Troop Sergeant-Major 1843


This detail from a painting by John Fernley Jr. depicts a sergeant-major wearing the red pelisse of the 1830s. If the dating of this picture is correct then the 8th were slow to revert to the blue pelisse. He is in marching order, with shabraque corners turned up and shako protected with an oilskin cover. Normally the plume would be removed but it is worn here. The other ranks had a black horsehair plume while the officers had black cock feathers.

The carbine is hooked onto his white leather pouch-belt and the muzzle rests in a leather holster. His jacket is braided with gold instead of yellow like the lower ranks. The three bar chevrons are inverted in this picture which is unusual. A painting by Drahonet of this period shows a Regimental Sergeant Major of the 7th Hussars with four gold chevrons pointing downwards. Above this TSM's chevrons are a harp badge and a crown. The harp looks as if it is embroidered. NCO's regimental arm badges were normally adopted later in the 19th century but the harp of the 8th is mentioned in a Horse Guards memo of 1850.



Uniforms | Regimental details


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by Stephen Luscombe