Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, 1894 (c)

Glass negative, W Gregory and Company, 51 Strand, London, 1894 (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 Battalion Sergeant Major is pictured wearing a scarlet single-breasted tunic with white piping down the front. The equally spaced buttons of the tunic and the distinctive grenade badge on his collars identify him as serving with the Grenadier Guards. The cuffs are round with a four buttoned slash. As the most senior Warrant Officer he wears a Class 1 tunic, which has extra gold lace on the collars and cuffs.

He has a blue field service cap and blue trousers which are worn with black boots and gaiters. The white belt has regimental insignia on the clasp, and his sword hangs from the sword slings. The only equipment he carries is a water-bottle, on a thin white strap tucked under his waist-belt, and a pace-stick. He has a service ribbon on his left breast and his badge of rank can be seen clearly on his upper arm. During 1894 the Grenadier Guards were in camp for exercise and field training during the summer.

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