Drummer, 2nd 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 drummer is pictured wearing a bearskin cap, with his drum hanging from a wide strap across his body. The scarlet jacket has band wings on the shoulders, and is elaborately laced with white and blue braid on the sleeves and across the chest. The blue decorations on the braids are fleur-de-lys, a design feature that recalls Britain's ancient claim to France. The buttons of the tunics, grouped in pairs, identify the regiment as the Coldstream Guards. The cuffs are round with a four buttoned slash.

The blue cloth trousers have a scarlet stripe down the outside seam, and are worn over black boots. He has white Slade-Wallace equipment (pouches and belt) with a black valise on his back. A bugle can also be seen hanging by his right thigh.

Drummers played an important military, as well as ceremonial, role in the army. Commanders relied on musicians to communicate orders to their troops during combat so they always had a prominent role on the field of battle. Drummers were also utilised to hand out the powder on the battlefield and to act as stretcher bearers. When regiments were on the move the drummers kept the marching men in time with the beat of their drums.

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