Sergeant, Grenadier 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 sergeant wears a scarlet single-breasted tunic with white piping, and a sash worn over the top. 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 made with gold lace (Class 2 tunic). His three sergeant's chevrons can be seen on his upper arm, and he wears a white belt with regimental insignia. His dark blue trousers are worn over black boots. There also appears to be a musketry skill at arms badge (crossed rifles). He wears a black bearskin cap with metal chin chain and holds his rifle.

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