First Life Guards

Trumpter, 1832

The trumpeter's uniform differed from other privates, firstly in the wearing of epaulettes similar to the officers but plainer. Secondly the gold lace on the coatee had a zig-zag pattern on the collar and lace around the top of the cuff instead of vertical tabs. Thirdly his helmet had a red crest instead of black, fourthly his pouch belt was designed only to carry a pouch not a carbine as well. Fifthly his sword was of a much shorter pattern and finally he has short white gloves instead of gauntlets.
The man depicted is Thomas Jagger, a weaver from Huddersfield who enlisted at the age of 18 in 1801 at Halifax. He served for 30 years until he was discharged 'with a pulmonry complaint, cough and chronic shortness of breath'. Tuberculosis was the commonest cause of death in the British Army at the time due to overcrowded and insanitary conditions in the barracks. Poor ventilation in the summer and lack of heating in the winter combined with a communal urine tub that doubled as a vessel for carrying soldiers' rations were prime causes.

Regiment | Uniforms