Sergeant Major, Staffordshire Yeomanry, 1893 (c)

Glass negative, W Gregory and Company, 51 Strand, London, 1893 (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 major is pictured wearing a blue undress frock with a red collar and silver decoration on the cuffs and bottom of the collar. Four chevrons and a crown on his right arm denote his rank. His scarlet pillbox forage cap has a silver band with a blue central stripe and a black button and decoration on the top.

His pantaloons are blue with a double scarlet stripe down the outside seam, worn tucked into black riding boots with spurs attached. His pouch belt and sword belt (from which hangs his sword) are black and he wears white gloves. Barrack buildings can be seen in the background.

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