Regimental Sergeant Major, 17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) 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 regimental sergeant major is pictured wearing stable dress. His pillbox forage cap is blue with a gold lace band and cross braid over the top. His stable jacket is dark blue with white facings: collar and pointed cuffs, edged with gold lace. Wide gold lace can also be seen running down the front of his jacket and along the bottom edge. The large Crown (denoting his rank) and motto badge (skull and cross bones) are visible on the right sleeve of his tunic. There may be a service ribbon on his jacket also.

He wears dark blue overalls with a double white stripe on the outside seam over black wellington boots with spurs attached. He carries a sword, which is attached to his uniform by a white leather sword belt. He wears white gloves.

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