Lodge Arms, 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own), 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 soldiers are pictured in dismounted review order dress, including the lancer cap (czapka). This has a black leather skull and plain black patent leather peak with ribbed cloth on all four sides and topped with white leather. The drooping plume is made of white horse hair. The regimental plate is fixed on the lower part of the cap, with lion's head bosses on each side, to which the chin chains are attached.

Their tunics are blue with a white front (plastron) collar and cuffs. They have white leather pouch belts with a black pouch, and white leather gauntlets. Worsted cap lines cross the breast of the jacket. The three soldiers on the right hold their lance with pennon high, and face the corporal outside the guard house. They do not have swords attached to their sword belts.

The corporal on the far left of the photograph wears the same uniform but holds his lance on the ground. His two rank chevrons are clearly visible on his right sleeve. All four wear dark blue overalls with a double white stripe on the outside seam over black boots with spurs attached.

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