T H E C O V E N A N T E R
half century (or so) earlier. They had sought called Number 1 Dress but originally called
to disguise their whereabouts by adopting Review Order. From the very first day I wore
dark green (as opposed to scarlet) uniforms it I wondered why it was also sometimes
and black (as opposed to brass) buttons. referred to as a “Black Jumper”. I wondered
But this is not the whole story either. The if by any chance it had started life as an
very reference to green uniforms is in the item of dress worn by mounted officers.
history of the 60th (The King’s Royal Rifle The custom of wearing the black lanyard
Corps). Their roots were in North America, (with its hangman’s noose knot) round the
where they were formed, and where they neck, under the epauettes, and with the end
had been issued with uniforms of green, tucked into the right breast pocket certainly
and rifles as opposed to muskets. harked back to a time when the lanyard was
The 95th (The Rifle Brigade) were first the safety cord for the officer’s shako.
formed as an Experimental Corps in 1800 The answer is, of course not. It is a typical
and they were given rifles and green soldier’s corruption. The word “jumper” has
uniforms too. In 1803 they were to be been mangled from the word “jump” which
joined by the 43rd & 52nd (The Ox and means a short coat or jacket. It comes from
Bucks) to form the Light Brigade. Later, the French, juppe.
in 1808 they joined the 60th to form the Jump (for a garment, as opposed to what
Brigade of Riflemen. These then are the you did on orders) would not have been
units to which we can trace back the green in common use, whereas reference to a
roots of the Scottish Rifles. But the wearing sweater/pullover/jumper would have been;
of green uniforms, “the precursor of modern hence the corruption to a word which at
camouflage” actually goes back to the 18th least sounded familiar. Though they stem
century and not just to the Peninsular War. from the same French word, jump and
Another myth demolished! jumper have completely different meanings,
With the formation of The Scotch (later the latter being defined as a loose fitting
Scottish) Rifles in 1881 the combined garment pulled over the head.
Cameronians and Perthshire Light Infantry The Black Jumper was a unique garment.
took on rifle green for their tunics. But how Its apparent plainness belied the fact that it
many people remember that it was not until had some delightful detail. The cuffs were
1890 that Douglas tartan was authorised double and a row of black cuff buttons was
for their trews? The same strikingly good hidden under a pointed fly. In the small of
combination can still be seen today, worn the back was a diamond shaped mini-belt
by the Pipes and Drums of the Royal held in place by two more buttons. When
Ghurkha Regiment, the successors to (and a sword was worn then the cross-belt was
incorporating) the 7th Duke of Edinburgh’s worn too and the sword was suspended
Own Ghurkha Rifles, the affiliated regiment on long straps (the scabbard being held
of The Cameronians. in the left hand) the sword belt being
I have for some time wondered why, when hidden under the coat. It could be worn
the Lowland Band of the Scottish Infantry with a small thin white collar showing a
was formed a few years ago, the opportunity millimetre above the inside of the stand-up
was not taken to adopt Douglas trews. It black collar. It could be worn with strapped
would have been a signal way of continuing trews and Wellington boots or dress trews
the traditions of wearing the tartan of that and George boots. Its most unusual feature,
great Lowland Scottish family and a fitting and one of its most attractive, was that the
way to show that the wider memory of front was cut straight down without any
the Scottish Rifles had not been lost, or is cutaway, unique (I believe) for a short coat
betrayed too strong a word? Alas memories worn with trews or kilt.
are short and the history of the uniforms I can find no reference as to when the
adopted in recent years is sprinkled with Black Jump came into use. My supposition
self-serving solecisms. is that it must have been the “undress” coat
But back now to the black greatcoats. used when the dress item (Levée Order?)
One of the smartest items of uniform was a frock coat complete with all its
in use at the time of the 1st Battalion’s ribbons and froggings. I am at a loss to
disbandment was the officers’ black patrol think of another item of non-mess uniform
jacket. This was worn in the evening by worn in recent memory which was black
the Orderly Officer and on other occasions (as opposed to green or navy blue). That
as an alternative to Mess Dress or the applies to all regiments in the British army
dark green Lowland pattern doublet then too. Perhaps some buff (no pun intended)

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