Scout, 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars, 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 scout is a sergeant rough rider (or riding instructor) as can be seen by the badges worn on the right arm of his dark blue field service frock. The three chevrons and spur denote his rank, with the regimental Irish harp in the middle. His full dress cap (busby) was inspired by Hungarian uniforms and made of black beaver fur; a type of fur that was highly desirable in Eastern Europe. The caplines, bag lace and front boss are of yellow worsted cord, with the bag itself being scarlet and the plume white. He has a white pouch belt and black pouch.

His horse has standard military leather tack with a pair of leather wallets and a carbine sitting in its leather bucket.

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