Troop Sergeant Major, 3rd (Prince of Wales's) Dragoon 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 troop sergeant major in this image wears a scarlet stable jacket. The velvet cuffs and collar are of regimental colour (yellow) and the rank chevrons are clearly visible on the right arm. Above the chevrons are two arm badges: the regimental Prince of Wales's plume and the Crown indicating his rank. In the 3rd Dragoon Guards, these chevrons were made of padded lace. He wears a dark blue pillbox cap which has a band of gold regimental lace, and a gold button on top. The pantaloons are dark blue, with a broad single stripe of regimental lace down the outside seam. These are tucked into black leather boots with a 'V' shaped notch at the top. He is mounted on a horse with standard pattern military horse furniture, including a steel chain which is looped around the neck, which could be used to tether the horse when not in barracks. A pair of leather wallets are fitted to the front of the saddle. These were used to contain a small quantity of items for the personal use of the rider, including items such as spare socks.

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