Farrier Major and Corporal, The Royal Horse 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 farrier major on the left is pictured wearing the peak-less pillbox forage cap. This is blue with a red band along the bottom, gold piping and an Albert Crown, denoting his rank. The tunic (1st class) is blue with red facings and wide gold lace on the collar and cuffs. He has plaited gold shoulder cords with an aiguillette attached on the left shoulder. This has loops with spiral and gold needles hanging down to the middle of the tunic. His rank of farrier major is also visible on his right upper sleeve, where a horseshoe and a crown can be seen. He wears three medals on his left breast.

The staff corporal on the right wears the same uniform but he has a rank and file tunic with no gold lace around the facings and no spirals on his aiguilette. He wears a medal on his left breast.

Both men wear blue overalls with a wide scarlet stripe down the outside seam, over wellington boots with spurs attached. They have white leather sword belts with slings, gloves, and carry a swagger stick each.

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