Daffadars of the 4th Lancers Hyderabad Contingent and 1st Regiment of Madras Lancers, 1893

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 figure on the right can be identified as Kot Daffadar Abdur Razzak, 4th Lancers Hyderabad Contingent. He wears a rifle green kurta, a Sam Browne belt with pouch, and shoulder chains. His red cummerbund has detailed Kashmir ends hanging down on his right. He wears the Indian General Service Medal on his left breast, and badges on his sleeve also show he is a qualified swordsman and signaller. His turban is blue, white and gold, and his white breeches are tucked into black jack boots. He wears white gauntlets and holds his sword, which hangs from his belt.

The figure on the left is Daffadar Amir Muhammad Khan, 1st Madras Lancers. He wears a french grey alkalak - a long coat which fastened on the chest - with silver facings. His turban is blue, french grey and white, and his blue pantaloons have two stripes down the outside seams, tucked into black boots. The spur above his rank badge indicates he was a qualified equitation instructor. His blue cummerbund has detailed Kashmir ends hanging down on his right. He wears white gauntlets, holds his sword, and the Indian General Service Medal with two clasps can be seen on his left breast.

One of a collection of 280 glass negatives, associated with Gregory and Company, London, and F G O Stuart, 1893 (c)-1900.