Officer's Mess Kit

This set of stable jacket and mess waistcoat were photographed at an auction several years ago. The stable jacket was worn open as a mess jacket with the waistcoat on show for evening occasions, but in stable dress was worn fastened down the front. This example is for a field officer, distinguished by the circlets of gold braid around the gold loop on the cuffs. Troop officers had just the plain loop traced with straight braid. The collar, mostly concealed here also has the circled braid long the top edge. The plaited gold shoulder cords have a single silver embroidered crown badge for the rank of major. There are 5 gold olivet buttons down the front. At the back the seams are picked out with gold decoration similar to the cuffs. The most distinctive item is the red waistcoat which has a profusion of gold cord and braid. This was a special pattern designed for the 20th Hussars. The jacket and waistcoat were worn with tight blue trousers having a double gold stripe down the side. The red trousers showing below the waistcoat in this photo are for the 11th Hussars.

Regimental Details | Uniforms