Uniforms of the Czecho-Slovak Legion Administration, Quartermaster
and Supply Units,1917-1920

All material and reconstructions are by A. Karevskiy.

The main sources for this material are:

Tatarov, B. "Czechoslovak Military Formations in Russia: Part 1, 1917-1918 // Staryi Tseykhgauz, No. 5-6", Moscow, 2015. pp. 54-76; and " ... Part 2, 1919-1920 // Staryi Tseykhgauz, No. 3", Moscow, 2016, pp.73-83.

Orian, E., Panus, B., Stechlik, E. and Steidler, F. "Ceskoslovenska Legie v Rusku, 1914-1920", Prague, 2014.

Bullock, D. "The Czech Legion // Men-at-Arms No. 447", Oxford, 2007.

Sleeve insignia for administrative service officials was first indicated in Order No. 15 of 30 December 1917. The shield piping was given:

§3. For officials, the piping is red.

In the drawing attached to the order, the rank braid is shown horizontally, but there is no mention of the designation of ranks. This was corrected by Corps Order No. 49 of 8 April 1918, which established three administrative service ranks (ensign, second lieutenant and lieutenant of the administrative service).

Order No. 54 of 15 May 1918 established a correspondence of those ranks to the Russian civil ranks for military officials – collegiate registrar, provincial secretary and collegiate secretary. Those administrative service officers who did not have the rights of a volunteer were given the rank of sub-ensign in the administrative service (until August 1918, when that rank was abolished). The non-officer ranks of the administrative service wore the usual insignia, on a shield with a red border.

Order No. 117 of 27 October 1918:

§7. Types of troops and services are distinguished by the colour of the piping on the uniform shields and the tabs on the coat collars. It is established that... the administration and economic department shall be orange.

By the same order, the insignia of the administrative service was brought into line with the insignia of the combat ranks (i.e., the stripes on the shields were now changed to upwards pointing chevrons)

Insignia of quartermasters and military officials (administrative service):
1 – corporal of the 2nd Rifle Regiment; 2 – sub-ensign of the 1st Rifle Regiment;
3 – ensign of the 6th Regiment; 4 – second-lieutenant at the 1st Division HQ;
5 – lieutenant at the 2nd Division HQ; 6 – collegiate assessor at the Czechoslovak Corps HQ;
7 – greatcoat tab; 8 – collar tab for tunic of the "Vladivostok uniform"; 9 – service stripes;
10 – sergeant of the 10th Regiment;
11 – second lieutenant, quartermaster of the 1st Division;
12 – captain, quartermaster of the 2nd Division;
13 – lieutenant-colonel, corps quartermaster's office

The first six reconstructions are for men in administrative service as per Order No. 15 of 30 December 1917. Figure 6 was unique, only one person had that rank.

The last four reconstructions are for administrative service ranks as per Order No. 117 of 27 October 1918.

Chevrons for service were established by Order No. 11 of 27 October 1918. Each chevron corresponded to one year of service, starting from 1914, i.e. from the formation of the Czechoslovak druzhina.

§11. On the right sleeve (at the same height as the badge on the left sleeve) is a designation of years of service – a chevron of the same shape and size as the stripes on the badge, in the colour of the branch of service.

Uniform of the quartermaster service of the Czechoslovak Corps, first half of 1918

Administrative service officers (military officials) wore the same uniform as the combat personnel of the Czechoslovak Corps, differing only in their sleeve insignia (above, as per Order No. 15 of 30 December 1917).

Uniforms of the quartermaster service of the Czechoslovak Corps, second half of 1918

Figures 1 to 3 have insignia according to Order No. 15 of 30 December 1917. Figure 4 has the revised version of Order No. 117 of 27 October 1918.

Uniforms of the 1st Division quartermaster service, 1919-1920

The headgear (known as a "vydumka") was introduced in the Czechoslovak army by Order No. 41 of 21 June 1919. It became their main distinguishing feature, as officially the wearing of other types of headgear was prohibited.

Uniforms of the divisional and corps quartermaster service, 1919-1920

Figure 3 and 4 show the so-called "Vladivostok uniform", introduced in the legion by Order No. 41 of 21 June 1919. The insignia of the administrative services was orange tabs on the collar (greatcoat and tunic) and orange piping on the sleeve badges.