When British Soldiers Had to Wear a Moustache: The 1916 Change
For around half a century, from the mid-Victorian era until 1916, British Army regulations required soldiers to grow a moustache. The King’s Regulations allowed the chin to be shaved but not the upper lip, and a clean-shaven soldier could be disciplined for it. The rule was abolished by an Army Order in October 1916, in the middle of the First World War. The change is usually credited to Lieutenant General Sir Nevil Macready, then Adjutant General, who is said to have disliked his own moustache and shaved it off as soon as the order was signed. Within a few years, the clean-shaven face had become the British military norm.
Here is how the rule came about, why it lasted, why it ended, and what it says about men’s grooming then and now.
How the moustache became compulsory
In the early nineteenth century, British soldiers were mostly clean-shaven. The moustache was associated with continental armies, particularly cavalry, and with soldiers who had served in India, where facial hair was widely seen as a mark of manhood and status.
The Crimean War in the 1850s changed attitudes at home. Soldiers in the harsh Crimean winter grew beards and moustaches for warmth and practicality, and the returning, bearded veteran became a figure of admiration. Facial hair became fashionable across Victorian society. Our post on Victorian beards and Highgate Cemetery looks at how that fashion played out locally.
Over the following years, the army moved from permitting moustaches to requiring them. The regulations set out that the chin and under-lip were to be shaved, while the upper lip was not. The moustache had become part of the uniform, as much as a cap badge.
What the rule meant in practice
Enforcement varied by regiment and by commanding officer, but the principle was clear: a soldier was expected to have a moustache. Officers who shaved their upper lip could face rebuke, and there are accounts of men being ordered to grow one. Young recruits who struggled to grow anything much were in an awkward position.
Regiments developed their own styles. Some favoured full, heavy moustaches; others preferred something neater. The waxed, upturned style associated with the late Victorian and Edwardian officer was one fashion among several. If you want to see how those shapes differ, our guide to moustache styles covers the main ones, from the chevron to the handlebar.
Why it ended in 1916
By the time of the First World War, the rule was under strain. A few factors are usually mentioned:
- Widespread disregard. Many younger soldiers and officers, especially among the huge numbers of volunteers and conscripts, simply did not keep to it. Enforcing a grooming rule across a mass army was more trouble than it was worth.
- Changing fashion. In civilian life, the clean-shaven look was coming back. Safety razors had made shaving at home quick and convenient.
- Practicality in the trenches. Keeping any facial hair tidy in trench conditions was difficult. It is also often suggested that a clean face helped gas masks seal, though historians differ on how much that drove the decision about moustaches specifically.
The Army Order abolishing the requirement was issued in October 1916. Macready, the senior officer responsible for personnel matters, signed it, and the story goes that he went straight off to shave. Whether that detail is exactly true or has been polished over the years, it has become part of the tale.
What happened next
The change was not a ban. Moustaches remained permitted, and many officers kept theirs for decades. The neat, clipped military moustache stayed a recognisable British look through the Second World War and beyond.
What changed was the default. Once the rule was gone, younger men increasingly chose to be clean-shaven, and the army as an institution came to associate a smooth face with smartness and discipline. Beards, meanwhile, remained a specialist exception, traditionally allowed in a few roles and later for religious reasons, with policies on beards being relaxed further in recent years. For detail on uniforms and military life in that period, the National Army Museum is an excellent source.
A quick timeline
| Period | What happened |
|---|---|
| Early 1800s | Most British soldiers clean-shaven; moustaches linked to cavalry and service in India |
| 1850s | Crimean War makes beards and moustaches fashionable at home |
| Mid-Victorian era | Regulations require the upper lip to be left unshaved |
| 1914 to 1916 | Mass recruitment; the rule is widely ignored |
| October 1916 | Army Order abolishes the requirement |
| After the war | Clean-shaven becomes the norm; the clipped moustache remains an option |
What the story tells us about grooming
The moustache rule is a reminder that “smart” has always been a moving target. A Victorian sergeant would have seen a clean-shaven young man as unfinished. Thirty years later, an officer with a full moustache was starting to look old-fashioned. Today, both looks sit comfortably side by side, and the question is simply which suits your face and how well it is kept.
Some things have not changed. A moustache looks deliberate only when it is shaped: the line above the lip kept clean, the width matched to the mouth, and the length controlled so it does not hang into food. That was true on the parade ground and it is true on Archway Road.
If you are growing one now
A few practical points, whether you are inspired by history or by Movember:
- Give it at least three to four weeks before deciding whether it suits you.
- Resist trimming the length early; tidy only the line above the lip.
- Choose a shape that follows your natural growth rather than fighting it.
- Use a little wax once it is long enough if you want it to hold a shape.
- Have a barber set the shape once, then maintain it at home.
At Highgate Cuts, beard and moustache work is one of our core services. Every visit starts with an assessment, so the barber can look at how your moustache is growing and suggest a shape that suits your face. See the Highgate Cuts barber page for the full list of services.
Questions we get asked
Was the British Army moustache rule real?
Yes. Regulations required soldiers to leave the upper lip unshaved until an Army Order abolished the requirement in October 1916.
Who ended it?
The order is credited to Lieutenant General Sir Nevil Macready, Adjutant General at the time.
Can British soldiers have moustaches today?
Yes, a neat moustache is permitted. Rules on beards are separate and have changed over time.
Can you shape a moustache for me?
Yes, as part of our beard work. See the barber menu or email us.
Book with The Highgate House
Ready for a proper cut? Email us at [email protected] with the service and the day that suits you, and we will come back to you with times.
Visit The Highgate House · The barbers
The Highgate House, Archway Road, Highgate, London N6.
