Sergeant, 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons, 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 sergeant is wearing a scarlet stable jacket. The cuffs and collar are of facing colour (yellow). Three rank chevrons on his right sleeve denote his rank. Above the rank chevrons is the regimental badge, which for the 6th Dragoons is a silver castle of Inniskilling. He is wearing a dark blue pillbox cap which has a band of gold regimental lace, and a gold button on top.

A white leather pouch belt can be seen worn over the jacket. Pantaloons with a yellow stripe down the outside seam are tucked into black leather riding boots with spurs attached. His horse has standard leather military tack with a pair of leather wallets attached to the front of the saddle. His Martini Henry carbine rests in a leather bucket by his right thigh.

One of a collection of 280 glass negatives associated with Gregory and Company, London, and F G O Stuart, 1892 (c)-1900.