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"LA FORCE PUBLIQUE" OR "DE OPENBARE WEERMACHT" IN THE BELGIAN CONGO.

B. Europeans' uniforms 1885-1903.

During the first years after the Congo Free State was founded it was clear that officlals had other things on their mind than creating a uniform for the European personnel, but already on 31th October 1888 (two weeks prior to the publishing of the paper about the organisation of the FP) the "Décret prescrivant le port d'un uniforme aux fonctionnaires au service de l'Etat en Afrique" was issued. The uniform was the same for all officials of the Congo Freestate, except for the Governor-General, the Vice-Governor-General and the Inspector-General. Only specific insigna indicated to what department an official belonged. For the FP this was a golden Belgian Lion above the stripes of rank on the left sleeve. the clothing was of West-European style without making provision for the tropical climate. Only the tropic helmet and the white uniform were slight adaptions in that direction.

Fig 1: Second Lieutenant in full dress model 1888, redingote slightly shortened.

Fig 2: Two Captain-Commandants 1st Class in service dress model 1888.

Fig 3 (above): Machinegun detachment in 1899. The whites are wearing service dress model 1888. The blacks are wearing standard Force Publique uniforms. Fig 4 (right): Second Lieutenant in full dress, redingote full lenght (1888).

The full dress - for ceremonial purposes (when civilians such as judges and lawyers were to wear a black smoking and top hat) was a long coat (redingote in royal blue) with an open collar. In the corners of the lapels figured (in goldthread) a fivepointed star, topped by a crown and double palmleafs. The coat had two rows of five guilded buttons embossed with the Belgian Arms, but had no pockets apart from the small breastpocket. Under the coat a white worsted jacket with a single row of 8 embossed buttons and a white shirt & white bow tie were worn. The trousers were made from the same material and colour as the coat or in a white fabric. The headcover was a white tropic helmet (with a Belgian Arms metal insigna on the front) or a cap in royal blue with (above the rank stripes) a embroided golden fivepointed star topped by the royal crown (fig 4).

The service dress was a short tunic in royal blue or white with five buttons (guilded, embossed with the Belgian Arms). On the right side of the collar figured an embroided fivepointed golden star and on the left sleeve (above the rank stripes) an embroided lion. This tunic was worn with royal blue or white trousers (fig 2 & fig 3).

The rank stripes were worn on the cuffs and on the cap (on the white uniform on removable blue strips). Apart from small changes such as the creation of the ranks of Captain-Commandant 1st and 2nd Class (1890) and those of first and second "sous-officier" or "onderofficier" (not so much meaning "sergeant" than rather more general "higher ranking NCO") together with the cancelling of the rank of "adjudant" (petty officer), the table 1889-1900 as listed under "European's uniforms model 1903" is also correct for the period 1885-1888.

Fig 5: officer on horseback (1888).	Fig 6: officer in full dress (1888).	Fig 7: NCO in full dress (1888).	Fig 8: Katanga police (1900).	Fig 9: Katanga police (1900).