The Old Drum Horse, 1st Life 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 soldier pictured here in undress uniform appears to be a corporal rough rider, as denoted by the two chevrons on his sleeve, surmounted by a spur and an Albert Crown. He wears a blue frock coat and white breeches. His round blue pillbox forage cap has a wide red band around it. He holds the reins of a large drum horse and in front of them are two silver kettle drums on plinths.

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