Major Clayton, 1815

There are few portaits of Royal Horse Guards officers during this period. This is an excellent study of the uniform worn during the few years around the battle of Waterloo in 1815. The painting is by Thomas Stewardson and shows the full dress uniform including gold pouchbelt and sabretache. His girdle has an ornamental bow on the left side, and tassles. This is not evident in other pictures of this period. He carries an 1814 pattern sword (see Household Cavalry officer's sword) suspended from a gold waistbelt, the buckle decorated with the garter star. The buckskin breeches seen here, and jackboots, were only worn on ceremonial duty. His gloves are short and were replaced by gauntlets within a few years.
William Robert Clayton was born 28th August 1786. His fisrt regiment was 10th Foot of which his uncle, General Fox was Colonel. He joined the Blues in 1805 as a Cornet, becoming a Lieutenant in 1809. He fought at the battles of Vittoria, the Pyrenees, Genappe and Waterloo, which medal he wears. This painting is written about in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research (1961) where this same painting shows Clayton wearing a second medal for Military General Service. It was badly painted and clearly added later. It seems that someone has taken it upon themselves to remove the medal.

Regimental Details | Uniforms