Figure 1 Infantryman of the 87th Infantry Regt Crete 1897-98	Figure 2 Infantryman of the 87th Infantry Regt Crete 1897-98	Figure 3 Officer of the 87th Infantry Regt Crete 1897-98

Uniforms of the Austro-Hungarian Army in Crete 1897-98
The deployment of the 2nd Battalion of the 87th Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment on peacekeeping duties in Crete during 1897-98 was the first time that Austria-Hungary had issued a tropical style uniform to its troops.

Uniforms - consisted either of the usual Austro-Hungarian dark blue field tunic (pike grey uniforms as worn in the First World War were not first introduced to the Imperial and Royal Army until 1908) or a newly issued white tropical uniform. The shade of the white tropical uniform varied from white to a more natural pale beige. Both these tunics were of matching cut with concealed fronts and four pockets, the flaps of which were scalloped into three points. Austro-Hungarian army shoulder straps were in the tunic colour without insignia but with a rolled end on the right hand side to assist in carrying the rifle strap. Officers did not wear shoulder straps. The tunic's collar was standing with a sea green collar patch (Austro-Hungarian Infantry Regiments were distinguished by their coloured collar patches and sea green was the facing colour of the 87th Regiment). Rank insignia for NCOs and officers was in the form of white metal stars and lace on the collar patches. White Summer trousers were worn with both tunics and were worn loose over the boots.

Headgear - consisted of plain white tropical helmets (made by P&C Habig hatters of Vienna) for other ranks, while officers had a white peaked cap based on the standard Austro-Hungarian officers cap with a black and gold Hapsburg cockade and a white leather peak. 

Highly Recommended External Link - The Land Forces on Crete 1897-98 page at Austro-Hungarian Army

The Illustrations

Figure 1 is based on a photograph of an Infantryman of the 7th Company, 2nd Battalion of the 87th Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment taken at Suda in Crete 1897-98. He wears the white other ranks tropical uniform and tropical helmet as described above. He carries full marching order equipment fastened at the front with a brass buckle bearing the double headed Hapsburg eagle. He is armed with a Mannlicher 1895 rifle (or possibly the older Mannlicher 1890 rifle).

Figure 2 is based on a photograph of an Infantryman of the 2nd Battalion of the 87th Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment taken at Fort Izzeddin in Crete 1897-98. He wears the blue field uniform with white trousers as worn by the Imperial and Royal army based at home in Summer months. With this uniform he wears the white tropical helmet as described above. 

Figure 3 is based on a photograph of an Officer (Oberleutnant Johann Haberditz) of the 8th Company, 2nd Battalion of 87th Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment taken at Canea in Crete 1897-98. He wears the white officers uniform with the officers cap in white with a white leather chinstrap and peak and the Hapsburg cockade on the front, as described above. His rank ("Oberleutnant") is shown by two embroidered white metallic stars on his collar patch.

Special thanks on this page go to Glenn Jewison for his research on the Austro-Hungarian Army website.