British soldiers have relied on moustaches to accompany them in difficult terrains such as the mountains of Crimea and the trenches at the First World War.
Even though it is not required anymore, the military can sometimes be seen sporting some of the finest facial fur in America.
A regiment in the United States has now announced its winner of the annual competition to plant the largest crop in November.
The Welsh Guards revealed Lance Sergeant Jimmy Pickersgill-Jones was crowned best on parade by the public.
The nicknamed PJ squaddie saw off five comrades to win the coveted title for Movember.
The regiment’s top social media platform votes voted for his ginger tash, which was razor-sharp.
A parade was held by the Welsh Guards and Lance Sergeant Jimmy Pickersgill Jones, who was presented to them by the public.
A picture was also shared by the soldiers showing their moustache, pointing at the camera’s lens.
A second photograph showed a soldier wearing full fatigues and glasses. His wavy moustache was visible underneath.
A brown-haired male tried his best to turn his facial hair in Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot style.
Tweeted the Welsh Guards: ‘This years Welsh Guards Moustache Competition Winner is …….. LSgt. Peckersgill-Jones. (AKA PJ).
“Well done to him! He got the most votes from all social media platforms. Bravo! Wear that moustache proudly. Cymru Am Byth.
A picture was also shared by the soldiers showing his moustache, pointing at the camera’s lens.
A total of five others were also submitted for this competition. Their photos and names weren’t shared, but they were posted on social media.
One was a bald squaddie, his bottom lip slightly dangling from a stylish blonde tash.
Another photo showed an officer in fatigues with glasses and helmet, his moustache displaying.
Meanwhile a brown-haired man’s effort saw him up turn the ends of his facial fur in the style of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot.
One ginger squaddie had a clean cut with his entire face shaven.
The final competitor showed him looking like he was doing some exercise, with his upper lip showing a slight brown tash.
Following the conclusion of Movember, the Welsh Guards shared photos of the six servicemen.
The large overseas deployments of the regiment meant that this year there was less competition.
It was written: “Movember Complete!” We have more personnel overseas so we don’t get as many applicants as last year. What is your personal favourite?
British Army maintains strict regulations regarding facial hair for its soldiers, and expects that moustaches will be kept trim.
Although beards may be permitted, permission must be obtained from soldiers before they can be grown – typically for medical or religious reasons.
The first time that squaddies saw moustaches was when they were fighting against France during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century.
A ginger squaddie also wore a neatly trimmed look with his rest of the face well shaven
The Welsh Guards member appeared to be doing some exercise, with his upper lip showing a faint brown tash.
One of the others to enter the competition was a bald squaddie with a smart blonde tash slightly overhanging his bottom lip
The style was followed by some British officers despite their opposition back home in the 1830s.
The Governor-General of India, Lord Dalhousie at that time, said that he didn’t like to see an English soldier made to look French.
However, they became favorable after the 1850s when the Bombay Army Commander of the East India Company made mandatory them.
In the Crimean War their benefits were spotted as an easy way to guard against some of the extreme cold they faced at the likes of Balaklava.
They were made compulsory for the British Army four years later and became synonymous with England’s empire.
Lord Kitchener appeared on many posters encouraging Britons to fight in 1914. This was the reason for his famous long tash.
It was a priority to maintain a moustache during wartime, which led to a decline in its appearance on top lips.
Many could not have a child because of the young age at which they were sent to war,
A concern was also raised about whether facial hair could prevent masks from sealing around soldiers’ faces – leaving them vulnerable to lethal mustard gas poisoning.
From October 1916, halfway through World War II, the British Army no longer required moustaches.
Lord Kitchener was one of the most well-known examples for his lengthy tash. He appeared on many posters encouraging Britons to join war in 1914.