Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards 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 regimental sergeant major is pictured wearing a scarlet single breasted tunic. The buttons of the Class 1 tunic, grouped in pairs, identifies the regiment as the Coldstream Guards. The cuffs are round with a four buttoned slash and gold lace decoration. The collar (also gold lace), cuffs, and shoulder straps are piped white. His collar is also decorated with the badge of the Garter Star. The blue cloth trousers have a scarlet stripe down the outside seams, and are worn over black boots.

He is pictured wearing a bearskin cap with a gold chin chain and he holds a swagger stick. He wears white gloves and a white belt, from which hangs his sword. His badge of rank can be seen on his upper arm.

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