Mounted Officer and Squadron c1865

This Norie painting of a squadron of 20th Hussars shows the early style of hussar uniform adopted by the regiment. They were at first titled light dragoons but no evidence exists to show a light dragoon uniform. They served in India and were on active service in the Ambeyla and Hazara campaigns so would have had little opportunity to wear full dress as seen here. They returned to the UK in 1872 so the artist Orlando Norie would have worked from descriptions of the dress uniform. This painting depicts them on a field day with British countryside and wearing uniforms more suited to the British climate. The crimson osprey feather plume on the officer's busby is short at this stage. The 1861 and 1864 Dress Regulations stipulate an eight inch high plume. By 1883 a nine inch plume was called for. Crimson was also the colour of the busby bag, the throat plume on the bridle, the central stripe of the pouch-belt, the base colour of the sabretache, and the edge of the black sheepskin saddle cover. The officer has no shabraque and there is a valise behind the saddle. The leathered trousers were worn until 1871. The men have white pouch-belts on the left shoulder and haversacks straps on their right shoulder.

Regimental Details | Uniforms