Sergeant and Band Boys, Grenadier Guards, 1895 (c)

Glass negative, William 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 crimson 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 buff leather 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.

The three band boys pose with their instruments: a drum, a bugle and a fife, similar to a piccolo. They are pictured wearing bearskin caps and scarlet jackets with band wings on the shoulders. They are 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, evenly spaced, identify the regiment as the Grenadier Guards. The blue cloth trousers have a scarlet stripe down the outside seam, and are worn over black boots. Short drummers' swords hang from their buff leather belts.

One of a collection of 280 glass negatives, associated with W Gregory and Company, London, and F G O Stuart, 1893 (c)-1900.