The red kepi had a white plume with a red base. Until 1939, the Cavalry of the Imperial Guard wore a French style parade uniform consisting of a dark-blue tunic with red Brandenburg braiding, a red kepi and red breeches. Sources do not agree if there ever was a 7th Guard Regiment.Īll military Imperial Guard Divisions were dissolved at the end of World War II. It consisted of the 8th, 9th and 10th Guards Regiments. The 3rd Guards Division, which never left Japan, was formed in 1944. The Mixed Guards Brigade in Tokyo became the 1st Guards Division (which now consisted of the 1st, 2nd, 6th Guard Regiments) and the Imperial Guard Division became the 2nd Guards Division. In May 1943, all designated Imperial Guard units were renamed again. It later saw action in the Battles of Malaya and Singapore with Tomoyuki Yamashita's 25th Army. In June 1941, the 5th Guards Infantry Regiment joined the 2nd Guards Brigade becoming the Imperial Guard Division again. In 1940, it went to Shanghai before being posted to Hainan Island. The 2nd Guards Brigade, which contained 3rd and 4th Guards Regiments, also went to China. In April 1941 the Mixed Guards Brigade returned to Tokyo but it did not rejoin the Imperial Guards Division. In October 1940, it joined other Japanese units occupying French Indo-China. Here it became known as the Mixed Guards Brigade. The 1st Guards Brigade, which contained the 1st and 2nd Guards Infantry Regiments, the cavalry regiment, and half of the support units, was transferred to South China. In September 1939, the division was split into the 1st and 2nd Guards Brigades.
#Russo japanese war uniforms plus
In 1920 the Guards Cavalry Regiment, Guards Field Artillery Regiment, Guards Engineer Battalion, Guards Transport Battalion, plus other Guards service units were added.įrom 1937 to 1939 the Guards Engineer Battalion was expanded into a regiment as was the Guards Transport Battalion. The Imperial Guard division was based in Tokyo and recruited nationally.Īfter the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, a second Guard Brigade was formed from indigenous Formosans. A division consisted of four regiments containing two battalions each. The 3rd and 4th Regiments belonged to the 2nd Guards infantry Brigade.īy 1885 the Imperial Japanese Army consisted of seven divisions, one of which was the Imperial Guard. It was organized into the 1st Guards Infantry Brigade which had the 1st and 2nd Regiments. The Imperial Guard, which consisted of 12,000 men organized and trained along French Military lines, first saw action in the Satsuma Rebellion. It became the foundation of the Imperial Japanese Army after the Emperor Meiji assumed all the powers of state during the Meiji Restoration. The Imperial Guard of the Imperial Japanese Army was formed in 1867. This was brought back by a USMC veteran and acquired directly from his estate. It has a great look to it which shows it saw service, though unfortunately there is moth damage around the cap band, as shown. Size is approximately 7 and in good condition overall. The center of the interior bears two embroidered Japanese Characters, most likely the name of the cap's owner. The black oilcloth sweatband shows wear but is complete. The interior is lined in brown satin rayon cloth (typically missing), with the cheesecloth reinforcement underneath. The visor is textured on both sides, but looks to be in good shape, with a nice aged black finish. The chinstrap is in good condition and held in place by two gilded cherry blossom styled buttons. It has a body of olive green fine woven wool, with the top panel seam featuring red piping, matching the color of the red wool cap band.Ĭenter of cap features a gilded Star over a wreath, which is the insignia for the Imperial Guard division of the Imperial Japanese Army. This is a rare Japanese Type 45 Imperial Guard Officer's Visor Cap, essentially the same as the standard Army version except for the badge.