Sergeant 4th Volunteer Battalion, The Queen's Royal West Surrey 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 late 19th century full dress uniform of the volunteer battalions of the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment was inspired, in part, by hussar uniforms. The sergeant in this image is pictured wearing a British hussar-style jacket inspired by the atilla jacket of Hungarian hussars. The dark blue tunic had five worsted loops across the breast, with caps and drops on each side, and fastened in the centre with olivets. The rank chevrons and trade badges of the sergeant are clearly visible on his right arm. He wears a brown leather pouch belt with regimental insignia and a whistle attached, and carries a sword.

The sergeant also wears 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.