Guides & History

Beret Colours Explained: Maroon, Green, Sand and What They Actually Mean
Beret Colours Explained: Maroon, Green, Sand and What They Actually Mean
Why the Paras wear maroon, the Commandos wear green, and the SAS earned the right to wear sand-coloured berets after North Africa — the real stories behind British Army beret... Read more...
What British Soldiers Actually Wore in WWII
What British Soldiers Actually Wore in WWII
Battledress, the 37 Pattern webbing system and helmet design — the pure history of British WWII uniform, distinct from our buying/costume guide. Read more...
No1, No2 or FAD? Decoding British Military Dress Numbers
No1, No2 or FAD? Decoding British Military Dress Numbers Before You Buy the Wrong One
Confused by "No1 Dress", "FAD" or "No2" in a listing title? Here's what these terms actually mean, split by Army, RAF and Royal Navy. Read more...
British Military Buttons: How to Date One, and How to Match a Set
British Military Buttons: How to Date One, and How to Match a Set
A button tells you the regiment, roughly the decade and sometimes the maker. Here is how to read one, and how to replace a missing one without ruining a tunic. Read more...
How to Research a Relative's Military Service
How to Research a Relative's Military Service
A badge in a drawer, a photograph, a name. Here is how to work out who someone served with, where the records are, and what you can realistically find. Read more...