Bandsmen, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), 1895 (c)

Glass negative, W Gregory and Company, 51 Strand, London, 1895 (c).

This image comes from a collection of glass plate negatives associated with William Gregory and Company. The negatives depict the British Army, including some members of the colonial forces, 'at home' in Britain during the 1890s.

As well as being intimate portraits of soldiers from this era, the images provide detailed illustrations of uniforms worn during the high point of military tailoring.

The bandsmen in this image pose with a range of instruments. One holds a bassoon, one a clarinet, and the drummer boy and drum major support the regimental drum. The final bandsman holds a horn.

The bandsmen are pictured at a military base, and are in full dress uniform. They wear scarlet tunics with band wings that are piped white. The collar and cuffs are of regimental colour (white) and the central seam is piped white. They wear white leather Slade wallace belts, and leather pouch belts. Overalls are worn over dark black boots.

The drum major is pictured wearing a striking full-length tiger skin over his uniform. This was traditional for ceremonial, or state occasions.

The bandsmen also wear a British home service helmet. This was covered in dark cloth, with peak at the front and rear. A helmet plate with regimental insignia was worn above the peak, and a gilt spike mounted on a gilt cross piece ornamented the top of the helmet. The helmet was held onto the head via a gilt chin chain secured at either end with chin chain bosses.

One of a collection of 278 glass negatives, Gregory and Company, London, 1895 (c)-1900.