Uniforms of the Mexican Army
During the Revolution

The Federalist Army 1911-13 and
The Constitutional Army 1913-17

By C.A. Norman

I have divided the article into smaller sections for identification and easier download--RL

The Federalist Army 1911-1913

Much as I would like to do some sort of definitive study of the uniforms of the Mexican revolution, I simply don't have access to the source material [i.e. the original dress regulations, etc.] to do it properly. As a consequence, these articles must be simply an introduction to the subject, leaving far too many questions unanswered [perhaps they might inspire other contributors to supply additional information?] . Much of this information is based on work by the late Joseph Hefter, a good deal of which has been published before, so I beg the indulgence of readers who may already be familiar with it.

The uniforms worn at the outbreak of the revolution were, of course, those in use during the later years of the Diaz regime. In 1905 a new set of dress regulations were issued, adopting an entirely new uniform which was a curious mix of German and French styles. The Parade or Full Dress uniform featured a German-style spiked helmet with the Mexican eagle as a front badge, a rather form-fitting single breasted tunic [except for Generals , who were to have a double breasted tunic] and long trousers, entirely of dark blue for most branches and services, with branch coloured facings. Officer's rank insignia was to be a mixture of Germanic-style epaulettes and French-type rank lace circling the cuffs [the latter reflecting earlier practices].

A Germanic-style peaked service cap, may, have been introduced at this time as an undress headgear, as such a cap begins to appear in contemporary pictorial material [at least occasionally] , though most officers seem to have continued to wear the French-style Kepi of the older uniform. The model 1905 uniforms seem to have been generally adopted by officers by the outbreak of the revolution in 1911, though pictorial evidence is rather sparse. Available photographs would appear to indicate that the Full Dress uniform with spiked helmet was only rarely worn, for ceremonial occasions [possibly many officers did not care to incur the expense of buying it?].

Service and Daily Dress uniforms appear most frequently in available photographs, and are often a mixture of new and older uniform items. Photos of officers in campaign dress are rare indeed during this period, the whole area seems to have been in such a state of flux that it appears. impossible to state categorically what was, or not, worn during this period.

The situation in regard to other ranks is somewhat simpler [and better documented]. While it was intended that the Model 1905 uniforms should eventually be extended to all ranks, unrest and early warnings of the coming upheaval caused this plan to be put on indefinite hold. The only units to actually be issued the Model 1905 uniforms were the Presidential Guard and the cadets of the Military Academy. The remainder of the Army were still wearing the Model 1898 uniforms on the outbreak of the revolution.

This assortment of uniforms continued in use under the Madero and Huerta regimes, being gradually superseded by the new uniforms adopted in 1913/14 toward the very end of this period.

The Cconstitutional Army 1913-1917

Technically the term "Constitutional Army" is something of a misnomer, as Huerta retained the old Federal Army until his fall from power in July, 1914. His successor, Venustiano Carranza, finally disbanded the Federal Army on his accession and raised a new government army which, for political reasons, he referred to as the "Constitutional Army", though, in fact, the new Mexican constitution was not to be adopted until 1917.

For that matter, the various rebel armies also claimed to be 'Constitutional Armies", at least in the sense that they were fighting for a new constitution. I use the term here simply as a convenient label to cover the various forces using the new uniforms adopted in 1913-14.

In 1913 President Huerta promulgated a new "Reglamento de Uniformes para Generales, Jefes, Oficiales, Cadetes y Tropas del Ejercito Nacional", accompanied by a folio of 115 colour plates illustrating the new uniforms [which is said to be magnificent, though, unfortunately, I've never seen them]. Unfortunately, this work of art was subsequently found to contain numerous errors and omissions, so a revised and corrected edition was issued in April, 1914. The uniforms described and illustrated in these two works are frequently referred to as the "Model 1914" uniforms.

These new uniforms were in the process of coming into use when the Huerta regime was overthrown in July of that year, and were subsequently to be adopted as the basis for the uniforms of the new "Constitutional Army" through the rest of the war. They were not adopted in their entirety, however, and limited resources, confusion and lack of centralised control led to a good deal of variation in the items actually used. In some cases there was so much variation that it becomes difficult [If not impossible] to determine exactly which was the "regulation" item or practice.

The 1913-14 regulations were designed to get rid of all the "Prussian frippery" of the old 1905 uniforms, abolishing the expensive spiked helmets, plumes, epaulets, sashes, etc. and replacing them with a more sober "revolutionary" uniform [which continued to retain a rather "Germanic" look] . The full dress uniforms prescribed by the 1913-14 regulations were never in fact adopted [which probably explains why senior officers of the Huerta regime were frequently photographed wearing the old 1898 and 1905 full dress uniforms for ceremonial occasions]. It was not to be until the dress regulations of 1919 that a new full dress uniform was actually adopted.

The uniforms actually adopted and worn were the "dark blue" Service and Garrison uniform [this doubled as a full dress uniform if required], and the campaign uniform. The service uniform was actually a blue-black [so dark it was to be officially designated as "black" by the 1919 dress regulations] with branch of service coloured facings: "garance" red for infantry and gendarmerie, a lightish blue [known as "hussar blue"] for the cavalry and Presidential Guards, crimson for artillery and general staff, cobalt blue for engineers, etc. The regulation headgear was a blue-black service cap of rather Germanic style, with band and top piping of branch of service colour.

Officers continued to wear the metallic lace rank stripes circling the cuff, but their epaulets were to be replaced by "straps" running transversely across the lower end of the shoulder [based on those worn in the U.S. Army during the latter half of the 19th century]. N.C.O.s were now officially authorised branch-coloured stripes circling the lower sleeve to indicate rank [as mentioned, these may have been already in use by 1.913-14 ?].

The campaign uniform was to be similar in cut to the service uniform. It was officially described in the 1913 and 1914 dress regulations as "lead grey", though, in fact, the colour finally adopted was khaki, generally of an olive or greenish shade [but not before many officers had already had "lead grey" uniforms made, some of whom continued to wear them until they wore out].

The campaign uniform was not to have any coloured trim [apart from N.C.O.s rank stripes and musicians "Golpes"]; instead branch of service was to be indicated by a branch badge worn on the front of the headgear [crossed rifles with a vertical bugle superimposed for infantry, crossed sabres for cavalry, crossed cannon with a small flaming bomb above the point of cross for artillery, the gabion on crossed pick and shovel for engineers, etc.] . Officers rank insignia on the campaign dress was officially to be displayed only on the transverse shoulder "straps", and [apparently] on the front of the cap band. Headgear could be either the khaki peaked service cap [identical in form to the blue-black model] or a khaki-covered sun helmet. For tropical wear there was to be a white cotton or sailcloth version of the campaign uniform, to be worn with one or the other of the khaki headgear.

Back to Table of Contents: Booklet No. 5, Mexican Army 1900-20
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