Ecuadorean Uniforms, 1940

By C. Demuth.
source: 1940 Dress Regulations

The Military Uniforms of Ecuador at this period in time consisted of three groups:
Army:Branches of the Headquarters, Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Engineers and the Services of the Sanitary, Chemical (Quimico), Military Justice and Veterinary.
Air Force:
Military Institutions:

Classification of the Army uniforms come under these five headings:
a) Parade, (b) Gala, (c) Social, (d) Service, (e) Campaign.

The Parade Uniform consisted of:
Cap"Gorra"
Uniform Jacket"Blusa"
White Shirt with starched collar"Cuello volteado rigido"
Black Tie"Corbata negra de panuelo y de borlon"
Breeches"Pantalon de bota"
Spurs"Espuelas"
Epaulettes for Generals and Superior officers"Charretaras para Oficiales Generales y Superiors"
Contre-Epaulettes for Subaltern officers"Caponas para Oficiales Inferiores"
Belt"Cinturon"
Aiguilette: gold lace for Generals and Staff officers, silver for Aide-de-Camps of Government and Congress"Cordones: dorados los Oficiales Generales y de Estado Mayor, y plateados los Edecanes de Gobierno y del Congreso"
Sabre"Sable con vaina niquelada"
Leather Belt: golden for Generals, silver for all other officers "Tiros: dorados, los Oficiales Generales, y plateado los Oficiales Superiores e Inferiores"
Sword Knot: golden for Generals, silver for all other officers"Dragona: dorada, los Oficiales Generales y plateado, los Oficiales Superiores e Inferiores"
Gloves in White Chamois leather"Guantes blancos de gamuza"

The uniform "Social de Gala" consisted of:
Cap"Gorra"
Uniform Jacket"Blusa"
Trousers"Pantalon recto sin trabillas"
White Shirt with standing collar"Camisa blanca, rigida con cuello punta volteada"
Black bow tie"Corbata negra de lazo"
Black shoes"Zapatos de charol negro rebajados"
Black socks"Calcetines negros"
Epaulettes for Generals and Superior officers"Charreteras para los Oficiales Generales y Superiores"
Contre-Epaulette for Subaltern officers"Caponas par Oficiales Inferiores"
Parade belt"Cinturon de Parada"
Aiguillette, only for Generals, Staff officers and officials of the Government and Congress"Cordones solo para los oficiales Generales, Oficiales de Estado Mayor y Edecanes da Gobierno y del Congreso"
Sabre"Sable con vaina niquelada"
Gloves in white chamois"Guantes blancos de gamuza"
Cape, only for evening wear"Capa, para las asistencias por la norhe"

Campaign Dress consisted of:
Steel helmet (Italian style)"Casco de acero"
or Cap"Boina" (Fig. 4)
Olive green cotton uniform jacket, not to be worn on the coast or in the east"Blusa verde aceituna de algodon"
Khaki shirt, olive green"Camisa de tela kaki, color verde aceituna"
Black tie"Corbata negra de panuelo"
Breeches, same colour as uniform jacket "Pantalon de bota de la misma tela de la blusa"
Black boots"Botas negras"
Spurs"Espuelas"
Epaulettes for Generals and Superior officers"Palas para Oficiales Generales y Superiores"
Shoulder-strap from the same material as the jacket for Subaltern officers"Presillas de la misma tela de la blusa para Oficiales Inferiores"
Greatcoat (Gray-Green)"Capote verde gris"
Leather equipment"Correaje de campana"
Pistol, worn on the right hand side"Pistola, suspendida al costado derecho"
Machete, Rank Insignia, buttons etc. on this uniform were of blackened metal"En este uniforme, las insignias, botones, etc.; seran de metal oxidado"

Additionally:
Pair of Field Glasses"Anteojos prismaticos"
A map case, worn on the right side "Porta cartas"
Compass "Brujula"
Poncho ( water-proof )"Poncho de aqua"
On mountain marches, on foot, the use of woolen socks in olive green were optional "Para marchas en montana, a pie, facultase el uso de medias de lana color del uniforme ( verde-aceituna ), las mismas que tendran la altura de la bota )"
The wearing of the uniform jacket is not allowed in instruction and exercises on the field"Autorizare no usar blusa en la instruccion y ejercicios en el terreno"

Guide to Illustration:

Fig. 1A Lieutenant (Subtieniente), one silver star, of an infantry regiment in parade uniform, additional colour details are; Olive green breeches and jacket, parade belt is in national colours ( yellow - white - blue white - red - white ). The contre-epaulettes have a blue field with a gilt half-moon come circle, strap is bordered in lace of the national colours. The cap is olive green with a red band, red badge with gilt national coat of arms. According to the regulations this uniform could also be grey for wear in the eastern sectors of the country or white for coastal wear.
Fig. 2A Lieutenant - Colonel (Teniente - Coronel), two gold stars, same colours as the first figure, but this is covering the bow - tie that is worn, also the officer is wearing normal trousers and shoes. The "capa" should be steel grey in colour, but is depicted light blue in the regulation illustration, maybe this could be blamed on to the printers (?) The collar is blue (pano azul) with the interior in the branch colour i.e. green for the Army and dark blue for the Air Force.
Fig. 3 A Sub-Lieutenant of the army in campaign dress. He is wearing a dark olive green Italian style helmet and a green shirt (shown in the regulation illustration as sand brown, maybe yet another error by the printers or a strange khaki (?), with brown leather equipment. His grade is indicated by a rectangular badge over his left breast pocket.
Fig. 4A Captain (Capitan), three silver stars, he is dressed for campaign in the sierra. The cotton jacket is in the same design and colour as for the parade uniform, but his rank is indicated by shoulder straps. An olive green coloured shirt is worn with an Italian style cap again in olive green which makes him appear wearing a very Italian uniform (Alas the shirt is shown as sand brown in the regulation illustration while the text says olive green).

to be continued ........


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