Mounted Field Officer, 1888

This Simkin watercolour was the basis for the print that was published in the Army and Navy Gazette on 6th Oct 1888 as part of a long series of 112 prints. The artist was at his best at this time, and he was living in Aldershot so was able to observe uniforms first hand. We can see that the officer depicted here is of senior rank because the multiple Austrian knot of gold cord extends above his elbow. Lieutenant-colonels and majors had a triple knot, captains had a double, and subalterns had a single knot. This view also shows the slings for sword and sabretache disappearing under the skirt of the tunic. They are attached to a webbing belt worn beneath the tunic while the gold belt worn over the tunic is only decorative. The sabretache looks like an undress type but was in fact worn in review order; the elaborately embroidered version had been discontinued in 1855. The badge on the black leather surface is the coronet of the Princess Royal with the letters PRDG, and was taken into wear around 1879. The embroidered shabraque can be seen in the photos of the museum exhibit.

Regiment | Uniforms