Military query

[snakey]

Army and Navy folks, I have a question for you:

Do any of you have solid data on what the regulations about shaving were in the respective services? I know officers at least were expected to be clean shaven.... What about the ranks and the hands? What about side-whiskers?

Much obliged....

Comments

[latin_cat]

I know that it has long been the custom in the Royal Navy that men are either clean-shaven or have full beards (no moustaches permitted), but I can't remember when it dates from.