'Colonel d'Arcy and The Officers of the 3rd West India Regt. (Zouaves)', 1860 (c)

Coloured lithograph after J Brandard, printed by M and N Hanhart, 1860 (c).

A soldier of the West Indian Regiment with British officers in the background.

In 1858 the West India Regiment adopted a uniform similar to that of the French Zouaves, who had captured the public imagination during the Crimean War. It comprised a red fez wound about by a white turban, red sleeveless jacket with yellow braiding worn over a long-sleeved white waistcoat, and dark blue breeches piped in yellow. Initially leather leggings and sandals were worn, but replaced with white stockings, white gaiters and black shoes. Regiments were distinguished by the wearing of different coloured tassels to the fez and piping on the waistcoat cuffs. This uniform was retained for full dress throughout the regiment until 1914 and by the band until disbandment in 1927. The regiment was unique amongst colonial units in that it was an integral part of the British regular army. The uniform is retained today by the band of the Barbados Defence Force.

Colonel George Abbas Kooli D'Arcy (1818-1885) commanded the 3rd West India Regiment and was appointed Governor of Gambia in 1859. In 1866 D'Arcy led a punitive expedition against a rebel leader which resulted in the capture of the fortified town of Tubabakolong. It was in this action that Private Samuel Hodge of the 4th West India Regiment won the Victoria Cross.