Mounted field officer, Lancashire Fusiliers, 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 officer is a captain, as shown by the rank insignia on his shoulder cords, and possibly also the adjutant. He wears a scarlet tunic with white facings (collars and cuffs), and dark blue pantaloons with a red stripe along the outside seams. These are tucked into black riding boots with spurs attached. He has grenade collar badges and wears a field service cap with regimental badge and a pair of leather gloves.

The officer's sword and his black sabretache hang from the slings of his white sword belt, worn underneath the tunic. He sits on his horse holding the reins. A pair of leather wallets can be seen in front of the saddle, and a rolled up blanket behind. The horse has a light-coloured nose band with an ornamental boss on the side, plus regimental insignia on the bit boss.

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