Light Dragoon Officer 1802

With the sleeveless shell jacket discarded the light dragoons of the period between 1796 and 1812 wore the short blue braided dolman, which in the 13th had buff collar and cuffs and gold braid. Other ranks, of course, had yellow braid and poorer quality cloth. The helmet had a black turban and a white over red plume. On the right side was a gilt badge with the letters XIII LD in a wreath under a crown with the motto VIRET IN AETERNUM which means Flourish in Eternity. Another meaning given to this latin motto was Green Forever, an allusion to the loss of their green facings in 1784. He has powdered hair and a queue, a fashion that was to disappear very soon after this. Round his waist is a red sash which was replaced by a crimson and gold barrel sash a few years later.

13th Light Dragoons: Uniforms | Regimental details