Colour Sergeant, Conaught Rangers, 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 colour sergeant wears full dress uniform which includes a scarlet tunic with green facings (collar and cuffs) and a blue cloth home service helmet with a rounded peak and spike on top. The helmet plate is the Irish harp within a star with a crown above. He has the regimental collar badge - an elephant - on each collar and the shoulder title 'Connaught' can be seen.

The blue cloth trousers have a scarlet stripe down each outside seam, and are worn over black boots. He has a white leather pouch belt and wears white gloves. His rifle is on his shoulder. He has a musketry skill at arms badge on his lower sleeve.

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