Page 103 - MustangEbook

the hilt of the sword. This knot was originally
used to prevent the sword being lost in action,
for the strap was twisted around the wrist of
the bearer.

EPAULETTE AND SHOULDER STRAP

Before the twentieth century epaulettes and Epaulette for Warrant Officers & Specialists
shoulder straps were common devices to
signal rank. Epaulettes, from epaule an old MILITARY MUSIC
French word for shoulder seem to have started
out as cloth straps worn on the shoulders to
help keep shoulder sashes and belts in
position. Another story has them beginning as
pieces of armour to protect the shoulders. By
the time of the American Revolutionary War
epaulettes worn by British and French
Officers had become elaborate affairs of gold
or silver that started at the collar and ended at
the point of the shoulder with heavy fringes of
gold or silver wire. To some they looked like
fancy hair brushes. They were also very Drums and fifes are among the oldest form of
expensive, being made of gold or silver, military musical instruments. The drum had
sometimes solid metal and other times plated. long been known in
Epaulettes for Sergeants and other enlisted eastern countries and
men were of cheaper metals or cloth. The Military music the early Egyptians
ranks of Warrant Officers and Officers are accentuates the combined the trumpet
inserted into these epaulettes. occasion, allowing the and the drum to
listener to be totally provide their military

immersed in the music. The Greeks, on
military setting.
the other hand,
favoured the flute, the
smoothing tunes of which kept their fighting
men cool and firm. The trumpet was the
instrument in general use with the forces of
Epaulette for Officers the Roman Empire, while the ancient Briton
favoured the horn and trumpet. These
remained the only instruments of martial
music until the Crusaders returned with fresh
ideas from the east. They had seen the value
of the drum as an adjunct to military art in the
armies of the Saracens and introduced this
instrument into England in the eleventh
Epaulette for MDES
century under the names of the tabor and the
maker.