Look at the red. The M1907/10 Feldrock was field grey — the entire point of it was not being seen — and then it was piped in regimental colours around the collar, down the front fly, around the cuffs and along the rear skirt. The German army built a uniform to disappear in and then outlined it in red so you could still tell one regiment from another. It took two goes to undo. The simplified pattern of 1914 removed much of the piping. Then a cabinet order of 21 September 1915 introduced the Bluse, for every unit including the cavalry, and it had no piping at all. These men are wearing the version that still did.

Eight men and eight Pickelhauben, spikes and all — which is the whole distance between this box and the German infantry of 1916, who have steel on their heads and nothing red on their coats. An officer and seven privates, kneeling and standing and firing, in the piped Feldrock of 1914. In a diorama the British infantry of 1914 are the men in front of them, and the outbreak is the week it all started.

Tradition of London model 811. 54mm, white metal, hand-painted in gloss enamel. Eight-figure set — an officer and seven privates, 1914. Supplied in the Tradition Classic Red Box. Allow 2–3 weeks delivery.