Private, Medical Staff Corps, 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 corporal on the left can be identified by the two chevrons on his right sleeve, underneath a white cloth badge with the red cross insignia within. He is wearing a blue cloth home service helmet with a rounded peak and rounded brass spike on top. The helmet plate is a red cross surrounded by a laurel leaf with a crown above. His tunic is dark blue with black facings on the collar and cuffs. He has crown badges on each collar. He wears a white sword belt with his sword attached.

The sergeant has three chevrons on his right arm with the same cloth badge above. He also has medal ribbons on his left breast. He wears the undress Torin cap with the regimental cap badge on the attached. Both men wear blue trousers with a scarlet stripe down each outside seam, over black boots.

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