Stafford and Dorset Regiments, 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 soldiers in this negative from the Stafford and Dorset Regiments are grouped outside what appear to be barrack buildings. They have made structures to hang their white leather Slade Wallace equipment from by leaning together several of their rifles. Kit bags are supporting the structures from below.

The soldiers in this negative are pictured wearing scarlet single breasted tunics. The collar and cuffs are of regimental colour (white) and some of the soldiers wear white leather Slade Wallace equipment over the top. The soldiers also wear folding field service forage caps and blue overalls tucked into black boots. The Lance Corporal in the foreground of the picture smokes a tobacco pipe.

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