Bearskins
If you’ve ever watched Trooping of the Colour you may be forgiven for thinking the guardsmen were wearing Busbys, but no, Busby is the English name for the kucsma, a military head-dress made of fur, originally worn by Hungarian hussars. In its original form the busby was a cylindrical fur cap, having a bag of coloured cloth hanging from the top. This bag could be filled with sand and the end attached to the right shoulder as a defence against sabre cuts. It also had a cord, attached to the uniform, so it would not be lost of knocked off.
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Busby, Copyright Auckland Museum
And then there is the Bearskin. The earliest record of a bearskin-like cap being worn by soldiers in Europe was during the mid-17th century, although its widespread adoption did not take place until 1761, when French grenadiers began to wear tall fur caps resembling the Prussian mitre cap. The purpose appears to have been to add to the apparent height and impressive appearance of these troops both on the parade ground and the battlefield. These fur caps developed into the large bearskin caps worn by the French Imperial Guard. The British Grenadier Guards adopted the headdress after their victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, with other British units and European militaries adopting the headdress in the years after.
The frame of the Bearskin is made of willow, in this case tied together with split withies rather than woven. Visit Coates Basket Museum, Stoke St Gregory, Somerset, to see an example.
The Final Stages of the Creation of the Headgear
As of 2020, there were 14 countries whose militaries used bearskin as a part of their ceremonial uniforms. Some of these units still wear bearskins made out of real bear fur, while other units use caps made out of synthetic fibres. In addition to military units, several civilian marching bands have also incorporated the bearskin cap as a part of their uniforms.
Five of the British Army's foot guards, responsible for protecting the royal family outside Buckingham Palace, wear the bearskins. They are also worn during royal public duties, including mounting the King's Guard and Trooping the Colour.