Sergeant Major, 5th (Royal Irish) 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 major is pictured mounted on a horse in mounted review order. This includes the Lancer cap, the design of which was based on the Polish four-cornered cap known as the czapka. It has a black leather skull and black patent leather peak with a band of gold lace around it. The upper part of the cap is made with ribbed cloth of regimental colour (dark blue) on four sides, and is topped with leather. The plume is not attached, and it appears that the sergeant major is wearing his foul weather cover over his lancer cap, which was made of oilskin.

The full dress tunic is dark blue with red facings: collar and pointed cuffs, piping around the edge of the tunic, and the plastron on the front. He appears to have a service ribbon. Yellow worsted shoulder cords are secured by two small regimental buttons. Yellow worsted cord cap lines hang around the neck. He has a white leather pouch belt and pouch. Blue pantaloons with a double yellow stripe down the outside seam are worn tucked into riding boots with spurs attached. He is possibly wearing gloves.

He has a white leather haversack and the 1888 pattern water bottle tucked under his arm. His sword hangs from the slings of a white sword belt. The horse has standard military tack, and various accoutrements such as a horseshoe case and blanket can be seen.

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