Lace and fringe sample, drummer, 81st (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers) Regiment of Foot, sealed pattern, 1860

White worsted lace 5/8 inches in width, bearing a central red worm flanked by red diagonal stripes and edges trimmed with blue. 1.75 inch long fringe of twisted worsted of blue, red and buff.

A 'sealed pattern' is a prototype of any item that the British Army issued to soldiers. It provided clothing or equipment suppliers with an example to copy.

Originally raised as the Loyal Lincoln Volunteers in 1793, it became the 81st Regiment of Foot a year later and reincorporated the title 'Loyal' Lincoln Volunteers in 1833. Under the Childers Reforms of 1881, it amalgamated with the 47th (Lancashire) Regiment of Foot, forming The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, of which the 81st became the 1st Battalion. In 1920 its name changed again to The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire). In 1970 it merged with The Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Volunteers) to form The Queen's Lancashire Regiment. In 2006, it amalgamated again with two other regiments to form the Duke of Lancaster Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border).