When examining historical military uniforms, especially those of cavalry scouts, patches often tell a story of unit affiliation and deployments. One intriguing question arises when considering the Cav Scout Uniform of the 26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts): could it bear the patch of the Philippine Division? Let’s delve into the historical context and regulations to understand this possibility.
Figure 6. Patches displayed on what is purported to be a 26th Cavalry (PS) uniform, showcasing the Philippine Division patch.
Analyzing the authorization and historical background of uniform patches is crucial. George Rummell, Jr., in “26th U.S. Cavalry Regiment ‘Philippine Scouts’”, notes that the “Shoulder Patch – Philippine Division… was worn when the [26th Cavalry] regiment was first formed in 1922.” While the 26th Cavalry (PS) officially fell under the Philippine Department and was authorized to wear the Philippine Department Sea Lion patch, the early days of the regiment present a compelling reason for the presence of the Philippine Division patch.
The key lies in the unit’s formation. On October 1, 1922, a significant personnel transfer occurred: the Philippine Department reassigned soldiers from the 25th Field Artillery Regiment (PS) to establish the newly formed 26th Cavalry Regiment (PS). Specifically, Battery A of the 25th FA (PS) became Troop A of the 26th Cavalry (PS), Battery B transformed into Troop B, and so on. There were some adjustments, such as Battery D becoming Troop G and personnel from battalion headquarters forming Machine Gun Troop Number Two.
Prior to this reorganization, the 25th FA (PS) was a subordinate unit within the Philippine Division. Consequently, these artillerymen would have been authorized and likely wearing the Philippine Division carabao Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI). Therefore, upon their transfer to the 26th Cavalry, it’s plausible that these men continued to wear the familiar Philippine Division patch, at least until they were issued the newly authorized Philippine Department patches.
Thus, theoretically, a cav scout uniform from the 26th Cavalry (PS) could indeed feature a Philippine Division patch, particularly in the initial period after the regiment’s activation.
However, a detail from the uniform in question adds a layer of complexity. The presence of gilt collar discs suggests a timeframe of approximately 1924 to 1927 for this uniform. This raises the question: would a corporal still be wearing the Philippine Division patch several years – two to five – after the transition from field artillery to cavalry and the establishment of the 26th Cavalry?
While it’s conceivable that the Army might have faced supply chain delays in providing new Philippine Department Sea Lion patches immediately after the transition, a period of two to five years seems extended. Although theoretically possible in the very early days, the prolonged presence of a Philippine Division patch on a cav scout uniform from this later period warrants further scrutiny and consideration of uniform regulations and supply realities of the time.
