When I switched from the Royal Signals to God's Own Corps, switching shoulder and lanyard colour from right to left and blue to cypress green in the process, some dimwit RD type maintained that this was because the Int Corps "wasn't an Arm" and that right shoulder lanyard = combat arm. I even remember one or two of the lads having clasp knives attached, while with the King's Troop RHA and RHA units if my memory serves me correctly.

I think you'll find that Lanyards originated very much earlier than this and was not even anything to do with the artillery.So maybe its a bad thing fleeing from the guns whilst under fire, but surrending whilst in an Army camp needs a little more explaning. There has long been a tale-usually told by Sappers-about the Gunners wearing a white lanyard for cowardice, allegedly for deserting their guns. The lanyard was a simple piece of strong cord, but it was gradually turned into something a bit more decorative, smartened up with blanco and braided, taking its present form.

While in the Army I was told the standard line, that the lanyard was used by cavarly to tie there feed. There also used to be all sorts of misleading bullshit about which shoulder the lanyard was worn on. The tradition of winding up stems from the age-old rivalry between the two sister corps founded under the Board of Ordnance and trained together in Woolwich. it is ridiculous to suppose that the Army Board in its wisdom would countenance the idea of a badge of shame to be worn by any branch of the Service.

Some years ago I purchased an example that is white and braided, it has a 1915 dated whistle on the end. If you have concerns about the language in this record, or you have information to improve it, please share your feedback. Lanyards associated with dress came into use in the late 19th Century, when field guns such as the 12 and 15 pounders used ammunition which had fuses set with a fuse key. Pre WW1, lanyards were used by the Gunners to hold a fuze key for setting time fuses and also for all mounted troops to keep the clasp knife handy (hooves, horses, stones for the removing of).

Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site, connect with other members through your own private inbox and will receive smaller adverts! Started in the 18th century as a means of identifying Corporals who wore linen ribbons on their shoulder much the same as a lanyard until chevrons were introduced to indicate rank. Never, there was nothing on the end of the lanyard when wearing No2 or No6 dress uniforms, a whistle would have broke up the line of the pocket and the RSM wouldn't have wanted that! In the war years that followed, the lanyard could be used as an emergency firing lanyard for those guns which had a trigger firing mechanism, allowing the gunner to stand clear of the guns recoil.

In about 1903 these were withdrawn and replaced with jack knives, which were carried in the left breast pocket of the Service Dress attached to a lanyard over the left shoulder. And even an acount of a US gun being prepared to fire with the use of a lanyard in 1862 here http://www. I am quite happy to believe the yellow stripe, white lanyard and 2 bombs missing stories - even if they are apocryphal. As far as I can see the word 'lanyard' comes from the naval term for an attachment to a line or rigging and that dates long before Napolionic times. In recent times perhaps but in a WW1 front line situation I suspect they were used to anchor all sorts of things.

One might even ask why other arms and corps wear lanyards - they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! I would class myself as an infantry signaller and I always had a clasp knife and a leatherman/Gerber on me all the time. Eventually, in 1933, the end of lanyard was simply tucked into the breast pocket without the jack-knife, though many may remember that it was often kept in place with the soldiers pay book!

Heres a generic officers lanyard, probably attached to a pistol, from 1918 and a number of other lanyards from my collection all post WW1, feel free to identify. The lanyard was simply a piece of strong cord, but it was gradually turned into something more decorative, smartened up with 'Blanco', and braided, taking its present form. But there are some who insist that 1924 was the date of change, when the sloping of rifles over the left shoulder would soil the white lanyard.