Trumpeter, 2nd 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 state dress worn by the bandsman in this negative was worn by trumpeters, kettle drummers, and the bands when on parade and in the presence of the Royal Family. It includes a crimson velvet coat overlaid with strips of broad gold lace. The coat has a large royal cypher and crown on gold lace worn on the front and back of the coat. The headdress is a dark blue velvet jockey cap. On all occasions, whether mounted or on foot, the regular white breeches and jackboots were worn.

The bandsman carries a trumpet with a trumpet banner attached. The horse's bridle is of black leather with decorative brass scales on the headpiece. The stirrup leathers are black, and the 2nd Life Guards had white lambskin saddle covers.

The trumpeter is mounted on a grey horse, which in battle enabled trumpeters to be identified much more readily than the rest of the horses in a regiment or squadron. This was important when trumpets and bugles were used to communicate movements of a unit.

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