Officer 1805

The 15th were still a light dragoon regiment in 1805 but there is very little difference between this uniform and that of continental hussars. This officer does not wear a pelisse but he would have had one for the winter months, from the middle of October onwards. The silhouette figure is painted in monochrome, on glass, so the colours must be worked out from other sources. The subject of the painting is Cornet Penrice from Wales. He was to take part in the campaign in the Peninsula in 1808. The painting is the subject of an article by L E Buckell in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research no.27 dated 1941.
The uniform has developed further since 1803 in that the blue jacket has more silver lace on the sleeve, and extra silver braid on either side of his chest. The barrel sash is gold and crimson, and his pouchbelt is gold lace on red leather. This was changed to silver in 1808. The head-dress is the mirleton, popular with Prussian hussars. It would conform with the mirleton in the Duke's hand in Officer 1802 and 1803. It has the wing wound round it in a helter-skelter way with the red and gold edges on show. His hair is in a long queue which reaches below his waist.
The sabretache is clearly painted to show a reverse cypher, crown and scroll for EMSDORF. This would all be on red cloth with a silver lace edge. The shabraque is dark blue with a silver lace edge and a clearly drawn ornament on the rear corners. See Shabraque Ornament c1801. The front part of the shabraque has a scroll with the words THE KING'S REG.. The last word is not clear. The bridle is ornate and a star throat ornament can be seen.

Regimental Details | Uniforms