Sergeants, 17th Lancers, 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 on the left of the photograph wears walking out undress uniform, with a pillbox forage cap. The band and cross braid over the top of the forage cap are gold lace. His tunic is dark blue with a white plastron, and colour and cuffs of the same regimental colour (white). Cap lines hang to the left of the sergeant's neck. The three rank chevrons and motto badge (skull and cross bones) are visible on the right sleeve of the tunic. He wears dark blue overalls with a double stripe of facing colour (white) down the outside, over wellington boots. He is wearing white gloves and holds a riding crop.

The sergeant on the right of the image wears stable dress. His pillbox forage cap and overalls are the same as those his colleague is wearing. The stable jacket is dark blue with collar and cuffs of facing colour (white). There is gold lace edging around the collar and cuffs. The three rank chevrons and motto badge (skull and cross bones) are visible on the right sleeve of the tunic. He wears dark blue overalls with a double stripe of facing colour (white) down the outside, over wellington boots. He is wearing white gloves and holds a riding whip.

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