Trooper) . .

chevron.

Oberkanonier, etc. (Gunner,} " etc.) .....

Belgian Army, A shaped, below elbow. 1st Serjeant-Major or 1st Marechal des logis Chief . 2 thick and 2 thin.

Serjeant-Major or Marechal des logis Chief . . 2

7/ 1st Serjeant or 1st Marechal des logis Chief . 1 „ „ i „ Serjeant or Marechal des logis . . „ If Caporal or brigadier . . . 2 horizontal stripes in red wool.

(2) Good Conduct Badges are chevrons, A shaped, worn in the British service on the left sleeve below the elbow to indicate periods of good conduct, viz. :—I bar for two years, 2 bars for five years, 3 bars for twelve years, 4 bars for eighteen years, 5 bars for twenty-three years and 6 bars for 28 years. An additional bar is given for every 5 years' service. Good conduct badges are only worn by privates and lance corporals (and equiva lent ranks).

(3) Wound Stripes or Gold Stripes,

were introduced into the British service by Army Order 249 of 1916 as a distinction to be worn by all ranks who had been wounded at any time during the World War. The stripe was worn perpendicularly on the left sleeve below the elbow and was made of gold Russia braid, two inches in length. A stripe was worn for each occasion on which the individual was wounded, the second and subsequent stripes being half an inch from each other. The wearing of these stripes has now been discontinued in the British service. They are, how ever, still worn in the U.S.A. forces, where they are made of gold lace or bullion V shaped and are worn on the right sleeve.

(4) War Service Chevrons.

In the British service these were introduced by Army Order 4 of 1918 and were small worsted chevrons, A shaped, worn on the right sleeve below the elbow. A red chevron was worn by all ranks who served overseas during 1914 and a blue chevron for each complete year for those who served overseas after 1914. The wearing of these chevrons was discontinued in 1922 by Army Order 434. In the U.S.A. forces they are still worn and consist of a V shaped chevron worn on the left sleeve. They are made of gold lace, bullion or sky blue cloth. When worn in conjunction with "Service Stripes” they are worn above the stripes. A chevron was granted for each six months' service in the European zone during the World War.

(5) Service the U.S.A. all enlisted men of the Regular Army, National Guard or Organised Reserves wear a stripe of olive drab material on a dark blue ground for every period of 3 years' service in the Federal Service. For service in the National Guard not in Federal Service similar stripes are worn but on a buff ground. These stripes are worn diagonally on the left sleeve of the service coat. (T. J. E.)