Mess Dress

GOLD'S DRAGOONS MESS DRESS UNIFORM. BLACK WATCH TARTAN TREWS

LITCHFIELD TROOP AT EASE

MESS VICE PRESIDENT, OX GARA, BEING PRESENTED WITH HIS GORGET UPON BEING ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JOHN CONLIN HANDS OVER NEW YORK CITY TO MEMBERS OF THE VCA IN A RE-ENACTMENT OF THE 1783 BRITISH EVACUATION

SHOULDER BOARDS, COLLAR DOGS AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR'S GORGET

GOLD'S PIPER AWARD CENTER, MARKSMAN BOTTOM LEFT, EQUESTRIAN BOTTOM RIGHT, AXES OF THE WINNER OF THE ANNUAL AXE THROWING COMPETITION TOP LEFT, MASTER OF ARMS, TOP RIGHT

CAPTAIN OF SHOOTING

TROOP CHAPLAIN

All members in good standing may wear the scarlet mess dress that was the uniform of  Gold's Dragoons in the 1930s, and which can be seen on the left.  The jacket may be worn with tuxedo pants or Black Watch trews in the mess and at social events. For parade dress, Black Watch trews are required. All mess uniforms are identical and no badges of rank are worn, in keeping with the principle that all members are equal in the mess. Exceptions are gold service chevrons worn on the sleeve cuffs and shoulder boards that all members may wear on their third dinner (i.e., after two years), the gorget worn by members of the Gold's board of directors, and shoulder badges that are presented for troop appointments and skill awards, as explained below. Nickel silver spurs are optional.
 
Members should be aware that the mess dress is no longer an official military uniform. Gold's Dragoons was de-activated from the Connecticut State Forces many years ago; current members are not subject to military discipline and are no longer required to serve a fixed term of enlistment. As a mess dress, however, it is appropriate to be worn at all formal military functions in memory of those whose heritage we share and to encourage support for the armed forces. Prior military service is not a requirement for membership and the wearing of the mess dress.
 
The basic mess dress jacket is worn with a black tie or regimental dark blue bow tie, white formal shirt (turned down or winged collar) and a black vest or cummerbund, over tuxedo trousers or trews. Shoes are plain black or patent leather. The jacket may be worn with a kilt or non-regimental trews. Medals are worn on the left lapel, above the Gold's lapel badge, traditionally called a "collar dog". Only medals awarded by a country or a US state sanctioned entity are acceptable. Members who have several rows of medals are encouraged to select their six most senior awards and wear only those.
 
New members who have completed their two year probationary period and are at their second anniversary  - or any member who has attended three or more dinners in the past - may wear double twist shoulder boards covering the shoulder seam. The neck collar end of the board is held down by a Gold's button supplied with the shoulder boards. These shoulder boards may be ordered from our quartermaster's store. These items are not available to the general public.
 
There are no badges of rank on the uniform but officers of the troop who are members of the corporate board may wear a gorget (pronounced "gore-jet"), suspended from a gold chain and bearing the Royal Arms, with their mess uniform. Commissioned officers in the 17th and 18th centuries wore such a  gorget as a symbol of their authority and Nathan Gold and his lieutenants would have conformed to that tradition.

The troop will present small gold chevrons to members who have mess dress, to be worn on both mess dress cuffs, with each chevron representing 5 years service, up to a maximum of 25 years. See below for correct placement. Examples are shown for 5, 15 and 25 years, but 10 and 20 years are similar. Members with mess dress who qualify for any of the chevrons should send an email to goldsdragoons@gmail.com stating the year they joined, the service award they are claiming and the postal address where they should be delivered. There is no charge for this award.

The troop may present appointment badges to members who possess mess dress or parade dress and are responsible for various activities related to our military past. These are worn on the left sleeve, centered on the shoulder board and two inches below the shoulder seam. They include the Captain of Polo, Captain of Shooting, Master of Horse , Vice-President of the Mess, Quartermaster, Master at Arms, Judge Advocate, Troop Chaplain, Pipe Major and Duty Piper. All badges are sewn directly onto the mess jacket or parade jacket and are at no charge to the recipient.

Skill badges are similar in design to appointment badges but are worn on the right shoulder and may be presented to members who possess mess dress or parade dress and have reached a certain standard in those activities. Equestrian skill is traditional requirement for a former cavalry unit and Gold's may award a gold spur badge to be worn on the right shoulder, spur shank up, centered on the shoulder board or parade chain and two inches below the sleeve seam (see VCA photo on left for example). This is presented to members who have mess dress and can qualify for any of the following three categories: (1) have played polo for Gold's Dragoons or another USPA member polo team for at least one complete season; (2) have been awarded their hunt colors by the Fairfield County Hounds or another accredited foxhunt; or (3) have served in a mounted military unit for at least one year and have been passed as competent in equestrian skills, formation drills and swordsmanship to the satisfaction of the unit's troop sergeant. Members may be awarded the golden spur for other feats of superlative horsemanship, at the discretion of the Mess President.

The Marksman badge is awarded to winners of the Daly or Hudner shooting cups - or members who have demonstrated exemplary shooting expertise - and who have mess dress. This is worn on the right shoulder, centered on the shoulder board and two inches below the sleeve seam. Only one badge may be worn on each shoulder. The marksman and equestrian badges are at no cost to the recipient.

As appropriate for a unit that was required to carry hatchets in the Indian wars of the formation of the troop in 1660, there is an annual axe-throwing event and the winner is awarded the crossed axes badge, at no cost to the recipient.
  
The jacket and waistcoat/vest are custom made by our appointed regimental tailor, so please ensure that all measurements are correct when ordering. Order forms are available from Ox Gara at oxgara@aol.com. There is no link on this website to order the mess dress. The link is only obtained directly from Ox Gara, the Vice President of the Mess or the President of the mess. The cost of the tailored jacket is $164, with about $42 delivery charge, which represents extraordinary value. Members may also order a black waistcoat/vest at a cost of $74 and it is cut in the correct military style with two front pockets and four brass buttons. The buttons on the vest should be changed to the approved pattern, US Federal Eagle miniature, which can be purchased when members book an event, or from the QM store, for $10 a set. The final jacket components are two gold lapel collar dogs which may be ordered at a total cost of $3o. The collar dogs are worn on the lapel midway between the bottom of the lapel and where it joins the shoulder seam. Members in good standing should email goldsdragoons@gmail.com for the payment link. Members may also order a single collar dog to be worn with a tuxedo, at a cost of $15, or gifted as a "sweetheart brooch" in the established military tradition.

To complete the mess dress we have authorized two pants options. Any black tuxedo trousers, or the wearing of trews in the Black Watch tartan for both mess dress and tuxedo. These are currently available from the "Heritage of Scotland" or "The Scottish Kilt Company" web site for around $40, plus mailing cost by Fedex of around $20. They are artificial fabric but indistinguishable from wool. Wool trews may be available for around $130, including mailing. The belt loops should be removed in either case and suspender buttons sewn in. The silver buttons should be replaced with black plastic for the two front buttons and the hip pocket. If the trews are being shortened for use, the back hem should be one inch lower than the front (see correct length in photo of dismounted uniform, top left).  Important note: trews are not pants or trousers and have a higher waistline - take measurements two inches above your normal waist and err on the side of one size larger, as you will be using suspenders. The web sites www.heritageofscotland.com/category/men  or www.thescotlandkiltcompany.co.uk/collections/tartan-trews. Convert the currency at the top of the  web page into dollars, if available, and the cost should reduce by 20%, as no VAT is owed.

Mess dress rarely requires headdress or covers, but when needed the correct version is either a parade uniform hat or a dark blue beret with a Gold's collar dog cap badge worn over the left eye.  For correct version see photo of dismounted uniform, top left. There are many inexpensive sources but one is through thevillagehatshop.com at $16.95. Importantly this beret does not require shaping. The link for orders is https://www.villagehatshop.com/product/berets/451139-79697/village-hat-shop-wool-military-beret.html. The color illustration is not accurate. The blue is the correct dark navy blue. Remove the black back ribbons and center the cap badge on the inside backing. Cover the two brass studs with black duct tape - or something similar - on the inside,  for comfort.

Members who do not wish to wear their own unit mess dress or order the Golds Dragoons mess dress are encouraged to wear the Black Watch trews with their tuxedo, which is an established military practice. Heritage of Scotland is the recommended supplier.

5 YEARS SERVICE CHEVRON

15 YEARS SERVICE CHEVRONS

25 YEARS SERVICE CHEVRONS

 
Existing and new members are under no obligation to order the mess dress but it was worn in the 1930s by troop members and serves as a unique and direct link to the history of Gold's Dragoons and our Royal Patron, over 350 years ago. We encourage the wearing of the mess dress on all appropriate formal evenings, including non-Gold's Dragoons events. As members retire or move to other parts of the USA or abroad we need to continually attract suitable new members and the distinctive mess dress has proven to be  a very effective recruiting sergeant.